We are absolutely delighted to congratulate Chris Cole on his appointment as a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, assigned to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

The Senior President of Tribunals, the Right Honourable Lord Justice Dingemans, appointed Chris to this position with effect from 2 February 2026.

Chris has been a trusted and valued member of DG Legal’s consulting team for several years with many of our clients benefitting from his impressive knowledge and expertise.

Chris was admitted to the roll in 1998 and since stepping down as a partner in private practice in 2020, has worked as a consultant immigration solicitor and advocate including acting as senior solicitor at Sheffield Hallam University’s Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice Refugee Rights Hub.  He has been renowned for his conduct of complex Asylum and Human Rights cases and was recognised as a Leading Individual in Immigration Law by the Chambers UK Directory for a number of years, having been praised for his “sharp intellect and inspiring level of knowledge and commitment.”

Chris has also previously been heavily involved with The Law Society’s Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme for many years rising to the role of Chief Examiner.  He was also a Law Society Council member and member of the Law Society’s Immigration Law Committee as well as sitting as one of The Law Society representatives on the Legal Aid Agency Contract Review Board.

Chris was appointed a fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber) in February 2019 and as a Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge in 2024.  His recent appointment as a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal reflects a continued and well-deserved recognition of his hard work, expertise and integrity.

All of his friends and colleagues at DG Legal wish him every success in this new role.