Victoria has over 20 years’ experience in the legal industry, with more than 10 years as a UK immigration practitioner.
Having joined Laytons as a Partner in 2023, Victoria provides pragmatic and strategic advice to a wide range of corporate clients in all sectors across all aspects of the Points Based System and business immigration. She also advises private individuals on UK visa options, often navigating complex scenarios with sensitivity and clarity. Her advice is tailored to specific client needs and circumstances, ensuring the best outcome for each client.
Victoria is an active member of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) through which she contributes to Government immigration policy making, as well as submissions to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on behalf of clients and the Home Affairs Select Committee in respect of calls for evidence.
Sponsor Licences and Sponsored Workers
Victoria assists clients with obtaining Sponsor Licences to facilitate the recruitment of overseas talent needed for UK based organisations and those looking to expand to the UK market, together with the subsequent sponsored visa applications for the individual hires and their family members.
With the need to maintain a healthy Sponsor Licence essential for business continuity, Victoria provides a complete service to clients including proactive and ongoing support, management and training relating to the sponsored workforce, strategic advice on sponsor compliance duties and processes, and preparation for and attendance at Home Office compliance visits.
Where the Sponsor Licence is at risk, or should revocation or suspension be imposed, Victoria will liaise with Home Office officials to address concerns and maintain the client’s ability to sponsor workers in the UK.
Corporate Strategic Advice
Businesses which hold a Sponsor Licence often experience some form of change, whether a restructure, a divestiture, merger or acquisition, or be a party to a joint venture. No business transaction is exactly like another, and Victoria guides clients through the immigration implications of such transactions providing bespoke advice and project management to minimise risk to the business and any sponsored workers.
Right to work checks
Following the many changes to the Government’s Right to Work regime in recent years, Victoria offers up to date advice on the correct processes which employers in the UK must follow to ensure all employees have and maintain the legal right to work in the UK. Where a situation of illegal working is identified, Victoria guides and advises clients on risk and options.
She also regularly provides training to employers and HR teams, including examination and preparation of procedural documentation and systems.
Individual Immigration Support
Life can be complicated, especially with the globalised nature of the economy, and Victoria assists individual clients with understanding their UK immigration options. She advises on all visa routes including the family routes, Ancestry, as investors and entrepreneurs, Global Talent, Youth Mobility, visitors, EEA regulations and the EU Settlement Scheme, permanent residence and settlement, and British nationality.
Notable cases include:
Navigated a global IT software company through the impacts of its growth-by-acquisition strategy on its Sponsor Licence. This included submitting the requisite notifications for the acquisition of two global entities, the TUPE transfer of sponsored workers from each, the addition of linked entities and new sites, and direct liaison with the Home Office’s Sponsor Licencing Unit.
Project managing a large intake of sponsored workers to the UK for a fixed two month period for a summer scheme.
Obtained an intra-company Sponsor Licence for a global corporate for its joint venture with a US entity for a government contract.
Advised a listed global healthcare company on the immigration implications of a complex split-off, including the TUPE transfer of staff, two concurrent sponsor licence applications and subsequent Home Office liaison to confirm transfer of sponsorship of the workers.
Developed internal compliance strategies with a nationwide healthcare provider, including policy and process documents, internal procedures and creating new communication lines within the organisation.
Guided a global financial institution through the steps to address an illegal working situation within the organisation, including regularising the individual’s visa status and minimising risk to the business.
Project managed the UK immigration element of a global divestiture for a global IT organisation, involving a phased transfer of entities and staff, new right to work check strategy and acquisition of Sponsor Licence into the group.
Advised and assisted a family through their entire UK immigration journey from first working visa to obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Regularising a date of birth discrepancy on a Naturalisation Certificate issued over 12 years’ prior, where the applicant was in full knowledge of the error, avoiding deprivation of citizenship.
Securing Ancestry Indefinite Leave to Remain for a client aged over 80.
Successfully applying for fiancé visas where previous applications had been refused.
Testimonials
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