Hall of fameGulbenkian Andonian Solicitors
Partner dealing with all aspects of UK immigration and asylum work including business immigration and human rights.
Immigration
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Hall of fameBindmans LLP
Partner and Head of Immigration. Liz has a wide-ranging practice covering all aspects of immigration, EEA, nationality and asylum law, and is well known for her work with unaccompanied children and vulnerable clients. She is regularly instructed by NGOS and local authorities in relation to children in care, and has experience in public law. She has acted in cases before the First Tier and Upper Tribunal, the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and Court of Justice of the European Union.
Hall of fameWithers LLP
Tracy is a partner in the UK immigration team and leads the immigration practice in London. She is consistently ranked as a leading individual for immigration advice and a key player in the immigration arena, with over 25 years of exclusive experience in UK immigration. She advises on all areas of UK immigration and nationality law and has particular expertise in providing strategic advice to businesses and senior executives. She crafts solutions for her clients within the parameters of the immigration legislation governing the EU Settlement Scheme, permanent residence, complex citizenship and passport applications. Tracy has firmly established herself as a trusted advisor for high-net-worth individuals and leaders in the corporate and entertainment sectors. Her clients span a wide range of industry sectors including, finance, fintech, legal, luxury brands, fashion, sport, education, design and charitable institutions. Tracy has successfully completed many visa applications for various tech founders. She is extremely well-connected and has an exceptional track record of success with complex residency and citizenship applications requiring Home Office discretion. She has the personal trust and indeed friendship of a number of high-profile individuals which is testament to her professional and discrete ability to achieve success for her clients again and again. Tracy's corporate practice includes sponsor licence compliance advice and helping companies to stress test their practices for right to work audits. She provides strategic advice to companies, often working alongside the corporate and tax advisors to develop the optimum solutions to meet the clients' needs. Tracy works closely with the Home Office and is regularly consulted on policy and legislative proposals through her senior level contacts and participation in key working groups. She is a convener of the Business and Operational Forum and has developed particular expertise in advising clients on EU migration and Brexit-proofing their global mobility. Tracy also provides consultancy and strategic advice to many corporate client post-Covid with regard to digital nomads and hybrid working.
Hall of fameGherson LLP
Roger established Gherson in 1988, some seven years after first qualifying as a solicitor. His prior experience in commercial law, property, tax and litigation, as well as immigration, gives him a fairly unique perspective as an immigration lawyer. Since then, he has built up a dynamic team of specialists in UK immigration, nationality, EU, asylum and human rights law, as well as extradition and sanctions cases. He is well regarded for resolving complex issues in these fields and has a proven ability to coordinate legal teams to tackle complex applications. Roger’s focus includes private asylum claims and related UK and international Human Rights work, including extradition and national security proceedings, as well as applications in respect of international sanctions to the respective bodies. Roger’s reputation for discretion and tenacity is reflected in the firm’s breadth and volume of litigation work, which includes appeals at immigration tribunals, judicial reviews in the High Court and applications to the European Court of Human Rights as well as the European Court of Justice. He has extensive expertise in advising a wide range of clients, including high-profile international and UK companies and high-net-worth individuals. Respected for his innovative and direct approach, he frequently receives referrals from other law firms. Roger has over 30 years’ experience and is regularly cited as an expert in all the leading guides to immigration lawyers. Three years ago Roger established Discreet Law, which provides a broad range of General Counsel advisory services.
Hall of fameMagrath Sheldrick LLP
Senior partner and head of immigration/employment departments. Clients include numerous UK and US multi-national companies, senior executives, entrepreneurs and investors, and well-known names in the music and entertainment business.
