OTB Legal

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At OTB Legal, founding partner Mark Lilley-Tams heads the personal immigration department, with a caseload consisting of a range of deprivation of citizenship matters, including a landmark case in which a client is facing deprivation on the basis of criminality, in addition to a number of judicial review applications. Fellow co-founder Sally McEwen leads the business immigration arm, with a particular focus on technology, gaming and tech start-up companies. She routinely assists clients with sponsor licences, entry clearance, switching and change of employment applications, and Home Office auditory processes. Associate Lydia Watkinson likewise focuses on sponsorship, and is a go-to lawyer for individuals relocating from Hong Kong thanks to her specialism in the Hong Kong (BNO) visa. The team was further bolstered by the arrival of Emma Cohen from Bindmans LLP in February 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is friendly and responsive and I find the free 30 minutes consultation extremely useful. The appointment can also be booked online.’

  • 'Atty is truly professional and knowledgeable. She was always there when we needed help. We truly enjoy working with her.'

Key clients

  • Sharkmob London Limited
  • Symrise Ltd
  • Human Security Ltd
  • The Rug Company
  • NuVision Biotherapies
  • ISP Ltd
  • One World Information Services Ltd
  • Futaba Manufacturing UK Ltd
  • Senovo IT Ltd
  • Don Percival – Brewin Dolphin 1762
  • ATC Drivetrain

Work highlights

  • Advised Symrise on renewing the company’s sponsor licence for skilled worker and ICT, and retained by the company to manage its licence activity as a level 1 user.
  • Assisted Human Security, an international cyber security company headquartered in New York, to secure a skilled worker and ICT licence for the company in order that they had the ability to employ international experts in London.
  • Assisted The Rug Company in its sponsor licence application and upgrade, retaining work as a level 1 user, and EC applications.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Lydia Watkinson
Lydia is an Associate Solicitor in ther Business Immigeation Team at OTB Legal Lydia has experience in both family applications and work visas. Lydia has experience of working on complex legal cases, and has successfully represented clients in complex judicial review challenges.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Mark Lilley-Tams
Mark is a Solicitor and cofounder of OTB Legal. Mark is head of the Personal Immigration Team.
Sally McEwen
Sally McEwen is a director and cofounder of OTB Legal Sally completed her law degree at the University of Essex. She has been practising immigration law for 19 years. Prior to becoming a Director at OTB Legal, Sally has worked in private practice for both niche immigration law firms, and in immigration departments for larger firms, being head of the immigration team at a London firm. Sally also spent time working for a large not for profit organisation. Sally is an experienced advocate in both the First Tier, and Upper Tier Tribunals. Areas of Expertise Sally specialises in all aspects of the Points Based System (Tier 1 (Investor) and Entrepreneur), Tier 2 sponsor licences, and Tier 2 employment and Tier 4 student and sponsor licences) Level 2 Accredited Advisor and Supervisor under the Solicitors Regulation Authority Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme Country Guidance cases of AA (Non-Arab Darfuris – relocation) Sudan CG [2009] UKAIT 00056 and MN and others (Ahmadis – country conditions – risk) Pakistan CG [2012] UKUT 00389 (IAC) Level 2 Accredited Advisor and Supervisor under the Law Society Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme. Sally was instructed as the immigration advisor on the documentary programme ‘Exposure Undercover Colleges’ .

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sally McEwen, Mark Lilley-Tams

Other key lawyers

Lydia Watkinson, Atty Adetula, Emma Cohen