Immigration for Businesses
We assist businesses to recruit and retain employees in the UK and comply with their duties and responsibilities as the employers of migrant workers.
Licensing: sponsoring migrant workers
We work with start-ups and established businesses who have never previously hired a migrant worker to obtain the appropriate sponsor licence from the UK immigration authorities.
We advise on company policy and processes in order to ensure sponsor compliance and audit readiness.
Hiring: work permits and immigration permissions
We assist employers with obtaining and assigning Certificates of Sponsorship and the filing of Skilled Worker or Global Business Mobility applications to the UK authorities for the relevant UK immigration permission to work in the UK.
We assess each employee’s circumstances to determine the most suitable immigration permission available to provide maximum flexibility and cost effectiveness.
Compliance: right to work
Outside application processes, we support companies with the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure they comply with their sponsor licence duties and responsibilities. In addition, we provide support before, during and after a Home Office compliance visit.
We also help employers to codify and practise their right to work checks to meet their prevention of illegal worker duties.
Global mobility
Working with specialist law firms in the relevant jurisdiction, we help companies to transfer individuals to other parts of the world. Our pensions, employee benefits and tax specialists help to structure contractual arrangements and remuneration packages and advise on UK tax issues.
For businesses regularly transferring overseas employees to the UK, we provide strategic advice on the best way to manage and structure international assignments to ensure companies are able to transfer the people they need to the UK in the shortest possible timeline.
Mergers and acquisitions: due diligence
We work in conjunction with our employment, pensions, litigation and benefits teams on employee-related issues, particularly those involving compliance with the law on the prevention of illegal working and TUPE situations.
We also work with our corporate and M&A team, assisting companies who are looking to set up new operations in the UK, undertake a significant restructure or are involved in a merger, takeover or divestment.
Technology: access to our bespoke “portal”
Our business immigration portal allows companies to manage their international moves, track important expiry dates and ensure they remain immigration law compliant. The portal can be tailored to individual company needs, creating a bespoke product that complements internal HR systems.
