Combining a 'forensic approach to case preparation' with 'exceptional client care skills’, the Swansea office of Duncan Lewis Solicitors is a popular choice for clients seeking to assert and/or to challenge decisions made before the UK courts, in turn gaining the reputation of being the 'unsung heroes of strategic litigation in refugee and immigration law'. 'Hardworking' team head Vinita Templeton regularly acts for vulnerable clients, including those that have been the victims of torture and human trafficking, and has a superb reputation handling claimant judicial review matters, often in cases where appeal rights had previously been exhausted. Consultant solicitor Vanessa Delgado is a 'powerhouse in the refugee field', recently securing a rare judgment before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the UK government granting admissibility in relation to a case involving a Stateless Palestinian Refugee asserting a fear and real risk of Article 3 ECHR serious harm on return, on account of forced recruitment by one of the terrorist extremist organisations in the camp.
Immigration in Wales
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Practice head(s):
Vinita Templeton
Other key lawyers:
Vanessa Delgado
Testimonials
‘There is great attention to detail and a people-focused approach that ensures the clients feel supported throughout what can be a long process.’
‘They are an experienced team who work extremely hard to find a solution for their clients. I am impressed by their innovative ways of working to ensure they they exhaust all possible avenues to resolve to any legal difficulty.’
‘Their work ethic means they work all hours leaving no stone unturned to meet deadlines. This ensures they are also balancing their clients’ needs against their professional duty.’
‘The Duncan Lewis Swansea team are the unsung heroes of strategic litigation in refugee and immigration law. Their forensic approach to case preparation and evolution runs in parallel to exceptional client care skills.’
‘Willing to go the extra mile, the hardworking Vinita Templeton is adept at getting to the bottom of any legal difficulty and works in partnership with her client and counsel for an efficient result and meeting tight deadlines.’
‘Vanessa Delgado is a powerhouse in the refugee field.’
Work highlights
- Representing asylum seeker challenging a decision to accommodate him on the Bibby Stockholm Barge.
Newfields
Continuing to excel in the sports sector and also successfully broadening the scope of its expertise with the growth of its public sector and commercial offering for private individuals, Newfields has firmly positioned itself at the pinnacle of the market for immigration law and is appreciated for its 'exceptional service'. 'Extremely personable and technically excellent' managing partner Glyn Lloyd continues to grow the firm's sports offering, bringing in a raft of new football and rugby club clients which he assists in gaining the necessary visas for foreign players and coaches/management. On the public sector front, Samuel Bass provides 'prompt and high-quality advice' to the Welsh government in relation to EU Settlement Scheme advice, and alongside the 'first-class' Stacey Vaughan also represents a growing number of finance/insurance clients, with Vaughan responsible for managing the firm's work for Admiral Group on its visa applications. Lee Campbell heads up the firm's dedicated health and care offering which has experienced exponential growth over the last few years.
Practice head(s):
Glyn Lloyd
Other key lawyers:
Shahnaz Nowaparast; Sam Bass; Lee Campbell; Emily Davis
Testimonials
‘The firm always provided an exceptional service to us and our employees. They offer a very unique and personal service looking after our employees’ needs from the outset.’
‘Newfields has a diverse range of lawyers including those who previously worked in-house and ex-Home Office case workers which gives us invaluable insight into how the process works.’
‘Newfields is recognised as the leading immigration practice in Wales, with a particular emphasis on the sports sector and with assisting commercial clients.’
Key clients
Sheffield Wednesday FC
Leeds Rhinos and Exeter Chiefs
777 Group – including Basketball League and London Lions
Specsavers
Thorngate Churcher Trust
Welsh Government & NHS Wales
Admiral Insurance
PISMO Labs UK
Rapha Racing
SRK Consulting
Work highlights
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
The 'incredibly friendly and accessible' team at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has 'great sector knowledge' within the education space, and continues to excel at advising universities in relation to tier 4 student visa applications/procedures, compliance matters and training. Praised for their 'very engaging. personable, and professional approach', Nerys Ireland and Francesca Smith are the main contacts in the team and are appreciated for their 'timely and robust advice'.
Practice head(s):
Nerys Ireland; Francesca Smith
Testimonials
‘The team has great sector knowledge, is responsive and informative in their advice. Their understanding of our teams and organisation really helps with the service that they provide.’
‘They have been phenomenal and their ability to answer almost any complex queries swiftly and in detail is brilliant.’
‘The team is very thorough in its approach, and provide robust advisory in each matter referred to them.’
‘The Eversheds immigration team is incredibly friendly and accessible which makes them a joy to work with! They are able to explain complex immigration matters in terms that a layperson would understand and also understand the education sector, which helps in gaining the advice that we need in pragmatic terms.’
‘Nerys Ireland and Francesca Smith are so approachable, reliable and understand the higher education sector.’
‘Nerys Ireland and Francesca Smith have a very engaging. personable, and professional approach to working with us. The advice is consistently timely and robust, providing detailed outlines which enable the organisation to informed decisions.’
Key clients
St David’s Catholic College
Harper Adams
Northeastern University London
University College London
Birmingham City University
Leeds Trinity University
University of Greenwich
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Bristol
Work highlights
- Advising St David’s Catholic College on the threatened revocation of their sponsor licence. Worked with the College to monitor their compliance and to put representations to the UKVI challenging the decision. This resulted in a successful result with the revocation being overturned.
- Advised and supported University of Greenwich on their external UKVI audit including preparation and attendance at the audit.
- Supported Leeds Trinity University with its Student visa application process by interviewing its students to assess credibility and to provide recommendations to the University as to whether to assign a CAS or not.