Penningtons and Brick Court Chambers' Richard Gordon QC have helped secure a temporary reprieve for overseas students of London Metropolitan University as the university was today (21 September) granted permission to seek a judicial review of the ban on its recruitment of overseas students.

Penningtons dispute resolution partner Noel McMichael and immigration partner Pat Saini advised the university, instructing Brick Court's Gordon and Maya Lester as counsel as the university bid to challenge the UK Border Agency (UKBA) decision to revoke its licence to sponsor international students.

Mr Justice Irwin today granted London Met permission to apply for a full judicial review of the ban and confirmed that existing students and those due to start courses this term would be able to attend the university as long as they are already in the UK and have full immigration status.

Susan Chan of 13 KBW was instructed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, while 39 Essex Street's Lisa Giovanetti QC is acting for the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

The National Union of Students has also been granted third party intervening rights as an independent expert in the case, and is being represented by Bindmans associate Saadia Khan.

Last month the UKBA revoked the university's Highly Trusted Status for sponsoring students from outside the European Union, leaving more than 2,000 students facing removal within 60 days unless they could find another place to study in the UK.

This followed the UKBA's initial suspension of the University's Highly Trusted Sponsor status until further notice in July, over fears that some of its international students did not have accurate documentation to remain in the UK.

A review by the UKBA of a sample of files of international students at London Met failed to show valid visas, adequate attendance records or sufficient standards in English, the agency said.

Richard Gordon QC recently acted on the Olympic Legacy judicial review challenge involving competition and procurement issues, in which he acted for the Olympic Park Legacy company. Lester, a junior at Brick Court, was one of the lawyers instructed by DLA Piper to represent the Premier League last month in a successful appeal against Ofcom's Pay TV decision.