Immigration: Personal: London

The compact immigration department at Bindmans is a leader in personal immigration and remains committed to providing advice on the full spectrum of immigration issues. Areas of expertise include adoption, entry clearance, leave to remain, extradition, the points-based system (PBS) and asylum issues. The team also remains dedicated to providing legal aid work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alison Stanley heads the department and is described by interviewees as a "legend in the field." She is admired by one source as "a market leader for refugee law and a wonderfully able and committed lawyer who also has a sense of humour." Liz Barratt has a large publicly funded practice. She is well respected for her asylum expertise and work with children unlawfully removed from the UK. Sources say she is "meticulous and as tenacious as a fox terrier."

Fisher Meredith is the first choice for many clients for immigration and asylum matters. It continues to attract praise for its cutting-edge work in a wide range of areas relating to immigration, including Special Immigration Appeals Commission litigation, terrorist, trafficking and criminal deportation work, unaccompanied minors and victims of domestic violence. Since publication, Catherine Robinson has taken up pupillage at 1 Pump Court.

KEY INDIVIDUALS The market waits to see the impact of former department head Stefan Vnuk's departure to Lawrence Lupin Solicitors. Robert Sparks is now the key contact.

The team at immigration specialist Wesley Gryk has built an enviable reputation in the sector. It handles the complete range of immigration work, including asylum, all matters surrounding the PBS, and nationality, with a steady focus on human rights issues. Its lawyers are "a joy to work with and produce work of the utmost quality with consistently brilliant results," say sources.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alison Hunter "has the gravitas and knowledge to turn her hand to anything," say interviewees. She is rated very highly for her immigration work, which typically has an EU element. Founder of the firm Wesley Gryk is highly respected for his knowledge and client-focused approach. Barry O'Leary continues to push the boundaries in his specialist areas of work: applications based on same-sex relationships and asylum and human rights claims on the basis of sexual orientation. Tim Barnden is excellent across the board and earns praise from peers for being "always a pleasure to work with."

This distinguished immigration practice is noted for its extensive experience across the full spectrum of immigration, asylum and nationality work, at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court and the ECHR. It is commended for its commitment to publicly funded work. Sources value the client service, describing the firm as "a well-oiled machine - it's fantastically efficient and never compromises on the quality of work it does."

KEY INDIVIDUALS James Elliott is well known in the profession for handling Somali refugee claims. Clients affirm he "is very thorough and pays great attention to detail." Ana Gonzalez is respected for her expertise in human trafficking. According to interviewees, "she works tirelessly for her clients and never gives up." Kay Everett is a "champion in dealing with extremely vulnerable individuals." She is particularly experienced in removal and deportation cases. Matthew Davies impresses as a "top lawyer who has a panoramic view and understanding of how the political landscape is changing." Michael Hanley is a "fantastic lawyer" who also sits as a part-time judge in the Asylum & Immigration Tribunal. The "academically brilliant" Russell Blakely has recently been involved in the landmark HJ (Iran) and HT (Cameroon) sexual orientation cases. 

The firm offers a comprehensive immigration practice, with a substantial level of personal immigration work stemming from its leading business immigration team. The department's expertise covers judicial reviews, nationality, adoption, national security and civil partnership applications. Recently, it acted for a foreign political figure in successfully getting his name removed from the list of individuals banned from the EU.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Recent recruit Shahram Taghavi brings extra strength and depth to the department. He is well known for handling high-profile strategic judicial reviews, namely the hugely significant Pankina case. Christopher Randall has an excellent reputation and "extraordinary breadth of knowledge of the sector," say sources. He has had a busy year in the Asylum & Immigration Tribunal with appeal work. He recently acted for a young sportsperson of international repute and succeeded in securing their indefinite stay in the UK on the basis of a human rights application based on family and private life.

Since publication, Shahram Taghavi has joined Lewis Silkin LLP

Sources continue to be impressed by this "extremely well-prepared" immigration department. It handles the full range of immigration work, including deportation, trafficking and detainees, and is, according to a source, "number one on the national security side." Clients appreciate the team's "hard-working and dedicated" approach.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sonia Routledge is highly respected by clients, who appreciate her willingness to "always go the extra mile." Colleague Nigel Leskin is also extremely well regarded in the field.

This relatively small firm earns widespread praise from market sources for its high-profile work in the immigration sector, where it consistently "punches above its weight." Recent noteworthy cases have included RS Zimbabwe and RT Zimbabwe. "It has a unique and useful understanding of education, EU and immigration law and how the three interlink," say clients. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jawaid Luqmani is praised for his hard work and expertise in the field. Sources say he "thinks seriously and creatively on immigration and spots loopholes in areas slightly off the beaten track." They also say "he is extremely pragmatic and realistic in dealing with clients and in terms of appraising the merits of the case." Eileen Bye's focus is on detention work, but she also handles a substantial amount of deportation cases. Sources say she is "thorough, well prepared and has good judgement." Sally Thompson is known for her work with vulnerable clients, including victims of trafficking, children and those with mental health matters.

This strong niche immigration firm has an impressive nationality and asylum practice and continues to be held in high regard by commentators.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Annette Elder has impressed the market with her commitment to and expertise in immigration law.

The firm is home to a cross-disciplinary immigration team covering both business and personal immigration matters. Its areas of expertise include applications and appeals on behalf of students, domestic workers, spouses, unmarried partners, children and civil partners, the full ambit of Tier 1 to Tier 5 applications, and all aspects of free movement under EU law. The team is "second to none in attention to detail," and earns praise for "offering a Rolls-Royce service to clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Kathryn Bradbury is a key contact.

The firm is best known for its experience in deportation, human rights and asylum work, but it also provides advice to individuals on applications under the PBS, on all aspects of entry clearance to the UK and on issues regarding European citizens.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Lisa Gibbs is a key contact.