Doyle Clayton
Doyle Clayton delivers ‘the high quality of immigration service demanded by their clientele’ in both the routine and more complex immigration mandates. Anita de Atouguia heads the practice, leading primarily in relation to the firm’s business offering, yet with additional significant experience in asylum and human rights immigration issues, she is well-placed to advise clients with their complex matters. Malini Skandachanmugarasan leads in the firm’s personal immigration work, with a track record in cases reliant on Home Office discretion and experience in global mobility for business clients. Alfreda Joubert joined the team from Magrath Sheldrick LLP in April 2023, and has a specific focus on global corporate clients and SMEs across a range of sectors. Also of note are senior associates Adam Cotterill, who has experience handling international adoption and surrogacy cases, Anna Blackenden, who has a sector focus in education, and Elisabeth Kynaston, who has dual immigration and employment law practice.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'My lawyer was Adam Cotterill. He was outstanding, consistently professional and reassuring. My experience with him was extremely positive and resulted in the best outcome I could wish for.'
- 'The immigration team have always been very professional in approach, with an excellent understanding of client need. The team are readily available to discuss issues and to offer advice and support.'
- 'The team at Doyle Clayton are the best I've used. They provide detailed advice but give that edge of making it easy for the layperson to comprehend.'
- 'Those individual team members that I've had the pleasure of working with are all extremely professional, whilst having that human element of making you feel at ease and comfortable in asking any relevant question (no matter how obvious it might be!).'
- 'Anita's team is helpful, responsive and dependable, as they are always within reach, and consistently follow through their commitments made. The team gives clear, up-to-date information and advice to help clients navigate the complexities of visa requirements and issues. The team is also great at giving alternative solutions/workarounds to visa challenges.'
- 'What most impresses me about Doyle Clayton's approach, led by Anita de Atouguia, is that it is quality driven. Client's interests are properly assessed, and the best solution offered, rather than the easiest. Anita's leadership ensures that the entire team are supported to deliver a seamless and commercial service for their clients, and go the extra mile.'
- 'Anita de Atouguia is a leader. She has built the Doyle Clayton team, orienting them to deliver the high quality of immigration service demanded by their clientele. Never one to rest on old understanding, she constantly liaises with the Home Office to ensure that advice is based on current Home Office practice and policy.'
- 'I was impressed by the speed of response and the level of expertise and resources that Malini Skandachanmugarasan and her team were able to offer. Moreover, Malini and her team listen well to the clients' needs and make the clients feel really valued.'
Work highlights
- Obtaining ILR in the UK for a victim of domestic violence despite a historical conviction for an offence committed under coercion by their partner.
- Applying for discretionary leave to remain for an individual who became seriously unwell while visiting the UK and needs vital private medical treatment.
- Navigated the UK immigration system to reunite a British-Afghan family when they were separated after the Taliban takeover.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Anita de Atouguia, Malini Skandachanmugarasan