Strengths: ‘Everyone on the team is helpful - they always have solutions and explain things in a very understandable way.’
‘The team is exceptional and has a very good understanding of immigration-related matters.’
‘Matters are handled in a very responsive and speedy manner, making the process seamless.’
Notable practitioners
‘Pat Saini has fantastic knowledge of the sector and is very hands-on.’
‘Hazar El-Chamaa has tremendous knowledge in the field, and is incredibly committed to helping clients.’
Chambers UK - 2023 edition
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP fields a ‘very diligent and thorough’ immigration team, known for obtaining ‘the best possible outcome‘ in difficult cases across the range of business and personal matters. Pat Saini leads the team, as well as co-leading the firm’s wider India group, and focuses on clients in the education industry – a key sector for the firm. Also notable is the ‘truly excellent‘ Hazar El-Chamaa, who, alongside her work heading up private wealth immigration and handling complex personal cases including nationality and EU work, currently sits as head of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association. Senior associate Meghan Vozila is noted for her broad practice acting for clients ranging from SMEs and high-net-worth individuals to multinationals, and associate Afeefah Shabbir is key to the firm’s corporate offering.
‘We found Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP to be highly professional and reliable. All their advice was concise and clear, that led us to a good result.’
‘Clear advice, very diligent and thorough in approach, went beyond to get us the best possible outcome.’
‘The lawyers in the team are all extremely knowledgeable which allows them to thoroughly assess a situation and provide top notch advice to clients.’
‘Pat Saini who leads the practice at Penningtons has done an excellent job, and has helped me to explain to key stakeholders and the media what is happening with UK immigration. She is a strong leader with great communication skills.’
‘Hazar El-Chamaa is truly excellent. In addition to her wealth of knowledge and experience in immigration law, she is approachable, pragmatic and solution-oriented. A matter is always in good hands in her care.’
‘All members of the team are exceptional, particularly Pat Saini and Meghan Vozila. Both of these individuals are stars and can handle any immigration matter.’
‘Meghan Vozila and her team always were available and made sure I had quick answers to my many questions. They always offered different solutions with the pros and cons. Meghan especially was always diligent in getting back to me and she took time to deal with my issues.’
The Legal 500 - 2023 edition
Strengths: ‘The solicitors treat us more like colleagues than customers, which allows us to talk freely and openly and build a positive business relationship based on trust and mutual respect,’ a client reports.
‘We are super impressed with Penningtons Manches Cooper and delighted to be working with them,’ says a source.
An interviewee adds: ‘I trust their advice and rely on their expert knowledge.’
Notable practitioners
‘Pat Saini is very knowledgeable and willing to provide real-world, practical solutions to fit the needs of our business.’ ‘She is extremely knowledgeable, incredibly flexible with her time and has good industry contacts.’
Chambers UK - 2022 edition
The immigration team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP - which is known for being one of 'the best in the market for immigration issues in higher education' - is led by the 'outstanding' Pat Saini, who also co-heads the firm's India group. The team has a well-established reputation as a strong choice for both business and individual clients; the firm’s private wealth immigration offering is led by the 'wonderful' Hazar El-Chamaa, who was recently elected as chair of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association. The team has recently been busy advising clients whose travel and work plans have been impacted by the global pandemic, as well as continuing to assist businesses with post-Brexit issues.
‘Pat Saini is an outstanding immigration lawyer. She was critical in making our transaction happen smoothly. Great knowledge, availability and ability to make things happen.’
‘Hazar El-Chamaa is wonderful and always ready to support any legal requirements, including effective delegations. Her standing within the immigration and residency legal profession has been exceptionally earned.’
‘I would like to highlight the efforts and detail oriented work of Meghan Vozila. Meghan has not only been involved in every detail of the procedure but has gone above and beyond in supporting the client.’