Hall of fameMishcon de Reya LLP
Kamal Rahman is a leading Private Wealth lawyer looking after some of the wealthiest families globally. She is the Principal of Mishcon de Reya in association with Karas LLP in Hong Kong and a Partner in Mishcon de Reya LLP in London. She is a member of Mishcon Private and the Immigration group. Having practised at Mishcon de Reya for over 26 years, she is a trusted advisor to many high net worth clients who seek to internationalise their family and wealth. Kamal’s practice covers a comprehensive range of services (including UK investor visas, complex nationality applications, and economic citizenships) and her role regularly requires coordinated advice in many aspects of a client's life. Her work is relationship driven, rather than transactional, and clients value her ability to provide holistic and coordinated services, delivered in a sensitive manner. This often includes assisting clients with opportunities and challenges, utilising the wider Mishcon team's expertise in tax planning, asset protection, marriage and family, reputation management and family wealth. In addition Kamal has considerable cross-cultural experience, having advised clients from regions including China, Russia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Her multinational team reflects this diversity providing linguistic and cultural familiarity with the client base it serves. The ability to address complex issues in a nuanced and culturally appropriate manner continues to underpin the growth of her high net worth practice. Praised by peers and clients for her wealth of immigration expertise, she has been described as "a winning combination of charm, intelligence, both IQ and EQ, and shared family values". She is recognised as being "exceptionally good in terms of her client-centred approach and focus" and for her creativity "in making sure she explores all avenues" to find the best solutions for her clients. Kamal is also one of the founders of Gemini Untwined, a charity which helps conjoined twins access lifechanging surgery to give them the best possible chance at healthy and independent lives.
Hall of fameKingsley Napley LLP
Nick heads Kingsley Napley’s immigration team which advises multinational clients on immigration and global mobility issues. The team advises high net worth investors, entrepreneurs and high profile clients on all aspects of UK immigration and citizenship, with a recognised reputation for dealing with the most complex UK and EU law cases. Nick is regularly consulted by policy makers in the UK and EU and is actively involved in lobbying on behalf of businesses. He is known as an expert in EU immigration law and has litigated key test cases before the European Court of Justice. Nick is a regular conference speaker and has written chapters on immigration in numerous publications, including ‘OUP Global Immigration Handbook’ and ‘LexisNexis Business Immigration Guide’. He was rapporteur to the Euopean Commission on the annual report on free movement from 1996-2005. He has also acted as a consultant to the OECD and International Labour Organisation on highly skilled migration issues.
Hall of fameBindmans LLP
Senior consultant, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality. Since 1984, Alison has specialised in immigration law and associated fields. She has extensive experience in all aspects of immigration, asylum and nationality law. Her very diverse caseload varies from applications for high net worth individuals, through asylum to children in care. Alison is instructed by individuals, NGOs, Local Authorities and businesses. She is very experienced in litigating at all levels of the Tribunal and Court system. Alison advises regularly on the interplay of immigration and asylum in extradition matters, and also on applications to INTERPOL/EUROPOL in relation to Red Notices, as well as litigating against the National Crime Agency. She frequently acts as an expert witness in immigration in litigation. Alison has a keen interest in policy issues in the immigration field, and legal aid.
Rising stars
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Bates Wells
Aisha is a Senior Associate in the Immigration Department and specialises in corporate immigration. Aisha advises clients on sponsor licence applications, mergers or acquisitions and sponsor licence compliance, as well as assisting with Representative of Overseas Business applications. Aisha works with clients from a variety of sectors such as wealth management, tech, media, charity and faith based.
Bates Wells
Matthew is an Associate in the Immigration Department. His work bridges personal and business immigration, advising on applications based on gamily relationships alongside Global Talent, investor, entrepreneur and innovator applications. Matthew has built up a particular expertise in advising employers and individuals on the implications of Brexit and the EU Settlement Scheme. Matthew has also spoken at a number of events for the Creative Industries Federation and the Immigration Industry Association and provided training for ILPA. He has provided commentary for LexisNexis and the wider media.
