An organisation’s people are critical to its success.
We understand that any business, be it a start-up or a multi-national, needs to recruit and retain the right workforce to help it grow and thrive.
We assist HR professionals, in-house lawyers, directors, and entrepreneurs to navigate the complex laws surrounding the sponsorship of migrant workers, licensing and compliance, short-term business visitors, and non-sponsorship solutions.
A globally mobile workforce is increasingly key for businesses in today’s world. We take a practical and commercial approach, taking the time to understand both your business and your people to determine the best strategy. Our breadth of knowledge and experience means you can be confident we’re getting it right the first time, minimising the risk of costly errors further down the line. Should unexpected issues arise, we provide a fast and proactive approach to problem-solving.
We assist our clients with a vast spectrum of issues, from everyday queries to the most complex of applications. We regularly provide bespoke, in-house training to HR professionals and in-house legal teams.
Our expertise includes:
Sponsor licence applications
We have extensive experience assisting myriad types of businesses with applications to sponsor migrant workers in the Skilled Worker and Intra-Company transfer routes. These applications require careful forethought and planning to ensure the licence can be set up in the way that best serves your business while ensuring that Home Office requirements are fully complied with. We can assist with time-sensitive applications and have a track record of successful representations to the Home Office on behalf of our clients.
Sponsorship of migrant workers
Working out how to recruit and retain the right staff for your business can be challenging enough, and even more so when complex immigration matters are involved. We specialise in helping HR professionals, in-house lawyers, directors and entrepreneurs navigate the rules to sponsor the right individuals in the right way. Our flexible service options mean we can provide everything from a ‘light-touch’ service to a full-service including assisting with the migrant’s end to end visa journey.
Global mobility and business expansion
A globally mobile workforce is increasingly essential to many businesses, with each organisation and each individual having their own unique needs and goals. We are experienced in advising on all immigration aspects of UK business expansion, both for the organisation itself and its people. Our breadth of experience means we are well-placed to advise on the complete range of options that may be available to an individual and any family members travelling with them.
We work closely with our Employment, Corporate, Commercial, Tax, and Real Estate teams to provide a full-service approach. Should you need cross-jurisdictional advice, our international offices and trusted global network of partner firms will be well-placed to assist.
Sponsor compliance including licence management, audit preparation, and responding to suspensions or revocations
Becoming a Home-Office approved sponsor brings with it a raft of compliance obligations and the published guidance is often lengthy and confusing. We work with HR professionals, in-house lawyers, directors, and entrepreneurs to help them make sense of this regime. We will help you work out what it means for your specific business, how your policies and processes can help you maintain compliance, and what you can do to protect your business if issues arise.
We will also work closely with our Employment team where required to ensure that any employee issues are handled sensitively and appropriately.
Right to work issues and the prevention of illegal working
All UK employers must comply with the right to work regime and getting this process right is fundamental to the smooth running of a business. We work with HR professionals, in-house lawyers, directors, and entrepreneurs to make sense of this regime and can be on-hand to advise on any issues that arise, be they large or small.
We will also work closely with our Employment team where required to ensure that any employee issues are handled sensitively and appropriately.
Frontier Worker Permits
Many employers may not be aware that EEA & Swiss workers who regularly travelled to the UK for work before 31 December 2020 may be eligible to continue doing so under a Frontier Worker Permit. We can help you determine if the legal criteria are met and assist you in putting together a comprehensive, evidence-based application to give you and your staff the best chance of success.
Business visitors
The rules for those travelling to the UK for short-term business purposes are complex and often the source of much confusion. The stakes are high as getting it wrong could lead to allegations of illegal working, serious fines, and reputational damage for the business, as well as the refusal of entry and /or deportation for the individual. We are experienced in helping clients navigate this difficult area so that you and your overseas visitors can focus on the business at hand and facilitate a smooth and successful trip.
In-house training and workshops
We regularly provide bespoke, in-house training and workshops for corporate clients in all aspects of immigration law. These are often compliance-focused, covering areas such as sponsor licence duties and the prevention of illegal working, to ensure that key staff is aware of what they need to do to protect the business. We also provide tailor-made sessions on different visa routes that may be especially relevant to the business, or the impact of major changes in immigration law. We are very flexible and will work with you to provide the targeted training that your business needs.
