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. 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.’
‘The lawyers in the team are all extremely knowledgeable which allows them to thoroughly assess a situation and provide top notch advice to clients.’
‘Hazar El-Chamaa is particularly special to work with. Very professional and confident. Very experienced and knowledgeable. Always happy to go the extra mile to make things happen.’
‘Pat Saini who leads the practice at Penningtons has done an excellent job. She is a strong leader with great communication skills.’
‘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. Meghan especially was always diligent in getting back to me and she took time to deal with my issues.’
The Legal 500 - 2023 edition
‘Penningtons is great at handling all UK immigration matters, including highly complex matters for high net worth clients,’ says a commentator. ‘The UK team is extraordinarily knowledgeable,’ comments a source, adding: ‘They are very on top of what is going on in the Home Office regarding immigration matters.’
Hazar El-Chamaa ‘handled my case superbly’, says a source, adding: ‘I highly recommend her.’ ‘Clients find her approachable, friendly and extremely knowledgeable,’ states another commentator, adding: ‘She always goes the extra mile.’
Pat Saini advises high net worth individuals on a range of immigration-related matters, and is described by a source as ‘amazing; one of the best in the field’. ‘Saini demonstrates huge humility and professionalism,’ remarks another. A market commentator states: ‘She is very knowledgeable, especially on the EU front.’
Chambers UK – 2022 edition
The immigration team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP 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
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 fantastic - she is super well connected and provides timely, concise and accessible advice.'
Chambers UK - 2021 edition
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 heads the firm's private wealth immigration offering, with a practice focused on complex investor and nationality applications.
Adam Cotterill specialises in private and family immigration, including human rights claims, international surrogacy and adoption.
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.
Adam Cotterill was exceptional in all of our interactions. He was both professional and also kind and understanding to our situation.
The Legal 500 - 2021 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
The team provides various university clients and multinational corporations with support for EU national employees. The team also offers specialist human rights, appeals and overstay advice where it advises on complex applications and cases involving surrogacy and adoption. 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
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
Pat's counsel and assistance were simply excellent. Her experience was evident in her clarifications about the regulations, and her advice and guidance on how to proceed. She and her team were very responsive and helpful in the application process, which was completed very smoothly.
Private client
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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