Firms To Watch: Immigration

Founded in 2020, boutique immigration firm Helen Smith Immigration Ltd has a fast-growing team and significant experience in the digital and technology sectors.

Immigration in South East

Birketts LLP

Birketts LLP assists an array of clients across its offices in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, Kent, London and Norwich. The department’s key strengths lie in business immigration including expansion worker visas, global talent visas, indefinite leave to remain and sponsor licensing. Sacha Wooldridge leads the team and frequently advises corporate organisations with domestic immigration compliance obligations. With over 2 decades of experience, Chelmsford-based Janice Leggett is often engaged in immigration matters pertaining to UK commercial film production, and assists private individuals with ancestry, and domestic violence visas.

Practice head(s):

Sacha Wooldridge


Other key lawyers:

Janice Leggett


Key clients

Advertising Producers Association


TTP Plc


Raspberry Pi Limited


Hanover Investors Management LLP


Apolitical


Biscuit Filmworks


Artios Pharma


Frontier Developments Plc


GSA Capital


Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) UK


CuraConn


Grace Church Brockley


Arena Racing Group


Bobbies


Work highlights


  • Assisted Bobbies in securing a UK expansion worker visa by the Home Office.
  • Advised and represented a premier league football club on administrative review in respect of EU settlement scheme status refusal for a first team player.

Clarkslegal LLP

Clarkslegal LLP is well-equipped to assist clients on the full spectrum of business immigration matters, and advises individuals on EEA matters, leave to remain, and spouse visas. Monica Atwal leads the team from Reading and aids entrepreneurs, investors and international companies wishing to establish themselves in the UK with a range of issues. Rebecca Hone splits her time between Reading and London and is seasoned in representing commercial clients in challenging unlawful civil penalties and invalid sponsor licence suspensions issued by the Home Office.

Practice head(s):

Monica Atwal


Other key lawyers:

Rebecca Hone


Key clients

Jardine Motors Group UK Limited


Tetra Tech Inc


Mishipay Ltd


Work highlights


  • Acted for Tetra Tech Inc. by providing full immigration support and training the client’s HR team.
  • Advised Jardine Motors Group UK Limited on various immigration issues.
  • Advised MishiPay on skilled worker visa applications for overseas software engineer recruits.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

With extensive knowledge in challenging human rights breaches in removal and unlawful detention cases, Duncan Lewis Solicitors frequently helms asylum, deportation and immigration mandates. Toufique Hossain often caters to asylum-seekers who have been victims of sexual abuse, torture, and trafficking. Rohena Wallace is experienced in representing vulnerable clients, including those being held under immigration powers and with mental health problems. All of the individuals that have been mentioned split their time between Harrow and London.

Practice head(s):

Bahar Ata; Claire Ryan; Gergana Pentcheva; Nazia Khan; Pardeep Somel; Rohena Wallace; Satvir Sahota; Toufique Hossain; Vilash Gami


Other key lawyers:

Jeremy Bloom; Sophie Lucas; Hannah Baynes


Testimonials

‘Duncan Lewis as a team have impressed me with their professionalism, patience, and responsiveness to my needs. The practice has a diverse workforce and effective collaborations with experts from the legal sector as well as other sectors.’

‘What distinguishes the Duncan Lewis is their genuine care which is reflected by their commitment to learning about, understanding and addressing my concerns, even the very small details.’

‘Duncan Lewis are vital partners for us, taking on asylum and immigration cases for clients in detention, often these are clients who would be without good representation otherwise.’

‘This team is unique in its ability to bring important test cases against key parts of government immigration policy, for example: the Rwanda litigation; the pushbacks litigation; challenges to the modern slavery statutory guidance.’

‘A leading practice in all the big strategic litigation around immigration. They are now the team to beat. Totally top end – completely brilliant; strategic thinking and judgment, they work at speed and under pressure.’

