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England - London • Employment
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Immigration: business

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Watson Farley & Williams LLP

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Praised for providing ‘continuity and advice that can be trusted’, the immigration team at Watson Farley & Williams LLP is well-equipped to advise start-ups and businesses seeking to establish in the UK on navigating the UK Immigration Rules. Of note, the team has a unique specialism in maritime and offshore-related immigration matters, supporting multinational shipping corporations in obtaining visas for seafarers and offshore workers operating in UK territorial waters. Practice co-heads Devan Khagram and Anna Robinson leverage extensive experience in the Points-Based System, particularly involving complex sponsor licence and skilled worker applications. Elliott Marsh has sectoral expertise in the tech and maritime industries, while the ’exceptional’ Matt Bowtell advises on the Global Talent and Appendix FM visa pathways.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The strength of Watson, Farley & Williams is the professionalism and attention to every detail by Matt Bowtell. We are grateful to WFW and especially for all of his expertise.’

  • ‘Matt Bowtell is exceptional. Not only is he a subject matter expert. Matt's calm demeanour assisted during what could have otherwise been a very stressful process. Matt is a great credit to WFW and his clients.’

  • 'The immigration team comprises long-serving and established partners, which provides continuity and advice that can be trusted.'

  • 'Elliot Marsh is knowledgeable, quick to grasp complex legislative developments and adept at identifying solutions for clients. He is also friendly and approachable.'

  • 'Offers clear, workable solutions.'

  • 'What sets the individuals at WFW apart is their calm, knowledgeable approach, paired with a refreshingly human and down-to-earth manner. They don’t just focus on the legal technicalities — they take the time to understand what we actually need and consistently offer the best, most practical solution. It’s a thoughtful, considered way of working that builds real trust and makes them feel like a true extension of our team.'

Key clients

  • Frasers Management UK Ltd
  • Golar LNG
  • Eastern Pacific Shipping (UK) Limited
  • TP Bennett
  • Dolphin Drilling Limited
  • Seapeak Maritime (Glasgow) Limited
  • RIFAI (Merit Invest SAL)
  • Fidelity Bank UK PLC

Practice head

Devan Khagram; Anna Robinson

Other key lawyers

Matt Bowtell; Elliott Marsh