Immigration: Thames Valley

Commentators are quick to praise this Oxford-based immigration practice, which handles a combination of both business and personal matters. It regularly advises companies on the PBS, and even offers seminars on the recent changes. It has also assisted in bringing in executives from abroad, and other areas of expertise include family reunion and student and asylum applications. Clients especially appreciate the firm's immigration advice facility.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jennifer Harvey is currently on maternity leave, although she is due to return to the firm. She deals with a balance of commercial and private client work, and interviewees praise her as "extremely efficient and responsive; she always gives good sound advice on every question that we raise."

This Reading-based team handles a comprehensive range of immigration work. It has a particular emphasis on employment disputes tied to immigration issues, and its client base encompasses companies, individual employees, students and educational institutions. Clients highlight "the genuine interest that it displays in our business."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Interviewees identify Duncan Bain as an associate to watch, commenting that "it's hard to find someone with such great specialist knowledge who also has the ability to translate this knowledge into practical advice."

This team continues to attract praise for its immigration practice, which principally focuses on the business sector. Over the last year, it has been advising on sponsorship licence applications under the PBS, extension applications, intra-company transfers and compliance. It has also recently handled a number of Tier 5 applications for interns. Clients have every confidence in the team, agreeing that it "provides a high quality of work and advice in a timely fashion."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Kerry Garcia oversees the immigration practice and impresses clients with her "good commercial advice" and "extremely approachable and responsive manner."

This team's capabilities have been boosted by the recent opening of a new office in Reading. It receives a wealth of praise for its staunch commitment to publicly funded matters, although it is also increasing its private sector profile. It handles asylum applications, judicial reviews, PBS and sponsorship applications, and a substantial amount of immigration detention work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Firm founder Philip Turpin is highly regarded by market observers for his impressive levels of expertise.