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Neil is a Managing Associate in Mishcon Private, specialising in business immigration law. Neil advises both employers and employees on all aspects of business immigration including Tier 2 sponsor licence applications, Tier 2 and Tier 5 visa applications, sole representative visas, TUPE, Share Sales and M&A deals. He also has strong focus on guiding employers through the raft of sponsorship general compliance issues and Home Office audits. Neil has particular expertise working within the financial services sector, having represented leading US investment banks. Being very 'deal focused', Neil is closely engaged with clients and colleagues on corporate transactions (acquisitions or divestures) relating to change of ownership, global restructurings, change of employment, taxation issues and their impact upon sponsored employees working in the UK. Neil has an established understanding of working with clients in the Asian markets, having spent two years working across China, Nepal and India advising on private and corporate UK immigration matters. As part of a public campaign led by Joanna Lumley, Neil spent several years advocating the rights to reside in the UK for current and former Gurkha members of the British military.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Hannah is a Partner in Mishcon Private, specialising in Immigration. She advises both high net worth individuals and businesses on a range of UK Immigration matters, covering the Points Based System, ancestry visas, European free movement rights, long residence applications, family based applications, and litigation matters in the Immigration Tribunal. Many of Hannah's cases are of an exceptional, complex and multi-jurisdictional nature. Hannah is also part of the firm's business immigration group advising clients in relation to corporate immigration matters. She has assisted both employees and employers with sponsor licence applications, including the prevention of illegal working through the conduct of audits to ensure compliance with Legal Right to Work Checks and immigration processes within company HR systems. Many of her clients wish to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and subsequent British citizenship. This often involves complex matters requiring the provision of long term strategic advice. Hannah regularly assists clients with second citizenship applications and has spent time in different countries regarding economic citizenship programmes. Hannah represents the Mishcon Immigration Group at the Home Office's Business User Forum, liaising with the Home Office on key developments and issues affecting clients.
Withers LLP
Nicolette is a Partner at Withers LLP. Nicolette is an expert in both business immigration and private client immigration and is highly regarded for her outstanding work in both of these areas, having practised immigration and nationality law since 2007. Nicolette's personal immigration clients include wealthy individuals, family offices, creatives, business founders and executives. For these clients, Nicolette formulates short and long-term immigration solutions taking into account their personal needs and objectives for residence or settlement in the UK, coordinating with other wealth, tax and private client advisors. Nicolette has also amassed experience advising multinational organisations and household brands across a spectrum of sectors and is adept in advising on simple matters such as business visitor support, through to representing organisations in their UK immigration matters in multi-jurisdiction or listed organisation transactions involving non-UK workers. She seeks to provide balanced, timely advice and solutions, adapted to her clients' needs, in collaboration with HR, other professionals and overseas counsel where required. Relevant to both of these practices, Nicolette advises clients on personal immigration routes, including Appendix FM partners and children, long residence (Private Life), European Settlement Scheme (EUSS) applications and related routes for EEA nationals and their family members (including 'late' and speculative applicants). She has successfully secured settlement and British citizenship for a large number of individuals, including those with excess absences or other complexities which require discretionary consideration by the Home Office. Nicolette is an experienced presenter and has delivered training on Brexit, sponsorship and compliance to a number of corporate clients and at UK legal workshops organised by The Law Society. She is also an active member and speaker for the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA). She is recognised by Chambers and Partners (Business Immigration and High Net Worth guides), Legal 500, Spear's 500, Best Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal for UK immigration. Nicolette speaks French, Italian and basic Russian.
Gherson LLP
Charles specialises in asylum and protection claims, appeals to the Immigration Tribunals and public law challenges against decisions by the UK Home Office. Over the years, he has helped countless individuals to obtain protection from harm in some of the most difficult and atypical cases. He has extensive knowledge of UK immigration law, refugee law and international human rights law. He has acted on behalf of clients in a wide number of complex protection cases in the UK and abroad, as well as before international jurisdictions, including the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Charles has particular experience and insight in bringing protection claims based on political opinion; this is an especially complex area of refugee law in which Gherson Solicitors LLP has a unique and unparalleled expertise. Charles fights tirelessly for his clients and he is regularly commended for his thorough understanding of the law, compassion and dedication to his clients and their cases. We consistently receive excellent feedback, from clients and Counsels alike, highlighting the quality of Charles’ work, including his client-handling, strategic decision-making and drafting.
Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP
Katie is a Partner at Wesley Gryk. Her practice covers a full range of immigration and nationality matters. She has a particular specialisation in complex family cases under the Immigration Rules and on the basis of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to family and private life. Named as an Associate to Watch in Chambers UK and a Rising Star in the Legal 500.
Bindmans LLP
Partner, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality. Roberta has a particular interest in asylum and human rights claims, including unaccompanied minors and victims of trafficking. Her broad practice also includes advising on family based applications, such as children, partners, dependent relatives, and applications based on domestic violence, applications under EEA law, and nationality. Roberta also advises on challenges to deportation and the legality of detention. She represents applicants at both the application stage and at appeal in the First-Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal. She regularly brings judicial review challenges before the Upper Tribunal and Administrative Court, and has also obtained significant damages on behalf of people unlawfully detained by the Home Office.
Payne Hicks Beach LLP
Matt is a partner in the Citizenship & Immigration department. Since 2010 Matt has been advising high net worth individuals with regard to complex International Protection claims involving political persecution and corporate raiding as well as Public Law and Human Rights based applications. Matt advises high-net worth clients in relation to political asylum, judicial review, appeals, complex human rights and removals cases. Matt's breadth of experience allows him to adopt an inter-disciplinary approach and ensures that he is well-placed to develop creative, strategic solutions to assist and protect clients, and to work alongside Payne Hicks Beach's reputation protection and civil litigation teams where required. Matt has acted for high profile individuals and has been at the forefront of significant cases in the asylum field. He has experience of making asylum claims whilst simultaneously defending extradition requests. Together with his colleagues in the reputation and civil litigation teams, he is also able to deploy different legal tools to assist the client such as making and defending civil proceedings based on allegations of fraud and defamation all linked to the underlying corporate raiding attempt. The cases he has worked on range across a number of jurisdictions. Matt's experience has also extended to challenging Interpol red flag notices. In addition Matt has a breadth of experience of human right-based judicial review applications with broad advisory and court experience in complex proceedings of this nature. Matt also works closely with the non-contentious Immigration team with regard to UK visas, British citizenship and Indefinite Leave to Remain applications, often with a discretionary element and for applications interlinking with on-going litigation. Matter is the author of numerous articles written for the legal press and contributes to media reports on cases and developments in the law of citizenship & immigration. Publications of note: articles and/or comments on business immigration law have appeared on CNN (comments on Russian general who oversaw atrocities in Syria led cluster bomb attacks on civilians in Ukraine) and in, for instance, 'Time Magazine' (commentary on the increasing pressure on Russian oligarchs in the UK), 'The Times' and 'The Law Society Gazette' (providing an insight on the Ukraine Russia Crisis), 'The Bar Council guest blog' (Nationality and Borders Bill), 'Daily Telegraph' (commentary on the need to set up a Ukraine resettlement scheme), 'Independent' (commentary on the abrupt suspension of the Tier 1 (Investor) Visa), 'Law Society Gazette' (The closure of the Tier 1 visa route), ' FE News' (Is the UK still top class when it comes to international education?), 'Law 360' (commentary on Assange victory leaving whistleblowers, journalists hanging).
Kingsley Napley LLP
Katie is a Partner in Kingsley Napley’s Immigration team and she heads up the Private Client Immigration team within the department. She advises on all aspects of UK personal immigration with an emphasis on more complex matters. She also specialises in applications for high net worth individuals and those in the tech industry, nationality and human rights matters and claims for international protection. She has a particular interest in complicated family applications including those with international adoption and surrogacy elements, working closely with Kingsley Napley’s Family & Divorce team and contributing articles on this subject to the legal press. Katie writes and speaks regularly on UK immigration developments.
