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Law firm Harper Macleod has bolstered its immigration expertise with the appointment of one of the UK’s leading practitioners, as it anticipates increasing demand for immigration advice from both companies and individuals.
Ashley Fleming joins the firm as a senior associate from Bindmans in London. Ashley is independently ranked by The Legal 500 as a Rising Star for immigration advice in the UK.
Harper Macleod has been providing organisations and individuals with immigration advice for a number of years, but is strengthening its existing practice at a time when it anticipates increasing demand from businesses, organisations and individuals, to those seeking to enter or remain in the UK to work or live permanently or temporarily.
It is widely recognised that many business are currently facing challenges with recruitment and skills shortages. As a result, many are looking overseas to fills roles at all levels and requiring immigration advice for those individuals and possibly their families.
Although some sectors such as healthcare, tourism, hospitality, manufacturing and construction have traditionally relied on overseas workers, increasingly industries such as technology, life sciences and financial services, are recruiting internationally.
Ashley qualified in England and Wales in 2012 and advises on all aspects of UK immigration law, with a keen focus on the needs of the client, irrespective of whether they are a business or an individual. Her particular areas of expertise include:
- Advising and providing training to companies on complex immigration issues, including sponsoring foreign national workers, compliance with immigration laws, the civil penalty regime and right to work checks
- Working with High Net Worth individuals and entrepreneurs looking to invest in the UK
- Assisting individuals and their families navigate the UK immigration system from initial visa application through to British citizenship
- Acting for local authorities in relation to children and young people in care, including providing expert advice to the family courts in care proceedings
- Litigating cases from the First Tier Tribunal to the Court of Justice of the EU
Martin Darroch, chief executive of Harper Macleod, said: “We fully recognise that, in part due to Brexit but also driven by other wider economic conditions, the UK is seeking to attract significant numbers of people to work in a wide range of industries, at all levels. That means they are going to have to support those people to ensure they can work in the UK legally and effectively, sometimes bringing their families and loved ones with them.
“Ashley is independently recognised as one of the leading immigration lawyers in the UK, and her track record speaks for itself whether that is working with large organisations, or young people in care. Ashley’s appointment underlines our growth ambitions and complements our existing capabilities in this area to better support our clients as they overcome immigration challenges.”
“Ashley is independently recognised as one of the leading immigration lawyers in the UK, and her track record speaks for itself whether that is working with large organisations, or young people in care. Ashley’s appointment underlines our growth ambitions and complements our existing capabilities in this area to better support our clients as they overcome immigration challenges.”
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