The Legal 500 - 2022 edition
Continues to be known for its stellar work in the education sector, advising a range of clients including universities, schools and other educational institutions on Brexit planning and sponsor licence issues. Also provides visa and immigration services to multinational corporations. The team is able to utilise the firm's education, corporate and employment teams to provide a complete service to clients. Notable expertise in relation to India, including advising large Indian companies on the transfer of sponsored employees to the UK.
Strengths: Sources say: 'They are incredibly knowledgeable about this area of law and always up to date on what's happening and what's going to happen.'
Notable practitioners
Head of the immigration team Pat Saini is adept at offering strategic immigration advice to education sector clients. Her advice to these clients is comprehensive, covering a broad range of issues including Brexit preparation, sponsor licence applications and audits. 'She is fantastic - she is super well connected and provides timely, concise and accessible advice.'
Chambers UK - 2021 edition
The immigration group at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is particularly recommended for its work for education and technology clients, sectors where practice head Pat Saini has a strong reputation; she also has extensive experience in UK-India relations. The team provides audit and compliance services and advises schools and study abroad providers seeking to set up in the UK. Associate May Cheung provides corporate immigration advice and handles sponsor compliance audits. On the private client side, Hazar El-Chamaa heads the firm's private wealth immigration offering, with a practice focused on complex investor and nationality applications.
The team was hands down one of the best I’ve worked with from our first engagement. I would say some of their strengths are: communication, flexibility, efficiency, high level of knowledge in their specialist fields and overall wonderful service.
Pat Saini is outstanding. She understands the details and complexity of immigration rules and also is able to discuss the bigger picture impact of immigration policy.
Hazar El-Chamaa is very thorough with her work. She presented a process of the matter presented to her from start to finish. Hazar is also very prompt in all her responses.
The Legal 500 - 2021 edition
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP's business immigration team works with corporates, start-ups, investors, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals, and while it has a particular focus on the education sector, it is also adept at advising clients across the retail, finance, sports, technology, creative and private wealth sectors. It works closely with the firm's corporate, commercial and employment teams to provide a thorough service for its clients, and is regularly engaged on crisis management advice to businesses and education sector clients when sponsor licences are under threat. Department head Pat Saini is 'very experienced' and is strong in the education sector. Saini is ably supported by Hazar El-Chamaa, who heads the firm's private wealth immigration team. Senior associate May Cheung and associate Adam Cotterill are also recommended.
The Legal 500 - 2020 edition
Pat Saini leads the immigration team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP. "She is absolutely brilliant, immensely responsive and has a very clear way of explaining issues," comments an interviewee; "she is very good at articulating and distilling what is important." Another source says: "She is very approachable, always accessible and is an authority on immigration."
Hazar El-Chamaa heads up the private wealth immigration offering of Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP. "She is very pragmatic and provides very straightforward advice," says a source. "She is super, I don't think I have met a lawyer like her ever before," confides another interviewee, who continues: "She is very good at her work and she takes pride in it. I don't have enough words of praise for Hazar."
Chambers High Net Worth - 2020 edition
I will never forget the level of service, detail, effort and care Pat provided to successfully obtain my Tier 1 Exceptional Talent and Promise Visa. I met Pat through Tech London Advocate (TLA) and as soon as we met I was relieved to know I was not alone in this process. Pat, not only was instrumental in advocating for and developing the TechCity Exceptional Talent and Promise in Technology visa but also had an impressive success track record. However, what sets Pat apart is her genuine compassion and support during the inherently stressful application process, passion for talented people to remain and grow their businesses in the UK and her pro-active approach in finding ways to help above and beyond the legal process. Pat also helped me believe in myself and pushed me to new heights as an entrepreneur.
Jillian Kowalchuk, Safe & The City
Niraj Shrestha, Rural Heritage
Daryl Orts, OpenMarket
Thank you for having represented me for my entrepreneur visa application and getting the desired results. Your work was truly outstanding. I appreciate your expertise, poise, and patience. You are a gift.
Achin Narula, Everest Advisors
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