Leading individuals
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Bates Wells
Tim is a Partner in the Immigration Department advising clients across the full range of personal, and family-based immigration, and human rights and refugee based claims. More than 25 years qualified, he started his practice in the Legal Aid sector, moving on to work for 10 years within a highly regarded niche immigration firm: Wesley Gryk LLP, before joining Bates Wells. Tim led the Immigration Team as Head of Department for 5 years from 2018 to 2023. In addition to leading on the department's personal and human rights immigration practice, Tim is Bates Wells' LGBT+ Ambassador. He is equally at ease working with high-net-worth individuals and their families, organisations and businesses, couples and family groups, and vulnerable applicants.
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Steven is a Partner in Mishcon Private and heads up the Immigration group. With over fifteen years’ experience working as an immigration lawyer, Steven provides strategic, commercial, and informed advice to private individuals and organisations. Steven works with clients from all over the world with a specific focus on the United States, India, Europe, China, and South America. Steven is dual qualified as a lawyer in both England/Wales and also the United States and is a licenced attorney with the State Bar of California. Steven advises clients in respect of UK High Net Worth visa categories and is at the forefront of changes to these categories, regularly consulting with the Home Office to shape policy. Steven regularly advises in respect of asylum applications in the UK. Working closely alongside the firm's in-house Extradition group, he assists high profile individuals seeking political asylum in the UK. Steven provides long term strategic advice to help clients obtain ILR status and subsequent British citizenship. He has extensive experience with complex applications that require a solution based approach. Steven plays a pivotal role in the firm’s corporate immigration group, working with the Employment and Corporate departments to provide an integrated client service. He advises in respect of all business immigration issues for both employers and employees including sponsor licence applications, Skilled Worker visa applications, and general compliance issues. Steven also advises on European free movement rights, long residence applications, family-based applications, litigation matters in the Tribunals and claims for Judicial Review often with a human rights based element. He is also a leading authority on Brexit and works closely with the Firm's Brexit working group. In addition to Steven's UK based immigration work he also advises in respect of US immigration issues.
Payne Hicks Beach LLP
Kathryn is partner and head of the Citizenship & Immigration department. Kathryn practises across the spectrum of UK immigration and nationality law. She has extensive experience in applications under the investor, global talent, sole representative and innovator categories and associated applications for high net worth and high profile individuals. Her work in personal immigration extends to applications under the rules relating to partners, elderly relatives and children. She has significant expertise in applications for British citizenship and in complex applications and litigation.
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
Rose Carey is a partner and head of the firm’s Immigration group, specialising in business immigration, and has extensive knowledge in all aspects of immigration. Rose acts for a wide range of multinational enterprises as well as high net worth individuals dealing with corporate and personal immigration matters. She has significant experience in dealing with appeals before the First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal and judicial reviews. Rose often deals with complex immigration matters for clients and has assisted clients with arranging visas for urgent assignments and new hires. She also regularly advises clients in relation to their compliance with legislation on preventing illegal working and provides bespoke in house training on compliance and right to work issues. Rose frequently advises on Tier 1 (Investor) applications, acting for both clients of private banks and high net worth individuals and often presents on this topic. In addition to in-bound UK immigration, Rose has experience in advising on and co-ordinating immigration applications globally. Rose’s extensive contacts throughout the Immigration Authorities in the UK and with the British Diplomatic Posts around the world allow us to achieve exceptional results for all clients.
Wilson Solicitors LLP
Matthew is a partner in the immigration department with 20 years of immigration law experience. He specialises in all areas of immigration and nationality law including advising individuals and organisations. His recent focus of activity has been in respect to relationship applications, human rights work, students, workers and the points-based system. He has represented on many appeals over the years including numerous reported cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has experience of large complex cases including national security appeals before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. Matthew sits as a part-time immigration judge in the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).
Kingsley Napley LLP
Ilda is a partner in the immigration team with more than 19 years of UK corporate immigration law experience, managing large company clients as well as handling complex matters for individuals, British nationality applications, appeals, judicial reviews and applications under European Law including Brexit related advice. Ilda also has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of the Points Based System, including assisting employers with sponsor licence applications, to include advising on their compliance obligations. Equally, she has extensive experience in advising entrepreneurs and high-net worth individuals. Ilda has spoken on matters of immigration law for several distinguished organisations throughout her career. She has also written several articles on a variety of subjects relating to UK Immigration law.
