With market-leading industry expertise in the education sector, the immigration team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP works closely with the firm’s commercial, employment and education departments to provide ‘pragmatic, business-sensitive advice’ on clients’ immigration needs. Pat Saini leads the practice, as well as acting as co-head of the firm’s India Group, and is well-positioned to advise clients from India, the Middle East and the US on the full gamut of immigration matters. Hazar El-Chamaa handles complex matters for corporate clients across a wide range of sectors, with notable expertise in discretionary applications outside of the Immigration Rules. Considered ’experts in their field’, Penny Evans and Meghan Vozila are key contacts for sponsor compliance and nationality matters, respectively. Afeefah Shabbir and Sophie Spector are other names to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team has expert knowledge and supports us through all stages of sponsoring skilled workers. They have ensured they know what we do, the roles sponsored workers fill, how it impacts the business, and so provide pragmatic, business-sensitive advice. They take the time scrutinising any forthcoming changes so that they know them inside out (within a time-sensitive manner), the implications they will hav,e and then spend the time disseminating this to their clients. We know we have no need to panic as we have their support.’
‘Rather than just forwarding on pages of legal documents that the government has released, they spend the time explaining what this means in language we can understand and the implications it will have on our workers and our business to assist in our ability to provide the services we do.’
'Both Meghan Vozila and Penny Evans are experts in their field. Their knowledge and experience of immigration law, combined with pragmatism and a genuine warmth towards clients, is invaluable to our business.'
Key clients
- Regent’s University
- S P Jain School of Management
- Route Mobile
- Crate Inc
- Oxford International Group
- Lendable
- Dhani
- Navitas
- The University of Creative Arts
- Retro Labs
Work highlights
Assisting a life sciences company with successfully recruiting a highly skilled scientist who had been banned from applying to enter the UK for 10 years, following a mistake made on an application form, where he had failed to declare a previous refusal. The application was approved exceptionally outside the rules.
Advising multiple universities, colleges and schools who have faced compliance action or threat of action from UKVI.
Advising Oversight Board, a newly established body that makes independent decisions about content on Facebook and Instagram, on various immigration matters, including sponsorship of workers, Right to Work checks and advice on the move of a new CEO.
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.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Afeefah Shabbir
Practice head
Pat Saini
Other key lawyers
Hazar El-Chamaa; Penny Evans; Meghan Vozila; Afeefah Shabbir; Sophie Spector