John Stanley – Independent Consultant Solicitor
John Stanley BL is a consultant barrister with over 20 years of legal experience in Irish immigration and citizenship law. He specialises in solving complex, high-risk, or procedurally difficult immigration problems for individuals, families, and institutions. His advice is clear, strategic, and deeply informed by long-standing practice at every level of Ireland’s immigration system.
· Irish immigration law
· Naturalisation and citizenship
· EU Treaty Rights and free movement
· Procedurally complex or unusual cases
· Legal opinion, litigation risk, and policy design
· Lecturing and judicial training
Connect with John Stanley
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If you have any questions or require any assistance please get in touch with us and he will be happy to assist you.
Professional Experience
Life Passions
Professional Network
John is the author of the leading legal text Immigration and Citizenship Law in Ireland (Round Hall, 2nd edition forthcoming), and has served as legal counsel in landmark national and EU cases. His past roles include legal advisor to the Attorney General, Chairperson of the Irish Refugee Council, and Deputy Chairperson of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, where he remains a current Tribunal Member.
John is available to advise on complex and high-stakes cases with a personal interest in unusual or sensitive immigration and citizenship cases requiring expert analysis and bespoke legal strategy. at Gibson & Associates LLP. Author of Immigration and Citizenship Law in Ireland, he has served as counsel, state advisor, and tribunal member. John is known for his strategic insight, calm clarity, and ability to resolve unusual legal challenges.
John is a trainer and lecturer in immigration and protection law at the King’s Inns, the Law Society, and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), where he regularly leads judicial workshops across Europe.
Professional Experience
With a strong background in environmental law and human rights Declan has developed a unique and innovative career over the years in environmental justice, social justice and human rights.
His professional experiences spans across Ireland and internationally having worked in London, Amsterdam, Brussels and Geneva.
Declan worked for the International Trade Union Confederation, the Workers Bureau of the International Labour Organisation and top law firms in both England & Wales where he continues to practice as an independent consultant solicitor.
Life Passions
Climate change & the ongoing biodiversity concerns are a major global discussion.
Knowing that it takes the combined efforts of individuals to make a change in the world, Declan has a passion to help facilitate a Just Transition for workers and communities in Ireland.
As a member of the Gibson & Associates LLP ICS programme, Declan is our specialist in strategic litigation and expert advice in planning law and environmental law.
Professional Network
As an associate member of the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queen’s University Belfast, Declan is invested and involved in various campaigns and policy projects.
Declan especially welcomes instructions from NGOs, trade unions and community groups advising Ecojustice Ireland, the Climate Justice Coalition Ireland and the UN’s Harmony with Nature agency.
He is a member of the Law Society of Ireland’s Environmental Law Association and sits on the Law Society of Northern Ireland’s Climate Justice Committee.