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
Hazar is an immigration partner, known for her pragmatic, solution-oriented approach to solving her client’s immigration problems. She advises on the full spectrum of immigration routes, on citizenship, the EU Settlement Scheme and sponsor compliance. Her role as Chair of Trustees of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) means that she often liaises with senior UKVI officials raising policy and operational issues on behalf of the sector. She heads the firm’s private wealth immigration offering, working alongside colleagues to provide a full-service covering tax, family and real estate to those looking to relocate to the UK with their families. Hazar is recognised for her expertise in the education sector, built over 14 years. She advises on all aspects of compliance, risk management, and restructuring. Her clients include universities, independent schools and large private education providers. She is experienced in providing global immigration solutions to large multinational organisations from a wide range of sectors including retail, sports, entertainment and technology. Fluent in Arabic, she has contacts throughout the Middle East, in particular the UAE, and regularly visits the region. Hazar is a frequent speaker on immigration law.
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Sarah is a private client lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in a broad spectrum of UK immigration work. She acts for a wide range of clients from every part of the globe – household names and other prominent individuals, international families, UHNW and HNW individuals, professionals and business people, and stars recognised in the global entertainment industry.Her work covers immigration applications under the Investor and Business categories of the UK immigration rules. This includes applications for partners and children including adoption and surrogacy. She also advises on Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement and British Nationality applications. She has vast experience in helping clients to find innovative legal solutions in the most complex immigration situations.In addition, Sarah has a wide breadth of experience in contentious litigation cases for high profile individuals who are facing challenging circumstances and often require international protection. She has significant experience in advising high net worth individuals with regards to complex, politically sensitive protection cases involving political persecution as well as human rights-based applications.Sarah’s clients often regard her as their trusted advisor and call upon her for advice on all of their personal and business interests.
Wilson Solicitors LLP
Ana specialises in asylum and immigration. Her main areas of expertise are human trafficking, gender/sexuality-based persecution claims and EU law. She has conducted many cases in the immigration courts, Court of Appeal and Administrative Court. Ana has a growing practice in human trafficking cases, EU law applications and privately funded matters. Ana successfully represented the country guidance case of AM and BM (Trafficked women) Albania CG [2010] UKUT 80 (IAC), the first human trafficking case to come before the Court of Appeal, PO (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWCA Civ 132, the country guidance cases of AB (Protection – Criminal Gangs – Internal Relocation) Jamaica and MK (Lesbians) Albania, and in the Supreme Court case of RT [2012] UKSC38 on political opinion.
Wilson Solicitors LLP
Senior partner specialising in all aspects of asylum, nationality and immigration law, including family and relationship-based applications. Michael specialises in finding solutions to unusual situations and has experience of using the full range of immigration options including the points-based scheme and business solutions. He has had three cases in the House of Lords, namely Hasan Adan v SSHD [1997] 2 All ER 723 (on refugee protection for victims of civil war), Lul Adan v SSHD [1999] 4 All ER 774 (interpretation of Refugee Convention in context of a removal to Germany) and Saadi v SSHD [2002] UKHL (legality of detention of asylum seekers and Article 5 of the ECHR – this case proceeded to a full hearing in the Grand Chamber in Strasbourg in 2008). He has had the conduct of numerous cases at all levels of the judicial ladder. Michael was appointed as a fee paid immigration judge in 2006.
