England - London • Employment
2

Immigration

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

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Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP provides a full service immigration offering for a range of clients, but possesses particular sector strengths in relation to education, tech, and private wealth. As a freestanding immigration practice within a full-service law firm, the team is able to leverage both a genuine immigration specialism and wider offerings in related areas of tax, employment, and corporate law. The firm’s offering has been bolstered by the addition of the audit compliance and training arm to the immigration team. Practice head Pat Saini is also the co-lead of the firm’s India group, and deploys her substantial experience in education and tech to related matters. Hazar El-Chamaa leads on private wealth work, acting for clients from every part of the world, while senior associate Meghan Vozila works with HNW clients, particularly in creative industries. Associate Jen Parker joined from Bindmans LLP in September 2022, and brings expertise in private individual cases, namely those related to exceptional applications and engaging human rights.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Their advice was accurate, helpful and timely. We had a time deadline, and with their cooperation were able to meet the target time.'
  • 'They are approachable. No question is too small or too foolish. All of our queries have been answered thoroughly. Advice has been accurate.'
  • 'Excellent service from start to finish. The whole team are very professional. I highly recommend them. They have been very punctual with appointments and prompt in their communications. Great service, fast, efficient and great value.'
  • 'They understood my requirements immediately and provided the required advice and accompanying documentation within a pressured timeline and for a reasonable fee. Highly recommended.'
  • 'Committed, responsive, practical, and judicious and persistent in the follow-up of applications with urgency considerations where appropriate.'
  • 'Pat Saini, partner & head of immigration, is an expert at navigating the immigration process with the Home Office and other relevant ministries. She is knowledgeable and highly responsive to the needs of clients. Moreover, she delegates tasks effectively to subordinates to achieve the desired results in a timely manner.'
  • 'Pennington Manches Cooper LLP was easy to work with, and I always received necessary support.'
  • 'Pat Saini is a great leader with good judgment, and who responds swiftly and well to urgent situations.'

Key clients

  • Galileo Global Education
  • Regent’s university
  • Portsmouth University
  • S P Jain School of Management
  • Valero
  • Nexus Productions
  • The Oversight Board
  • Navitas
  • Student Circus
  • Dhani

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.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Pat Saini
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.
Hazar El-Chamaa
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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Pat Saini, Hazar El-Chamaa

Other key lawyers

Jen Parker, Meghan Vozila

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