‘Toufique Hossain is a tireless advocate for migrants’ rights. He has a unique eye for spotting strategic issues and a truly brilliant understanding of the sector.’

‘Toufique Hossain is a unique operator in the immigration field. He has put together an excellent team that has the capacity to identify issues of wider importance from Duncan Lewis’s routine work. Nobody in the sector can match his breadth of vision, team-building skills, or contacts.’

‘Toufique Hossain quietly manages everything and everyone, and his juniors speak unbelievably highly of him.’

Key clients

Public and Commercial Services Union, Care 4 Calais, Detention Action alongside six asylum seekers


HT, Detention Action & Public & Commercial Services Union


MG


QH


WRW v SSHD


Hareth Brothers


KA


Public and Commercial Services Union and Care 4 Calais v SSHD


F5


SH


Work highlights


  • Challenged the SSHD’s ‘Rwanda policy’ to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda. This challenge ultimately resulted in no individuals being removed to Rwanda.
  • Challenged the wrongful detention of thousands of asylum seekers in Kent were unlawfully detained.

Stevens & Bolton LLP

The ‘knowledgeable’  team Stevens & Bolton LLP is thoroughly experienced in business immigration and is geared to assist clients with sponsor licence issues arising from changes in corporate structures, sales, and TUPE transfers. Head of the team Kerry Garcia utilises her expertise in employment law to advise clients on matters where immigration and employment issues overlap, while Jackie Penlington is adept in naturalisation and registration applications. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Guilford.

Practice head(s):

Kerry Garcia


Other key lawyers:

Jackie Penlington


Testimonials

‘The team is extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. They go out of their way to make the immigration process go smoothly without complications.’

‘Very quick to respond with applicable advice and extremly proactive.’

‘Kerry Garcia is superb. An excellent black letter lawyer but also a sound communicator – she can distil difficult issues into practical advice.’

Key clients

Asahi UK Ltd and Asahi UK group companies


Accord Healthcare Limited


BMI Group Holdings UK Limited


RBB Economics LLP


Anders Electronics Plc


EverisConsultancy Limited


MQA Limited


Sonardyne International Limited


iGuzzini Illuminazione U.K. Limited


JKX Oil & Gas Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Accord Healthcare Ltd in relation to all UK immigration matters including skilled worker and senior or specialist worker applications.
  • Advised the Asahi group of companies in relation to all its UK immigration matters including complex immigration issues that arose from internal corporate restructuring.
  • Assisted Sonardyne International Ltd with successfully applying for its sponsor licence and in relation to adding overseas and UK linked entities to its sponsor licence.

B P Collins LLP

B P Collins LLP routinely advises high-net-worth individuals, domestic companies seeking to hire foreign nationals and corporate clients wishing to gain sponsor licenses. Jo Davis in the Thames Valley is geared to handle the full array of employment law matters, while Chris Brazier is knowledgeable of the old and new points-based system and SMS. Kathryn Fielder often assists sponsored employees, whereas Greg Clark supports private clients. All mentioned individuals split their time between London and the Thames Valley, unless stated otherwise.

Practice head(s):

Jo Davis; Chris Brazier


Other key lawyers:

Kathryn Fielder; Greg Clark


Testimonials

‘Lawyers at BP Collins are trained in both employment and immigration law, putting them in a unique position to provide advice to employers and employees dealing with issues which cross both areas.’

‘Greg Clark is capable beyond his years of experience. He is knowledgeable, confident and reassuring for clients.’

 

Key clients

Vestel BV Holland


Ceva Animal Health Limited/ Ceva Sante


The Amtico Company Limited


The MBS Group


TranScrip Limited


Right Formula Limited


Daiichi Sankyo UK Limited


Work highlights


DMH Stallard LLP

Leveraging its expertise in employment and immigration law, DMH Stallard LLP is well-regarded for assisting EU based service with the foreign transfer of employees to the UK. Adam Williams leads the team and is well-versed in a range of contentious and non-contentious employment law issues, while Aisling Malone helms all aspects of visa sponsorships. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Guildford.