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Toufique Hossain is a director of public law and immigration at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. He works predominantly under legal aid in order to represent those most in need. His practise is dominated by judicial review, leading strategic litigation where he represents individual claimants and NGOs who seek to challenge Executive decisions, policies and practices. He has extensive experience in the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, litigating across a range of areas and regularly conducting high-profile challenges to unlawful policies and practices, including unlawful detention and unlawful removals from the UK.Some of his most notabe cases include: SM v Lord Chancellor [2021] EWHC 418 (CRA, CJO, CAS) v Lord Chancellor (challenge to LAA Regulations) Detention Action v SSHD (access to justice – phone access) FB & Anor v SSHD (Removal Window Policy) Hussein v SSHD & G4S Morita & Ors v SSHD Rehman & Ors v SSHD & SSJ TH and others [2016] EWCA Civ 815 Wasif v SSHD [2016] EWCA Civ 82 JS (Sudan) [2013] EWCA Civ 1378 Toufique continues to have conduct of several lead complex cases. He has had conduct in unlawful detention cases involving mental health issues; Rule 35 and evidence in relation torture; lead cases challenging removals to France, Cyprus and Malta; removals to DRC; challenges to detention involving long-term detention of Chinese nationals and Afghan charter flight cases. In addition to challenging injustice through litigation, Toufique aims to advocate human rights by speaking out in the media. His appearances in The Guardian, Sky News, Russia Today, BBC and Channel 4 brings attention to the crucial role of legal aid, in holding the executive to account and in providing justice for those most in need.
Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP
Alison is a partner at Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP. Her practice covers all areas of immigration and nationality law, with a particular emphasis on the European Settlement Scheme and immigration law in international adoptions.
Kingsley Napley LLP
Marcia joined as a partner in the immigration team in January 2014. She has practised in the area of immigration, nationality and European law since 1998. Marcia is a leading expert on corporate immigration covering mergers and acquisitions. She is incredibly knowledgeable with HR policy, compliance and risk analysis; reporting and audit planning; high touch service planning for executives and VIPs; business traveller compliance; cost and budgeting as well as global project planning. Marcia also provides training to HR professionals and practitioners on all aspects of immigration law.
Lewis Silkin
Partner. A key member of the Sports Group and Head of Immigration. Specialises in business and personal immigration including applications under the Points Based System and the strategic issues arising from the restrictions on skilled migration. The sports practice focuses on player transfer work and sporting disputes. Contributor to Butterworths Sports & Law Practice.
Wilson Solicitors LLP
Muhunthan became a partner in 2010. He has a broad immigration and asylum practice and extensive experience of litigating in the higher courts. He has been instructed in numerous cases in the Upper Tribunal, Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Muhunthan also sits on the Law Society Immigration Law Committee. The committee exists to keep the law under review and to promote improvements in immigration and asylum law, practice and procedure. In 2016 the committee published a practice note on immigration judicial review aimed at solicitors in this area http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/practice-notes/immigration-judicial-review/ In 2017 the committee published a practice note on immigration appeals. https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/practice-notes/immigration-appeals/ In 2019 the committee published a response to the Law Commission consultation on the simplification of the immigration rules with Muhunthan’s input. https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/policy-campaigns/consultation-responses/simplification-of-the-immigration-rules/ In 2018 Muhunthan acted for Rhuppiah in the UK Supreme Court. He had previously acted for the client in the Court of Appeal. The appeal was successful in the UKSC and the client has been awarded a full costs order, which is very important to her because it means that she will get a full refund in respect of her legal aid contributions. The Supreme Court clarified the correct approach to “precarious” in S 117 in the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. https://www.wilsonllp.co.uk/supreme-court-gives-guidance-on-the-right-to-private-life-in-immigration-removal-cases In open court at the conclusion of the oral hearing Lord Wilson stated: “This case was beautifully prepared by the solicitors - just how an appeal to the Supreme Court ought to be presented”. That was an oral endorsement for the quality of the work undertaken by Muhunthan in the Supreme Court and was included in the live streaming broadcast of the proceedings. The UKSC report is at: https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/uk/cases/UKSC/2018/58.html&query=(rhuppiah)
Bates Wells
Chetal is Head of Immigration at Bates Wells. She is recognised as a leader in UK business related immigration matters and provides pragmatic solutions to complex matters. Chetal's clients operate in a number of sectors including charity, creative, finance, media and IT. The nature of Chetal's work has also meant that she has plenty of experience advising a broad range of clients from high-net-worth individuals and start-up companies to multinational companies. Chetal regularly advises on sponsor related matters, including compliance issues and global talent applications, entry to the UK as visitors and options for investors and entrepreneurs. Chetal is regularly involved in policy work and actively lobbies on behalf of organisations. Chetal regularly delivers training sessions on business immigration related topics to fellow practitioners and organisations and frequently speaks at international events. Chetal also contributes commentary and know-how to journalists.
