David Burgess

Who is David Burgess?

David Burgess was a leading British immigration lawyer.

Burgess obtained a number of landmark decisions from British courts and the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of immigrant clients. Notably, as a result of an ECHR decision in favour of 52 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers represented by Burgess, British law was changed to allow asylum seekers to appeal against refusal of asylum before having to leave the country.

Burgess and Youdon Lhamo had 3 children in their 20 year marriage, and in 2005 they separated. Burgess, who was transgender, then began to transition from male to female, becoming Sonia Burgess, but continued to use the name and gender assigned at birth whilst practicing law. In October 2010, Burgess was killed after falling under a train. A woman, Nina Kanagasingham, was charged with Burgess' murder.