Working closely with the firm’s employment offering, the ‘first-class’ immigration team at Lewis Silkin is well-equipped to advise multinationals, SMEs and HNW individuals on the full breadth of their UK immigration requirements. Of note, the firm continues to expand its capabilities within the creative industries, with unique expertise in the Creative Visa Worker sponsor licence pathway. Practice head Andrew Osborne is ’hugely knowledgeable’ on complex business and personal immigration matters involving sponsor compliance, right to work and discretionary applications outside of the immigration rules. Supinder Singh Sian comes recommended for his expertise on the UK’s Points Based Immigration System, as well as sector specialisms in the creative, sports, luxury retail and tech industries. Stephen O’Flaherty has developed a robust reputation for supporting sports clubs, international federations and agencies on compliance and regulatory requirements, while Naomi Hanrahan-Soar advises clients on the immigration ramifications of acquisitions and changes of ownership. Sam Koppel and Li Xiang are key contacts for immigration matters within the financial services sector. Rose Carey joined from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP in September 2025, and David Ritchie joined from Doyle Clayton.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Andrew Osborne: head of department and, in our view, the finest immigration lawyer in London. He is hugely knowledgeable, practical and personable. Three qualities that mean he is always our go-to guy for immigration issues.’
‘They are first class and definitely leaders in the sports sector. The team is commercial, responsive and user-friendly, which is exactly what we require from the service.’
‘Stephen O'Flaherty is brilliant and an invaluable extension of our team when it comes to immigration work.’
‘They provide training and workshops on every new change in legislation that may affect our company. They are very proactive.’
‘Exceptional attention to detail, willingness to go above and beyond to resolve any issues.’
‘Stephen O'Flaherty has always felt like an extension of our internal team. He understands what we need and has always been supportive and engaged. He is very responsive and creative in his solutions, and his personable nature means he's well-liked and respected within the company.'
‘The team is always 100% on top of the detail in a frequently changing area. They have great relationships with third parties and know how to navigate challenging requests within the confines of the law.’
‘Supinder Sian, there's simply no other lawyer I would trust to do this work. He will always find a way to ensure we can meet our business needs without creating unnecessary risks. The ultimate safe pair of hands.'
'Friendly and very competent.'
'Immigration is a complex area which almost involves a large amount of bureaucracy, and Lewis Silkin are able to guide us through all of this and get it right at the same time. I can't fault them!'
Key clients
- Deliveroo
- ASOS
- Brighton & Hove Albion F.C
- MyDentist
Work highlights
Advised a global leader in autonomous vehicle software on overturning the refusal of a spouse visa application.
Established direct links for 17 overseas entities to be added to the existing sponsor licence for a leading global provider of smart devices, following a recent restructure.
Advising numerous film and production studios on creative worker route options for their actors and crew, often with short turnarounds with no impact on production shoot schedules.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Andrew Osborne
Other key lawyers
Supinder Singh Sian; Stephen O'Flaherty; Naomi Hanrahan-Soar; Sam Koppel; Li Xiang; Rose Carey; David Ritchie