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Maria is a Partner in Mishcon Private advising individual and corporate clients on all areas of Immigration law. Her clients benefit from her vast technical knowledge and experience in dealing with exceptional cases, as well as her ability to provide innovative and bespoke solutions. Maria has substantive expertise across all UK visa application types from Points Based System applications and settlement route applications, to highly complex and discretionary applications outside of the Immigration Rules. Under the Points Based System, Maria regularly advises on sponsor licences and sponsor compliance for companies wishing to employ workers under the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility visa categories. She also has considerable experience in relation to Sole Representative visas which now also fall under the UK Expansion Worker visa category. Maria regularly advises on and assists with fiancée/spouse/civil partnership and unmarried partner applications and often assists such clients where complex circumstances arise. Maria's clients also include European nationals seeking advice in relation to their UK immigration status post-Brexit and clients who require assistance with appeals to the Immigration Tribunal and with Judicial Review applications. Many of her clients wish to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and subsequent British citizenship. This often involves complex matters such as excess absences from the UK requiring the exercise of discretion by the Home Office. Maria assists with the provision of long term strategic advice, as well as establishing links and connections with the UK for such clients. Maria has recently been awarded Human Rights Solicitor of the Year by the Law Society for her extraordinary efforts to ensure that the protection of human rights law is available to all. In fact, she has many years of experience, especially with regard to political asylum claims mainly on the basis of clients' political affiliations or membership of certain social groups. Maria also regularly assists clients with obtaining second residencies or citizenships. Maria led the firm's involvement in a Judicial Review on behalf of the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens ("PRCBC"), which went to the Supreme Court, in relation to the profit-making element of the citizenship application fee and it being unaffordable for some children. The finding from the Court of Appeal on the PRCBC case in relation to section 55 and the best interests of the child still stands and demonstrates Maria's conviction to advocate for a fair and accessible immigration system. The immigration element of Pink Law, a free legal advice service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, was founded by Maria. As a result of the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, Maria also co-founded the Black Justice Project in partnership with Queen Mary University, University of London Legal Advice Centre, to help tackle/combat the long-term discrimination against the Black community. Maria is the immigration representative in the firm's Sports Group. She regularly advises football clubs in the UK regarding obtaining visas for players and has also advised in relation to rugby, golf and darts. Maria has also advised various sports governing bodies in relation to their immigration sponsorship rules. Maria has delivered the Immigration & Sport training for MBL for a number of years. She is also part of Mishcon Purpose, which provides specialist and purpose-driven advice and she recently launched Climate Migration Project. Its aim is to recognise and raise awareness around the issue of climate-induced mobility and displacement of people, and legislate on the issue of recognising climate migration refugees in the UK by potentially creating a separate immigration category. Maria often appears in the press and has been quoted in the FT, The Times, The Guardian, The Evening Standard and City A.M., as well as featuring on Sky Sports News, Channel 4 online and BBC television and radio in relation to topical and high profile immigration matters.
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
Pat is an immigration partner who advises corporate and education sector clients, including the board of various universities and large private sector clients on risk management, sponsor compliance matters, partnership arrangements and the immigration aspects of business restructuring. Pat often liaises with senior UKVI officials on behalf of clients. She also has experience of challenging UKVI decisions to suspend, revoke or other UKVI action against sponsors. Her specialist areas of work also include immigration services for private individuals, many of whom are applying for Tier 1 investor and entrepreneur visas. She has a wealth of experience in dealing with human rights cases, appeals, judicial reviews and Court of Appeal matters. Her clients are spread across the firm’s education, charities, retail, sports and entertainment and technology sectors.
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