Dr Ruby Bhatti OBE DL

Bio

Dr Ruby Bhatti OBE DL heads our Family Law and Immigration Departments.

With over 28 years’ experience, Dr Ruby Bhatti is a highly respected solicitor specialising in family and immigration law. She provides expert advice and representation in divorce, financial settlements, complex children law cases, and serious domestic and sexual abuse matters, including securing non-molestation and occupation orders. Ruby also advises on all aspects of personal and business immigration, including UK entry clearance applications, business sponsorship licences, and tribunal representation.

Ruby is an Associate Lecturer in Law at the University of Bradford, where she teaches clinical legal skills and human rights.

Ruby serves as an Associate Hospital Manager at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, chairing panels that review and make decisions on the detention and treatment of patients under Sections 2, 3, 17A (Community Treatment Orders), 37, and related renewals of the Mental Health Act, ensuring legal criteria are met and patient rights upheld.

In addition to her legal and academic roles, Ruby holds multiple non-executive director, trustee, and board member positions across social enterprises, charities, and multi-academy trusts.

Ruby was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to young people and housing. She received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bradford in 2020.

Ruby was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire in 2023 and Ruby will also stand as High Sheriff in Nomination for West Yorkshire for the year 2026-2027.

Memberships & Accreditations

The Law Society
Association of Women Solicitors
Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
Fellow of Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
Member of Resolution

Featured Cases

Recent (Family Law) cases

Leeds Family Court [2024]
Successfully obtained Parental Responsibility for a same sex couple who used surrogacy and artificial insemination to conceive.

London Family Court [2024]
Successfully secured a Prohibited Steps Order, preventing the mother removing the child from United Kingdom and re-locating the child to a non-Hague Convention country.

Leeds Family Court [2024]
Successfully applied to enforce an existing contact order where the father continually breached the order. The court immediately reinstated the contact order. Costs were awarded against the father.

Leeds Family Court [2024]
Successfully secured an urgent non molestation and occupation order with the power of arrest for a mother who was a victim of serious domestic abuse.

Leeds Family Court [2024]
Secured overnight contact for the father where the mother was refusing any type of contact.

Leeds Family Court [2024]
Secured matrimonial assets for the Applicant via a financial consent order and therefore avoiding contested proceedings in court.

Leeds Family Court [ 2023]
Represented an Applicant in a divorce matter where the Respondent was refusing to acknowledge or release details of their whereabouts.

Leeds Family Court [2023]
Successfully challenged mothers’ allegations of domestic abuse against the father and secured a contact order.

Leeds Family Court [2023]
Represented Respondent in non-molestation proceedings which will in due course impact on the type of contact he will have with his children.

Leeds Family Court [2023]
Obtained an urgent prohibited steps order for the father The mother was dependent on illicit substances.

Bradford Family Court [2023]
Secured contact for grandparents who were denied contact by the child’s mother.

Recent (Immigration Law) cases

F and Home Office [2025]
Successfully obtained Indefinite Leave to remain based on the long residency rule.

A and Home Office [2025]
Successfully obtained British Citizenship for a spouse.

B and Home Office [2024]
Successfully obtained entry clearance visa for a spouse.

B and Home Office [2024]
Successfully obtained Indefinite Leave to remain for a client who was in the country for a long period of time.

F and Home Office [2023]
Successfully acted for mother applying for child’s British passport overseas.

S and Home Office [2023]
Successfully obtained Indefinite Leave to remain for a wife who was a victim of domestic abuse.

A and Home Office [2022]
Successfully obtained skilled worker visa including their dependents.

R and Home Office [2022]
Successfully obtained an emergency visit visa for a client to spend time with a family member who was given weeks to live.

A and Home Office [2021]
Successfully obtained Indefinite Leave to remain for a husband who was a victim of domestic abuse.

F and Home Office [2021]
Successfully obtained entrance clearance for a spouse who was previously refused entry into United Kingdom for 10 years

Z and Home Office [2021]
Successfully obtained a Multiple Entry Visa for a client for a duration of 10 years.

S and Home Office [2020]
Successfully obtained Indefinite Leave to remain for a wife who was subjected to domestic abuse and was not aware her husband was gay.

A and Home Office [2020]
Successfully obtained Leave to Remain for a wife who entered UK on a spouse visa but separated from her husband as he was convicted of a serious criminal offence.

Z and Home Office [2020]
Successful review within for a refusal for a Visit Visa which was subsequently granted.

K and Home Office [2019]
Successfully obtained indefinite leave to remain for a client who was on an asylum visa and subsequently obtained citizenship.

A and Home Office [2019]
Successfully obtained entry clearance visa for a spouse using the financial requirement exemption rules.

Y and Home Office [2018]
Successfully obtained entrance clearance for a spouse who was previously refused on two occasions using other legal representatives.

H and Home Office [2018]
Successfully appealed against the Home Office in respect of a Human Rights Matter.