We also recognise that immigration is often only part of the bigger picture. We offer a full-service approach working alongside our Employment, Corporate, Commercial, and Tax teams. We are headquartered in the UK and have a network of international offices and partner firms that we work with on our client’s UK and global immigration requirements.
Meet the Team
- Call Rose +44 (0)20 7427 6524
- Email Rose
- London office
- Call Olivier +41 (0)22 591 18 44
- Email Olivier
- Geneva office
- Call Kelvin +44 (0)20 7427 4547
- Email Kelvin
- London office
- Call Jeffrey +852 2531 3409
- Email Jeffrey
- Hong Kong office
- Call Lara + 971 4 246 1920
- Email Lara
- Dubai office
- Call Katherine +44 (0)20 7427 6738
- Email Katherine
- London office
- Call Jessica +852 2531 3405
- Email Jessica
- Hong Kong office
- Call Owen +44 (0)20 7438 2103
- Email Owen
- London office
- Call Adam +44 (0)20 7438 2112
- Email Adam
- London office
- Call James +44 (0)20 7203 5313
- Email James
- London office
- Call Steven +44(0)20 7438 2148
- Email Steven
- London office
Our thinking
Rose Carey
Is the UK open for business? A discussion with the Home Office
We hosted an immigration webinar with the policymakers from the Home Office.
Is the UK open for business? A discussion with the Home Office
Join our Immigration team for a live webinar with policymakers from the Home Office.
Rose Carey
Relocating to the UK – Post Tier 1 (Investor)
The UK government closed the Tier 1 Investor visa route with immediate effect on 17 February 2022.
Paul McCarthy
Homes for Ukraine – A new visa from the UK Housing Department
Katherine Dennis
New Global Mobility visa route – coming Spring 2022
A new Global Business Mobility visa route is launching in the Spring of 2022.
Rose Carey
Summary of corporate immigration changes 2022
The Home Office has announced a raft of business immigration changes which will affect employers and workers alike.
Becky Lawton
The talent gap, recruitment and retention issues
Employers continue to struggle attracting and retaining talent in a market rife with labour shortages and widely-reported pay pressures.
Rose Carey
UK scraps the Investor visa
Paul McCarthy
New Employer and Landlord Digital ID Checks – A Good IDea?
Rose Carey
The Frontier Worker Permit
Rose Carey
The UK's Immigration System Opens Up to Overseas Care Workers
Employers will be able to sponsor care workers and home carers under the Skilled Worker (Health and Care visa) category.
Piers Master
Record success for Charles Russell Speechlys’ Private Wealth practice in Chambers HNW 2021 directory
We are delighted to have once again been recognised as a leader in our field in the Chambers High Net Worth 2021 Guide.
Rose Carey
Changes to Right to Work Checks from 1 July 2021
EEA citizens and their family members are required to evidence immigration status in the UK, in the same way as other foreign nationals.
Paul McCarthy
Changes to Right to Rent Checks from 1 July 2021
Following the UK’s departure from the EU, the right to rent checks grace period of six months will end on 30 June.
Paul McCarthy
Post-Brexit business visitors and working in France, Germany, Spain and the UK
Watch the final session in a series of webinars on post-Brexit mobility.
Kelvin Tanner
Sponsor Licence Compliance: Key considerations
Watch our fourth in a series of webinars on post-Brexit mobility.
Rose Carey
The UK’s New Skilled Worker & Intra-Company Visa Routes
Watch our third in a series of webinars on post-Brexit mobility.
Rose Carey
Have your say: MAC call for evidence on Intra-Company Visa Route
The MAC, has launched a call for evidence on the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) immigration route.
Kelvin Tanner
Planning for EU to UK Work & Business Travel
Watch our second in a series of webinars on post-Brexit mobility.
Rose Carey
Rose Carey, Kelvin Tanner and Kate Gamester write for Compliance & Risk on navigating the UK's new immigration system
The article highlights the compliance pitfalls and how organisations can adapt to avoid them.