Specialist immigration law boutique Paragon Law
acts for a wide variety of national and foreign corporates, especially European and German-based organisations. The business and workers unit is jointly headed by Kirin Abbas and Thalej Vasishta, with Nigel Smith and Emma Okenyi focusing on private client and family visas. Deirdre Sheahan has 15 years worth of experience representing asylum seekers in UK and European Courts.
Immigration in East Midlands
Paragon Law
Practice head(s):
Kirin Abbas; Thalej Vasishta; Nigel Smith; Emma Okenyi; Deirdre Sheahan
Testimonials
‘Paragon Law is a unique specialist immigration law firm, and that is where their strength and key capabilities lies. They have lawyers dedicated to business; family immigration; asylum & human rights and deportation & detention. This specialization enables their lawyers to become familiar with their area of immigration law and ensures that they fully understand the process, and law changes which ultimately results in high rate successful cases.’
‘Deirdre Sheahan is the precious gem at Paragon Law. She is a symbol of kindness, patience and empathy combined with an excellent professionalism.’
‘Deirdre Sheahan is outstanding. She works so hard for her clients and leads her team effectively. Her high standards are visible not only in her work, but that of her team members. Deirdre is extremely knowledgeable and is a pleasure to work for, with detailed and realistic instructions.’
‘The greatest strength of Paragon Law’s immigration department is the emphasis they place on diligent and effective case preparation, in order to maximise the chance of their client\’s relevant Home Office application either succeeding, or else to ensure that any subsequent Tribunal appeal or judicial review application has the greatest chances of being allowed. ‘
‘Thalej Vasishta went above an beyond to provide personal support to us with our immigration queries and cases.’
Key clients
Purico Group
Vision Express UK Limited
Toyota Manufacturing UK Limited
University of Nottingham
SGS Hotels Group
Valcon
Uniper
Nottingham Trent University
Mitchells and Butlers
InIt GmbH
Work highlights
- Advising German company Zimmermann Industriemontage GmbH on transferring 35 staff to the UK to work on infrastructure projects in the North of England.
- Following the change in ownership of Uniper UK Limited we advised the business on the transfer to a new sponsor licence and the management of their existing sponsored workers.
- Advising U.S. media company Arden Media LLC on setting up their UK subsidiary in London and advising on the transfer of key personnel from the U.S. to manage the new office.
Shoosmiths LLP
Shoosmiths LLP‘s national business immigration unit is headed up by Rachel Harvey with assistance from the wider employment group. The team reports a significant uptick in new instructions in sponsorship licence applications, complex issues arising from Brexit, Frontier worker permits and late EU Settlement applications, among others, and is also equipped to offer personal immigration advice.
Practice head(s):
Rachel Harvey
Testimonials
‘My experience working with Rachel Harvey has been one of total confidence. She has been helpful, knowledgeable and extremely accommodating to my requirements of their services. ‘
‘Rachel Harvey. She is extremely personable, willing to share her knowledge and will always follow up on queries as promised.’
‘The immigration team are extremely knowledge and quick to react. They will always go the extra mile to ensure that you receive a response to any queries submitted.’
Cartwright King
Cartwright King‘s immigration practice handles all aspects of personal and business immigration work, with instructions on sponsorship licenses, family visas and spousal applications and tribunal appeals, being its primary areas of expertise. The practice is also routinely instructed by local authorities to assist with applications to secure status for vulnerable children in care and victims of domestic violence. ‘Exceptional‘ department head Rita Kotecha has significant experience in objecting to civil penalties received for employing illegal workers.
Practice head(s):
Rita Kotecha
Testimonials
‘The practice is highly integrated and everything runs seamlessly, from first point of contact to billing and receiving legal advice.’
‘Rita Kotecha has been exceptional. She has great communication skills, she’s able to breakdown and communicate a complex issues/legalities so everything is crystal clear. Rita always delivers what she says on time, very professional, diligent and always assists with a smile on her face. She’s a real asset to the her firm.’
‘Rita Kotecha as always handled my visa applications and I have found her to be dedicated to help you and very knowledgably, friendly and available to answer any quires. She is one of the main reasons I use her law firm.’
Work highlights
- Offered extensive advice and guidance to a company in relation to preparing and securing of an urgent Sponsorship licence, in order to recruit experts in the technical field, and provided detailed advice on the ever changing Immigration rules. Said company are an international organisation and are manufacturers of robust scientific instrumentation and solutions used for measuring and monitoring in weather, water, energy, infrastructures, gas turbulence and flux.
- Advised and assisted Education based organisation in securing a sponsorship licence and preparation of an urgent application to employ a specialist teacher from Trinidad and Tobago. This instruction is time sensitive due to the demands of the school and academic year. The Company is growing at a tremendous rate and it is vital these skilled worker applications are dealt with care and expedition.
