News and Insights

Welcome to our News and Insights section. Here we’ll talk about the latest legal developments with our articles and videos. You can browse or search by practice area or sector. We’ll also let you know about changes at our firm including the expansion into new practice areas, sectors and locations.




30 Nov
2020
Businesses to check EEA nationals’ right to work or risk a fall from grace

This article was written by Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams on 30 November 2020. Employers should have...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


25 Nov
2020
Sponsoring Skilled Workers and Intra-Company Workers

This article was written by Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams on 25 November 2020. This article focusses on...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


25 Nov
2020
Update on Coronavirus and UK immigration

This update highlights the available policy information, the problems posed for visa holders and their employers and what they can do...


Webinar | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


13 Nov
2020
Business trips to the UK from January 2021

 Francophiles will be interested in this video in which Samar Shams, Immigration and Global Mobility Partner, explains how...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


6 Nov
2020
Brexit: The UK Government’s consultation on extending the right to depart from Retained EU law beyond the Supreme Court

From 1 January 2021, the meaning of EU-derived law will be determined in the UK courts by reference to CJEU case law as it...

Article | Employment Law | Brexit


23 Oct
2020
The future has arrived: post-Brexit immigration rules published

This article was written by Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams with support from Associate Partner Talitha...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


20 Oct
2020
What businesses need to do to prepare for the end of the post-Brexit transition period and the future immigration system

You may be concerned about your European staff or bewildered about planning for recruitment in line with the changes to...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


15 Oct
2020
Employment law – 5 tips for October Redundancy focus

This month we are focusing on some redundancy issues that have come up with particular reference to furlough but also to throw...

Article | Employment Law | Brexit


5 Oct
2020
Brexit EUIPO Update

EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) becomes an office of second filing for WIPO Digital Access Service for...

Article | Brexit


5 Oct
2020
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa and exceptional entry options

A special UK visa for those with British National Overseas (BN(O)) status in Hong Kong will be available from January 2021. The...

Article | Immigration | Private Client | Brexit


29 Sep
2020
EEA family permits vs EU family permits

What is the difference between an EEA family permit and an EU family permit? Immigration and Global Mobility team members Samar...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


14 Sep
2020
The new Student route which replaces the current Tier 4 route

The government have announced that the current Tier 4 route will be replaced with the new Student and Child Student categories,...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


10 Sep
2020
Update - Home Office covid concession in relation to exceptional assurance.

Talitha's latest video takes a look at visa holders who intend to leave the UK but have not been able to do so and have a visa...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


4 Sep
2020
Updated Home Office Covid Concession

Take a look at our latest video from Talitha Degwa, Associate Partner - Immigration talking about the updated Home Office Covid...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


2 Sep
2020
The latest update on the Identity Verification App

Take a look at the latest update on the Identity Verification (IDV) App which the Home Office introduced to allow eligible...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


30 Aug
2020
Representative of Overseas Business

This video is for those interested in the Representative of Overseas Business visa. It covers the June 2020 changes to this...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


29 Aug
2020
The Innovator visa

The Innovator visa, for entrepreneurs wishing to set up and run a business in the UK, requires endorsement of a business plan,...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


28 Aug
2020
Global Talent

The Global Talent visa is more attractive than ever. Watch this short video for an overview with a focus on digital tech. Get...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


27 Aug
2020
Sponsoring skilled workers

The Government’s planned changes to sponsorship and the Tier 2 General visa, in particular, are summarised here by Samar...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


17 Aug
2020
Immigration updates

Had enough of trying to keep up to date with the fast-paced changes in the world of UK immigration? We highlight below the main...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


14 Jul
2020
Details published on the UK’s future immigration system

‘The UK’s future immigration system’ is not a new immigration system. Rather, the government proposes further changes to...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


23 Jun
2020
Remote control: Checking right to work documents for employees working from home

The Spencer West immigration team has been fielding a lot of queries about checking right to work documents whilst employees...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


12 Jun
2020
Back to the Future of Work

A stellar panel of experts guided us through the trickiest return to work issues, including discrimination and staff refusals....

Article | Employment Law | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


5 Jun
2020
Sense and screenability: an analysis of the UK’s quarantine plan

In this article, Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams summarises the UK’s quarantine plan. She considers the...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


18 May
2020
UK recovery depends on skilled migrants

If you think that increased unemployment in the UK means that there is less need for work visas for overseas nationals, think...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


14 May
2020
Immigration issues arising in the context of the return to work

Immigration status is not a protected characteristic, but employers of overseas nationals must navigate part-time work, right...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


31 Mar
2020
The UK's Future Immigration System

With only months to go before the UK’s future immigration system takes effect on 1 January 2021, you should understand the...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


16 Mar
2020
Coronavirus and UK immigration

There is relatively little information available to date on the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for visa holders and...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


6 Mar
2020
How the UK’s immigration system will change when free movement ends

Samar Shams considers the government’s plans for a points-based immigration system once the UK fully withdraws from the EU....

Article | Immigration | Brexit


31 Jan
2020
Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) publishes recommendations on a points-based visa route and salary thresholds for sponsored workers

This article first appeared as a Thomson Reuters Practical Law Legal Update on 30 January 2020. The Migration Advisory...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


28 Jan
2020
Immigration update: The Migration Advisory Committee Report

Take a look at Immigration Partner, Samar Shams's summary of the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendations for a points-based visa route and a lower salary threshold for sponsored workers.


Video | Immigration | Brexit


16 Dec
2019
What the Conservative win means for business immigration

With the win of a majority in Parliament on 12 December 2019, the Conservative party has also won the prize...


Article | Immigration | Brexit


10 Sep
2019
The Loop

The Loop: Shortage Occupation List changes

Welcome back to work, everybody. In this issue of The Loop. . .


Article | Immigration | Brexit


21 Aug
2019
The Business Guide to a No-Deal Brexit

With the government pushing for Brexit on 31 October 2019 and the possibility of a deal drifting ever further out of reach, our...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


8 Aug
2019
The Loop

The Loop: Your Sponsorship Management Digest

Spencer West LLP is delighted to introduce The Loop, our digest reporting on all things . . .


Article | Immigration | Brexit


14 Mar
2019
Securing EU nationals’ right to work

This article first appeared in the March issue of Employment Law Journal, published by Legalease Whatever course Brexit takes,...

Article | Immigration | Brexit