Practice head(s):

Adam Williams


Other key lawyers:

Aisling Malone


Key clients

English National Opera


Change, Grow, Live


Bridgestone Aircraft Tire UK


STC Power


Lactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy


WaterAid


Frontline Aids


Sinch


Westcon Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Bridgestone Aircraft Tires UK Ltd on its acquisition of a skilled worker sponsor licence and the transfer of a key senior employee to the UK from its operations within the group overseas.
  • Advised English National Opera in relation to the creative worker immigration route.
  • Advised WaterAid on the review and update of its right to work check processes to reflect changes introduced by the Home Office in September 2021 and April 2022.

Turpin & Miller LLP

Turpin & Miller LLP often works alongside Berkshire and Oxfordshire authorities in supporting unaccompanied children and vulnerable migrants. Jo Renshaw‘s practice encompasses private and publicly funded work across immigration and asylum law, while Tom Giles is primarily engaged in representing detained clients challenging deportation decisions. Alex Piletska is also noted for co-founding the Ukraine Advice Project, a pro bono initiative which provides free immigration advice to those fleeing the conflict. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Oxford.

Practice head(s):

Jo Renshaw


Other key lawyers:

Ndo Bikishon; Mike Poulter; Alex Piletska; Tom Giles


Testimonials

‘The legal aid practice at Turpin Miller has a national reputation for its work with detained clients and those facing deportation and has represented the appellants in several high-profile cases. They assist particularly vulnerable clients including children.’

‘In my experience, Turpin Miller are particularly excellent at handling deportation and EEA cases. They also have great cross-area expertise in housing and immigration.’

‘The greatest distinguishing factor at Turpin Miller is the consistency of excellence across the team. Whether the case is handled by a partner or paralegal, the same attention to detail, willingness to work collaboratively with counsel and thorough preparation of the case is the same.’

Work highlights


Herrington Carmichael LLP

Herrington Carmichael LLP is well-equipped to assist clients with business visitor, family, and ICT visas in addition to SMS reporting matters. Sherry Fitzgerald leads the department and is often engaged in sponsor license application and management. Usof Shah advises a range of businesses with visa applications for their migrant workforce. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Camberley.

Practice head(s):

Sherry Fitzgerald


Other key lawyers:

Usof Shah


Testimonials

‘Very knowledgeable in an often complex area. The depth of knowledge seems to extend through the team. They will act as our agent if/as necessary, taking full responsibility for things like Visa applications.’

‘The team provides useful guidance and support on the pitfalls and processes of being a sponsor. The team helps set everything up to become a sponsor as well as assisting with processing COS applications.’

‘Usof Shah has been a great source of information and guidance both in setting up to become a sponsor and also in getting candidates sponsored.’

 

Work highlights


IBB Law

Recently bolstered through its merger with IBB Law, IBB Law is knowledgeable of the construction, franchising, and manufacturing industries. The team assists private clients on a breadth of immigration applications and supports businesses on sponsor licensing and sponsor management system compliance. Richard Devall leads the team and splits his time between Reading and Uxbridge; he is adept in employee engagement and talent management matters. Jasmin Dhillon in Uxbridge advises clients on British citizenship and settlement routes.

Practice head(s):

Richard Devall


Other key lawyers:

Jasmin Dhillon


Testimonials

‘Timely and commercial advice for our clients, they are specialist in this area.’

‘The team is very strong, responsive and client focussed.’

‘Jasmin Dhillon is simply a star, she is quick, reliable and to the point. She fights every corner of the case with professionalism and passion.’

Key clients

Avata UK Limited


Ballistic Moon


Link Theory (UK) Ltd


Give Back Yoga Foundation


Work highlights


  • Advised Avata UK on the issues and ramifications involving the lapse of a sponsor licence.
  • Assisted Ballistic Moon on their application to switch an individual employed by a different sponsor into the employ of our client.