Burness Paull LLP brings a wealth of expertise in immigration, asylum, and nationality law, serving both public and private sector clients. The group handles visa and sponsorship management matters for football clubs, assists energy clients with the employment of EU staff post-Brexit, and supports families in relocating to the UK following overseas adoptions. The practice is led by Grace McGill from Edinburgh, an expert in inter-country adoption and corporate immigration. Jamie Kerr‘s experience includes representing overseas governments. The team also features senior associates Amna Ashraf, specialising in family migration, and Vincent Chung, who advises HR staff and senior management on the recruitment of foreign nationals. Nikki Weir no longer practices within the firm’s immigration department.

Drummond Miller LLP stands out for its extensive experience in immigration litigation and expertise in personal migration issues. Leading the team is David Brown, whose practice covers all facets of immigration, nationality, human rights, and EU law. Janey Armstrong provides advice to corporate clients on business immigration matters, while Humphrey Ndubuisi is adept at handling appeals at the First-Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal, and also presents cases at the Court of Session. Meanwhile, Sarah Jack  concentrates on immigration, nationality, and asylum law, serving the private and third sectors.

Morton Fraser MacRoberts is frequently sought out by corporate clients for assistance with relocating key staff to the UK, showcasing notable expertise in business immigration matters such as compliance, suspensions, and sponsor license applications. The firm also handles personal immigration matters for private clients. The team is led by Stuart McWilliams, who advises on Skilled Worker compliance issues and visa applications for partners of British nationals under Appendix FM. Additionally, Nadia Watson offers expertise to EU nationals seeking to secure their long-term status in the UK and also assists spouses of high-net-worth individuals.

Brodies LLP‘s immigration division is an integral part of the firm’s broader employment practice, specialising in business immigration with deep sectoral knowledge that spans financial services, universities, the offshore wind sector, and tech businesses. Tony Hadden oversees the wider employment and immigration department, while Elaine McIlroy spearheads the immigration team, advising businesses on visa applications, compliance issues, and the handling of civil penalties. Additionally, Erin McLafferty supports employers with migrant worker sponsorship and assists individuals with applications for British nationality, indefinite leave to remain, and the EU settlement scheme.

Harper Macleod LLP assists private individuals through their immigration journey, from first entry to British citizenship, and supports corporations with sponsor licensing permissions and compliance. Bruce Caldow oversees the immigration practice, where Ashley Fleming is the main point of contact, an ‘innovative and pragmatic’ senior associate whose practice encompasses all aspects of immigration, nationality, and asylum law. Fleming collaborates closely with the firm’s dispute resolution department to defend judicial review claims for public sector clients and works with the family law practice on matters such as divorce and prenuptial agreements that involve immigration considerations.

The immigration practice at Shepherd and Wedderburn, led by John Vassiliou, assists both employers and individuals with global mobility issues. The firm assists companies in navigating the complexities of recruiting foreign skilled workers, understanding visa requirements, and ensuring compliance with sponsor regulations. In addition to representing clients at the Court of Session, the UK Supreme Court, and the European Court of Human Rights, Vassiliou also specialises in sports immigration law, offering advice on international football player transfers and managing right-to-work verifications for international recruits at domestic events.

The immigration and visas unit at Thorntons Law LLP, working closely with the wider employment team led by Noele McClelland, assists businesses with right to work checks, sponsor license application policies, and employment conditions for sponsored staff. Consultant Jacqueline Moore serves as a key point of contact, offering ‘unparalleled’ expertise in sponsorship issues to clients in the higher education, hospitality, and IT sectors.

TLT focuses exclusively on corporate immigration, assisting UK and international companies on sponsor licenses, visa applications, and immigration issues arising from TUPE transfers and M&A. The practice is headed by Glasgow-based Joanne Hennessy, who is notably experienced in the energy sector and advises on immigration regulations for seamen and offshore windfarm workers.