Immigration for businesses

Immigration law, with its myriad complexities, has become of increasing relevance to employers.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, a sponsor licence has become a commercial necessity for many businesses. To recruit and retain global talent, UK businesses need to comply with their duties and responsibilities as employers and sponsors of migrant workers. Failure to do so can involve stringent penalties.

With extensive experience in a diverse range of sectors, including financial services, media and technology, we advise clients with an awareness of the nuances applicable to each industry. We provide bespoke strategic solutions for businesses, often in time sensitive situations.

We offer expert advice to businesses on all areas of UK immigration, these include:

• Sponsor licence applications
  We help both established businesses and start-ups navigate the complex Sponsor licence Guidance and assist with sponsor licence applications under the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility routes. We have significant experience assisting in unusual or complex situations.
• Sponsor licence compliance
  We also provide businesses with advice and training to ensure they are compliant with their duties and responsibilities as sponsor licence holders. We provide comprehensive training to key personnel within the business and conduct mock Home Office audits to ensure the highest possible standards of compliance. Our solution-focused advice looks to safeguard the interests of the business.
• Sponsor licence management
  We are often appointed as level 1 users on the Home Office sponsor management system (SMS) and assist our clients with the day-to-day management of their sponsor licences including drafting and assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (‘CoS) and making the necessary reports on the SMS.
• Visa applications
  We assist valued employees and senior executives with their visa applications under the Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility routes, working seamlessly with in-house HR teams to achieve a timeline that meets commercial objectives.
• Right to Work check compliance
  Our immigration and employment experts provide employers with advice in relation to the ever changing Right to Work Check regime.  We also assist businesses in drafting robust Right to Work check policies.
• Mergers and acquisitions
  Mergers, de-mergers, acquisitions and other forms of restructuring warrant careful consideration from an immigration law perspective, given the potential commercial value of an entities’ sponsor licence. We work closely with our Employment and Corporate team to advise businesses on how to structure transactions with immigration considerations in mind.