Business Immigration

One Pump Court’s immigration team is unparalleled in its Business Immigration knowledge and experience. Members of the team regularly advise top-rated and City solicitors on all aspects of the Points Based System, including Tier 1 (Investor), (Entrepreneur) and (Exceptional Talent). The Team is commercially aware and understands the demands placed on solicitors by high-net worth clients. We always endeavour to find a solution and the best way forward.

Our team is able to advise on law and procedure of Tier 2. In particular we are able to assist with resisting the downgrading of, suspending of, or revocation of Tier 2 Sponsor Licences, be that initial advice on best practice to avoid difficulties arising or challenging decisions by judicial review.

Members of the team also regularly advise on ‘right to work’ issues. Again, the advice you will receive is practical and commercially aware. We know your clients want a straightforward solution.

The One Pump Court team has a wealth of experience in advising on Civil Penalties. The team has some of the few members of the Bar who have taken Civil Penalties to the County Court on appeal and have an unrivalled knowledge of tactics and procedural know-how.

We are able to advise on best practice and to carry-out immigration audits, as well as drafting responses to Information Requests, Objections, and Grounds of Appeal.

The Team has several experts on the European right of free movement and can advise on such in a business context, from right to work queries to advising companies on their rights to bring workers to the UK under the Posted Workers’ Directive. We can also advise on the ICT Directive (UK opt-out).

Members of the Team are aware that our clients tend to need advice on Business Immigration quickly and we are committed to providing high quality and comprehensive advice as quickly as possible.

The immigration team at One Pump Court are recommended in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. The Legal 500 notes the “excellent selection of counsel” and the latter recommends the service provided to economic migrants and in PBS matters.

Our team has a wealth of experience in advising in respect of Investor and Entrepreneur applications.  We are instructed by a wide range of specialist solicitors on behalf of high net worth and private individuals and many members of the team are registered for direct access, so can accept instructions directly from individuals or businesses without a solicitor intermediary.

Preparation is key. We are often instructed to advise upon or assist with an initial application to maximize the prospects of a successful outcome at an early stage. Due to the restriction of appeal rights, this has become ever more important. The team is also adept in preparing applications for administrative review and offering the highest standard of advocacy if eventual judicial review proceedings in either the Upper Tribunal or the High Court become necessary.

Individual members of the team also have a niche practice in successfully obtaining entry clearance in a Tier 1 category when a previous application has been refused on deception grounds. We can also advise upon settlement applications, including the evidential requirements for fast track settlement.

The One Pump Court immigration team have extensive experience representing workers and students including under Tier 2 and Tier 4 of the Points Based System. The team is noted for its experience in PBS matters, and “highly recommended for the service it provides to both economic and non-economic migrants.” (Chambers & Partners, 2016). They have an “excellent selection of counsel” (Legal 500) and “excellent clerking staff, making communication very easy.” (Chambers & Partners 2016).

The PBS is complex and highly demanding, with limited opportunity to appeal unsuccessful applications. One Pump Court’s immigration barristers can advise early in the application process to ensure that all aspects of the rules have been complied with. Many members are direct access qualified and can therefore accept instructions without the need for a solicitor.

We also advise in relation to applications for administrative review and provide advice and advocacy in judicial review of unlawful decisions. Members of the team have significant experience representing claimants in the Upper Tribunal and the Administrative Court in judicial review.

The immigration team at One Pump Court are recommended in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. The Legal 500 notes the “excellent selection of counsel” and the latter recommends the service provided to economic migrants and in PBS matters.

Our team has a wealth of experience in advising in respect of European free movement applications.  We are instructed by a wide range of specialist solicitors on behalf of businesses and high net worth and private individuals and many members of the team are registered for direct access, so can accept instructions directly from individuals or businesses without a solicitor intermediary.

Our experience extends beyond the individual. We have a wealth of experience in advising individuals in respect of their free movement rights and their correlating rights to be accompanied by their families. However, we can also advise companies in respect of their free movement rights and in particular whether third country nationals employed by a company in one member state can be transferred to another member state for the duration of a project without having to obtain work permits.

Preparation is key. We are often instructed to advise upon or assist with an initial application to maximize the prospects of a successful outcome at an early stage. If an appeal becomes necessary, we are able to offer the highest quality of advocacy at every stage from the First Tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, Administrative Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and to the ECJ itself.

The immigration team at One Pump Court are recommended in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. The Legal 500 notes the “excellent selection of counsel” and the latter recommends the service provided to economic migrants and in PBS matters.

We are instructed to advise a range of businesses, companies and institutions on all aspects of sponsorship licenses under the Points Based System. Members of the team provide advice to Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors on how to achieve compliance with UK immigration legislation and policy, at any stage.

We have been involved in successful challenges to UKVI decisions to suspend or revoke sponsor licences, as well as securing interim relief during Administrative Court litigation to best protect sponsor clients’ business, who may well be reliant upon their migrant workers.

Seminars and in-house training is also provided to solicitors on sponsor licences and challenges to UKVI enforcement action.

The immigration team at One Pump Court has vast experience in advising on civil penalties for employing illegal workers. We are able to comprehensively advise upon the law on illegal working, the roles and duties of employers with regards to migrants, the consequences of employing an illegal worker and the routes of challenge open to an employer if faced with one of these consequences.

We are often instructed to give professional guidance on the ability of migrants to work for an employer, ways to avoid the risks of a penalty, circumstances following a visit to business premises by immigration officers, the service of penalty notices by the Home Office and the appropriateness of the civil penalty imposed.

We have successful challenged civil penalties for many clients. We are able to help employers to complete objections to penalty notices. Members also frequently assist with attendance and preparation for appeals against penalties in the County Court.

The team are instructed by a wide range of specialist solicitors on behalf of employers and many members of the team are registered for direct access, so we can accept instructions directly from employers without a solicitor intermediary.

The immigration team at One Pump Court are recommended in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. The Legal 500 notes the “excellent selection of counsel” and the latter recommends the service provided to economic migrants.

Under the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) Turkish nationals are permitted to establish themselves as a worker or in a business in the UK, under the 1972 Immigration Rules.

Our members provide clear advice and effective advocacy at all stages of appeal, for ordinary workers, investors, and businesses of all sizes. We have specialist knowledge concerning the construction of the 1972 Rules and current UKVI policy, definitions of employment and self-employment and investment, and allegations of breaches of immigration control and the abuse of rights.



Barristers specialising in this area


Key Contacts

Senior Clerk to Chambers
Ian Burrow

Practice Manager
Mycal Thomas

Assistant Practice Manager
James Rourke

Telephone 020 7842 7070, Out of hours emergency telephone 0777 423 8444 (solicitors only), Email clerks@onepumpcourt.co.uk