Overview

Given the current skills shortage in many sectors, immigration is a critical issue for UK businesses. If you are an employer looking for advice, our business immigration lawyers, who are also employment law experts, can help.

Our long-standing practice advises many of the UK’s best known employers, as well as overseas businesses, on the immigration and employment aspects of recruiting and employing overseas nationals in the UK. We also advise on right to work checks.

We can deliver business immigration advice outside the UK through our Preferred Firm Network.

Recognising our expertise in this area, we maintain immigration ‘How to’ Guides for the UK’s leading online HR resource, XpertHR, and a number of practice notes for online legal know-how service, Practical Law.

Our business immigration team works closely with our personal immigration team who advise high net worth individuals and their families.

Areas of focus:

Our clients come to us for advice across a variety of areas, including:

  • the recruitment and employment of overseas nationals in the UK including pre-process planning;
  • right to work checks and the prevention of employing illegal workers including immigration audits;
  • obtaining and maintaining sponsor licences (including for first time sponsors);
  • compliance with ongoing sponsor duties;
  • supporting applications for immigration permission (including Skilled Worker visas) for applicants and their family members;
  • procedures and policies to ensure compliance with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements;
  • immigration and employment issues involving overseas nationals throughout the employment lifecycle;
  • dealing with sanctions imposed by UKVI for immigration breaches;
  • training for HR and recruitment teams on immigration issues (including the points-based immigration system); and
  • advising on the immigration implications of corporate transactions and outsourcing arrangements.
Experience

Providing a government body with on-going immigration advice (including in respect of the sponsorship process under the Skilled Worker, Government Authorised Exchange and Global Talent routes).

Advising a leading international telecommunications provider on their application for a sponsor licence and sponsoring overseas nationals under the Skilled Worker route.

On-going advice to a global information company on business immigration matters (including strategic advice in respect of the recruitment and sponsorship of overseas nationals and immigration aspects of corporate transactions).

Advising a leading international provider of digital identity and access services on the secondment of a senior member of staff to the UK.

Advising a global jewellery retailer on immigration policy documentation in the UK and on other immigration queries.

Advising a global insurance company on short-term business travel to and from the UK.

Advising a green energy company on the recruitment and sponsorship of migrants under the Skilled Worker route, including eligibility requirements, practical steps to be taken, right to work checks and sponsorship duties.

Advising a government body on reporting duties relating to the TUPE transfer of migrants into the organisation.

Advising a global defence company on recruiting employees under the Skilled Worker route.

Providing tailored training to various clients on business immigration routes, sponsor compliance and right to work checks.

Meet the team
Headshot of Katie Russell

Katie Russell Partner

  • Employment
  • Financial Services
  • Sport
Huw Cooke

Huw Cooke Senior Associate

  • Employment
  • Business Immigration Services
  • Data Protection
Megan Summers

Megan Summers Senior Associate

  • Employment
  • Business Immigration Services
Hannah Malone

Hannah Malone Associate

  • Employment 
  • Employment Disputes
  • Employment Helpline Service
  • Business Immigration Services

What others say...

The team are extremely helpful and will always reply in a timely manner, no query or question is too much.

Legal 500 2024

Burges Salmon careers

We work hard to make sure Burges Salmon is a great place to work.
Find out more