- Advised and assisted a manufacturing company queries regarding a Overseas Business Application for a Chinese National and his dependants. Instructions regarding the sole representative of an overseas business planning to set up either a UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary. Provided extensive advice of the Immigration Rules and requirements. The company is a leading international manufacturer of aerospace finished components. The company is a subsidiary of a larger organisation with other subsidiaries in China and France. The company has a number of offices in the UK, Poland, France and China. Their customers include Airbus, Gulfstream, Rolls- Royce and Triumph Group.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s national immigration practice is led from Birmingham by Audrey Elliott; the key name in Nottingham is ‘outstanding’ principal associate Emily Hasted. The firm’s immigration practitioners work in tandem with their employment counterparts, advising corporate clients on visas, right to work support and other compliance matters, often on an international scale.
Practice head(s):
Audrey Elliott
Other key lawyers:
Emily Hasted
Testimonials
‘Eversheds has supported us for a quite few years, not only in immigration laws but also in employment law-related matters. Everyone in this firm is incredibly efficient, knowledgeable and professional. The firm keeps us updated with all the latest law/regulations changes, which we find extremely helpful.’
‘Emily Hasted is an outstanding lawyer, knowledgeable, efficient, and has a sense of urgency for each case. I know how busy she is, but she always makes herself available for us whenever we have questions or need support.’
Key clients
Mediabrands Limited
OTB Legal
OTB Legal offers both business and personal immigration services and is recognised for its track record in successful representation of clients in deprivation of citizenship cases, appeals, and, in the non-contentious space, assisting with spouse and naturalisation applications. It also launched the Sponsor Licence MOT service, which functions as an audit tool for existing clients and sponsorship holders. Mark Lilley-Tams is the lead solicitor for private immigration work, with Sally McEwen heading the business immigration unit.
Practice head(s):
Sally McEwen; Mark Lilley-Tams
Testimonials
‘Mark Lilley-Tams is a very positive person very professional and it seems to know what he is talking about. He made me feel calm in very stressful time.’
‘Mark Lilley-Tams has been great. Open honest and very thorough in his advice. All letters written to us were detailed and full of explanation of different options, in a language that is not legal jargon, but at the same time self-explanatory of the complicated process. ‘
‘This practice is the best immigration practice I have ever dealt with. Very professional and hard working team.’
‘Sally McEwen was very knowledgeable, organised and helpful. I really felt that I am in safe hands with her as she always have the answer to my enquires.’
‘The team has an exceptional approach in helping international clients understand the complexities of immigration into the UK with clients then being able to make informed decisions.’
‘Sally McEwen has a wonderful and natural level of EQ, just knowing how to make clients feel confident and calm, yet delivering client solutions with tenacity and passion for the relationship and the long-term well-being of the client and their family.’
Key clients
Symrise Limited
The Rug Company
ISP Limited
Human Security Limited
Sharkmob (UK) Limited
Autify Digital
Ambergreen Health and Social Care
NuVision Biotherapies Limited
One World Information Services Limited
ATC Drivetrain
Work highlights
- Advised multinational tech company Sharkmob on obtaining a sponsor licence for their London UK office and provide ongoing sponsor management support
- Supported NuVision Biotherapies with retaining their sponsor licence and assisted with a complex urgent switching application for a member of staff.
- Successfully overturned a deprivation of citizenship decision by the Home Office at appeal on grounds that it was incompatible with published policy and the client’s human rights.
Chattertons
Chattertons‘ Boston based team is headed by Catherine Maclay and is able to offer private and business immigration services. Key areas of strength include family migration, British citizenship applications, asylum and humanitarian protection matters, as well as assistance to employers and sponsors of foreign workers.
Practice head(s):
Catherine Maclay
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Duncan Lewis Solicitors‘ Leicester team has significant expertise in immigration, asylum, and judicial review claimant matters. Alexis Masolo is the key figure and routinely conducts appeals before the Immigration Asylum Chamber, advises and assists unaccompanied asylum seeking children, and also handles entry clearance matters.
Practice head(s):
Alexis Masolo
Testimonials
‘Alexis Masolo always goes above and beyond. She’s excellent at what she does and very understanding.’
‘The exceptional reception was one of the main reasons why I chose to deal with this company. Everything related to my case was explained very professionally.’
‘Alexis Masolo has incredible communication and ensures that the clients are fully aware of their case, and uses interpreters and translation where necessary to ensure this communication is clear.’
‘Alexis Masolo communicates brilliantly with us as professionals, and with the clients directly. She is patient and kind and explains everything clearly to the clients to ensure they are aware of their case, and what progress it has made.
‘Alexis Masolo works incredibly hard to get a positive result for our clients, including sourcing psychological reports and other evidence where necessary. Alexis uses interpreters and translation services to ensure that our clients fully understand their case.’