Employment
The ‘very responsive, commercially minded and results-focused team’ at Mishcon de Reya LLP stands out for its advice to UHNW and HNW clients, handling discretionary applications for naturalisation and indefinite leave to remain. At the helm, practice head Steven Bostock has extensive experience in advising UHNW and high-profile clients on long residence, asylum and family-based applications, as well as being recognised for his robust appeals and judicial review practice. Hannah Barnett’s expertise spans European movement rights following Brexit, the Points-Based System and second citizenship applications, while Kamal Rahman and Maria Patsalos are recommended for their work supporting UHNW and high-profile individuals across all areas of immigration law. Neil Shanghavi and David Deane were promoted to partner in 2024 and 2025 respectively, while the ‘top notch’ Jessica Good is a key contact for contentious immigration matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Mishcon Private
Position
Maria is a Partner in Mishcon Private advising individual and corporate clients on all areas of Immigration law. Her clients benefit from her vast technical knowledge and experience in dealing with exceptional cases, as well as her ability to provide innovative and bespoke solutions.
Maria has substantive expertise across all UK visa application types from Points Based System applications and settlement route applications, to highly complex and discretionary applications outside of the Immigration Rules. Under the Points Based System, Maria regularly advises on sponsor licences and sponsor compliance for companies wishing to employ workers under the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility visa categories. She also has considerable experience in relation to Sole Representative visas which now also fall under the UK Expansion Worker visa category. Maria regularly advises on and assists with fiancée/spouse/civil partnership and unmarried partner applications and often assists such clients where complex circumstances arise. Maria's clients also include European nationals seeking advice in relation to their UK immigration status post-Brexit and clients who require assistance with appeals to the Immigration Tribunal and with Judicial Review applications.
Many of her clients wish to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and subsequent British citizenship. This often involves complex matters such as excess absences from the UK requiring the exercise of discretion by the Home Office. Maria assists with the provision of long term strategic advice, as well as establishing links and connections with the UK for such clients.
Maria has recently been awarded Human Rights Solicitor of the Year by the Law Society for her extraordinary efforts to ensure that the protection of human rights law is available to all. In fact, she has many years of experience, especially with regard to political asylum claims mainly on the basis of clients' political affiliations or membership of certain social groups. Maria also regularly assists clients with obtaining second residencies or citizenships.
Maria led the firm's involvement in a Judicial Review on behalf of the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens ("PRCBC"), which went to the Supreme Court, in relation to the profit-making element of the citizenship application fee and it being unaffordable for some children. The finding from the Court of Appeal on the PRCBC case in relation to section 55 and the best interests of the child still stands and demonstrates Maria's conviction to advocate for a fair and accessible immigration system.
The immigration element of Pink Law, a free legal advice service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, was founded by Maria. As a result of the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, Maria also co-founded the Black Justice Project in partnership with Queen Mary University, University of London Legal Advice Centre, to help tackle/combat the long-term discrimination against the Black community.
Maria is the immigration representative in the firm's Sports Group. She regularly advises football clubs in the UK regarding obtaining visas for players and has also advised in relation to rugby, golf and darts. Maria has also advised various sports governing bodies in relation to their immigration sponsorship rules. Maria has delivered the Immigration & Sport training for MBL for a number of years.
She is also part of Mishcon Purpose, which provides specialist and purpose-driven advice and she recently launched Climate Migration Project. Its aim is to recognise and raise awareness around the issue of climate-induced mobility and displacement of people, and legislate on the issue of recognising climate migration refugees in the UK by potentially creating a separate immigration category.
Maria often appears in the press and has been quoted in the FT, The Times, The Guardian, The Evening Standard and City A.M., as well as featuring on Sky Sports News, Channel 4 online and BBC television and radio in relation to topical and high profile immigration matters.
Career
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, Mishcon de Reya Solicitor, Mishcon de Reya
Trainee, Mishcon de Reya
Education
University of Birmingham, BA Classical Literature and Civilisation
Content supplied by Mishcon de Reya LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Jessica Good is a top notch immigration lawyer in the matters involving children. I valued immensely her unique capability to formulate my difficult case in a formal, clear narrative. How she managed to fish out the exact, precise meaning from lots of words said still remains a mystery for me. I admired her calm and unbiased approach to our interaction, how carefully she proposed different options for resolving the matters for my children. All proved correct and timely.’
‘Steven Bostock brings real insight from his experience of working in this field at the highest level. David Deane has a real attention to detail that makes the difference in complicated litigation he has overseen. Always supportive to work with but demands the very best to ensure that the client's interests are protected.’
‘Hannah Barnett has been a pleasure to work with. She explains matters in a simple way to ensure clients can understand the next steps and possible outcomes of their matter. She is very knowledgeable.’
‘Very responsive, commercially minded and results-focused team.’ 'Kamal Rahman stands out from any other lawyers I have met and is renowned for her immigration legal experience, empathy and honesty.' ‘The team has excellent technical expertise and a practical and commercial approach to dealing with issues. Many immigration legal practices struggle to marry up these two strengths.’ ‘Steven Bostock, David Deane and Neil Shangawi are all excellent and have a very user-friendly approach to the service that they provide.’ ‘I would like to express my regard for the work of Hannah Barnett. She always conducts herself with the utmost integrity and professionalism and draws on a vast wealth of knowledge to provide useful and insightful advice at all times. I have used her services on and off for over ten years and have always found her to be dedicated and assiduous as well as a very decent person. Mishcon is lucky to have her.’