The 'energetic, responsive and very well organised' team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors has developed a market-leading reputation representing clients in immigration and asylum claims, at both first instance and appellate levels. 'Level headed and energetic' team head Vinita Templeton goes 'above and beyond in order to come up with solutions for complex matters', often for very vulnerable clients, including those that are the victims of trafficking and/or torture. Templeton has scored numerous victories over the years in judicial review claims, frequently achieving success for clients where appeal rights had previously been exhausted. Consultant solicitor Vanessa Delgado also has significant experience in the field and regularly conducts advocacy at both First and Upper Tribunal levels.
Immigration in Wales
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Practice head(s):
Vinita Templeton
Other key lawyers:
Vanessa Delgado
Testimonials
‘Those lawyers instructing me from Duncan Lewis always send comprehensive instructions and well prepared documentation showing a keen understanding of the relevant legal issues together with a natural empathy for the concerns of the client.’
‘They were great, energetic, responsive and very well organised. They use modern technology in their work and respond at all times and quickly.’
‘Vinita Templeton is always aware of any changing factual circumstance and addresses issues in a proactive and timely fashion, ensuring that appeal cases are as prepared as they can be before final hearing.’
‘Vinita Templeton is well educated and up to date with all new laws and changes.‘
‘Vinita Templeton is level headed, energetic and goes above and beyond in order to come up with solutions for complex matters.’
Work highlights
Newfields
The 'approachable, hardworking and engaging' team at Cardiff-based immigration boutique Newfields has quickly gained a foothold in the market since establishing in 2018 as a result of its ability to provide 'pragmatic advice' to businesses, individuals, sporting entities and higher education providers across a range of immigration matters. 'Knowledgeable and highly approachable' founding partner Glyn Lloyd has been pivotal to the firm's success, which has not only experienced rapid growth in Cardiff but also led to the establishment of a new office in Bristol. Although he is active across a range of sectors, Lloyd has perhaps gained most acclaim for his work in the sports field, including for many English Football League clubs on UK and visa immigration matters. Stacey Vaughan-Jones and Samuel Bass (the latter who joined in September 2022 from Duncan Lewis Solicitors) are 'very knowledgeable about all aspects of immigration law', with Bass, in particular, being instrumental in building on public sector relationships, including the firm's role for the Welsh government in relation to EU Settlement Scheme advice.
Practice head(s):
Glyn Lloyd; Lee Campbell; Stacey Vaughan-Jones
Other key lawyers:
Samuel Bass
Testimonials
‘The team is approachable, hardworking and engaging.’
‘They are very attentive, understanding and pragmatic with their advice.’
‘The key strength is the intersecting knowledge of the education sector and immigration law, as well as being very aware of the needs of our student clients.’
Key clients
Welsh Government
The National Library of Wales
Specsavers
Millwall FC
The Basketball League and the London Lions
Rugby Football Union
Exeter Chiefs
Warrington Wolves
Dorgan Horses Limited and Raunaq Anand
EUI Limited (trading as Admiral Insurance)
Work highlights
- Delivery of a national advisory immigration advisory service and First Tier Tribunal representation supporting over 600 family members in Wales, with a recent extension to the remit of the contract to provide tailored services to the Health and Social Care sector on behalf of Welsh Government.
- Representing Specsavers in relation to sponsor licence applications for Specsavers stores UK-wide, complete with 300 visa applications enabling directors to mobilise staff, including more strategic advice to identify immigration solutions to enable this client’s new domiciliary eyecare services.
- Procuring 18 UK visas for London Lions’ male and female basketball players including general skilled workers at the club.
Capital Law Limited
Led on a day-to-day level by senior associate Alex Christen , as well as leveraging its broader overarching employment offering which is headed by Richard Thomas , Capital Law Limited provides a ‘hardworking and responsive’ service across a range of business immigration matters. Post-Brexit the team has been particularly active helping employers (including in the hospitality, finance and social housing sectors) obtain sponsor licences, thereby enabling them, under the right circumstances, to recruit from outside the UK.
Practice head(s):
Richard Thomas
Other key lawyers:
Alex Christen; Angharad Aspinall
Testimonials
‘They are hardworking and responsive.’
Key clients
Hansen Technologies (formally Sigma Systems Limited)
PCI Pharma Services
Voltalia UK Limited
Johnsons Hotel Linen
Howard Tenens Limited
Verisure Services (UK) Limited
APEM Limited
Charles Dark and Sheila Simpson trading as The Wynnstay
Hafod Housing Association Limited
Creditsafe Services
Work highlights
- Advising Verisure Services UK Limited as a licence sponsor holder and in relation to wider immigration issues.
- Successfully supporting the Wynnstay Hotel in their application to obtain a sponsor licence, enabling them to recruit from outside the UK.
- Supporting Hafod Housing Association Limited with its sponsor licence application so that it may make use of the relatively recent addition of care roles to the shortage occupation list, and sponsor people into vacancies in its care homes.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Acting on its own, as well as engaging support from its Birmingham office - which was recently bolstered by the return of Nerys Ireland after a brief stint at Mishcon de Reya LLP - Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is particularly effective at handling immigration work for education clients. Senior associate Francesca Smith is the principal contact from Cardiff and handles all aspects of immigration including sponsor licence and compliance issues, right to work and visa queries.
Practice head(s):
Francesca Smith