Immigration Senior/Principal Associate in Leeds

We are looking for an experienced immigration lawyer to join our Employment & Immigration team, advising employer clients on UK corporate immigration as well as personal immigration. You will work closely with a broad range of organisations, providing practical and commercially focused advice on their immigration requirements and helping them navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment. The role will involve advising clients on matters including sponsor licences, sponsored workers, visa applications, right-to-work requirements and ongoing sponsor compliance obligations.

Our existing immigration practice also supports clients through immigration audits, training and the development of appropriate policies and procedures and on a wide range of personal immigration applications including indefinite leave, dependant visas and Global Talent visas. As a senior member of the team, you will be expected to take ownership of client relationships and complex matters, contribute to the growth of the practice and support the development of more junior colleagues.

Main responsibilities:

• Advising employers on a broad range of UK corporate immigration matters.
• Advising on personal immigration matters including Global Talent, Schengen visas and ILR.
• Advising on sponsor licence applications and ongoing sponsor licence management and compliance.
• Advising employers on the sponsorship of workers, including Certificates of Sponsorship and relevant work visa applications.
• Providing practical advice on right-to-work requirements and immigration compliance.
• Conducting immigration compliance audits and helping clients identify and address areas of risk.
• Delivering immigration training to HR, recruitment, legal and management teams.
• Advising clients on immigration considerations arising from recruitment, workforce planning and international movement of employees.
• Working collaboratively with employment lawyers and other specialist teams where immigration issues interact with wider employment or commercial considerations.
• Managing matters effectively from initial instruction through to completion, ensuring clients receive responsive, clear and commercially focused advice.
• Developing strong relationships with existing clients and identifying opportunities to broaden those relationships.
• Supporting business development initiatives, including training, seminars, briefings, articles and other thought-leadership activity.
• Keeping clients and colleagues informed of significant developments in immigration law, policy and practice.
• Supporting and supervising junior lawyers and other members of the team, sharing knowledge and contributing to their development.
• Contributing to the continued development and profile of the immigration practice nationally.

Skills and experience:

• Has strong experience advising employers on UK corporate immigration matters.
• Has experience of personal immigration matters including ILR, Global Talent, Schengen visas.
• Has detailed knowledge of the sponsor licence regime, sponsored work routes and employer compliance requirements.
• Has experience advising on right-to-work issues and immigration risk.
• Can manage complex matters with appropriate autonomy.
• Is able to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical advice for clients.
• Has strong client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrates sound commercial judgement and understands the wider business context in which clients operate.
• Is comfortable building relationships and contributing to business development.
• Can supervise, support and develop junior colleagues.
• Works collaboratively across teams and disciplines.

What will set you apart:

• Significant experience acting for employer clients and acting on personal immigration matters.
• Experience handling complex sponsor licence and compliance matters.
• Experience delivering client training and immigration audits.
• The ability to develop trusted relationships with HR, People and senior business stakeholders.
• An interest in growing client relationships and contributing to the wider development of the immigration practice.
• Experience of matters where immigration and employment law overlap.

About the team:

The firm's Employment & Immigration practice advises organisations on corporate and personal immigration matters and works with businesses on areas including sponsorship, sponsor management, immigration compliance and bringing individuals into the UK.

The firm Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world's most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation.

We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.

Shoosmiths is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term conditions. As part of our accreditation, we commit to interviewing any applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for each vacancy.

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.