One of the greatest challenges facing HNWs looking to relocate to the UK is the limited range of immigration pathways available to them. While routes such as the Innovator Founder visa and the Global Talent visa remain attractive options for some, they do not accommodate every type of internationally mobile entrepreneur or investor. Increasingly, however, immigration specialists suggest that it is not visa policy itself that is deterring wealthy individuals from choosing Britain, but the wider fiscal landscape.
There are many aspects to the work of an immigration lawyer. They might advise on visa applications, manage necessary documentation for travel, represent their clients in immigration tribunals and even represent them during asylum claims.
Explore the other rankings within the 2026 Spear’s Legal Indices:
Trends in 2026
UK struggling in a competitive market
The abolition of the UK’s non-dom tax regime has undoubtedly altered the country’s appeal, says Kathryn Bradbury of Payne Hicks Beach. ‘So it’s not necessarily a change in immigration policy so much as the wider factors that maybe make people think that the UK isn’t as attractive as it once was, sadly,’ she explains.
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The shift has prompted some UK-based HNWs and UHNW families to reconsider their residency, with a growing number exploring opportunities overseas. However, there have been reports that the government is considering bringing back the investor visa scheme which was disposed of in 2022, which a number of immigration lawyers tell Spear’s could be attractive to international HNWs.
[See also: Reform UK’s Richard Tice blasts London’s ‘anti-wealth culture’]
American Exodus
Despite these headwinds, demand for UK immigration advice remains strong. Lawyers report continued interest from wealthy Americans, with political uncertainty in the US encouraging some families to seek residence across the Atlantic.
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According to Sharmila Mehta of Keystone Law, Britain’s reputation for stability continues to be a significant draw. ‘The UK is still considered European and I think financial services is one of the biggest strengths of the UK and particularly of London. So that’s always going to be a major attraction,’ she says, citing both financial and personal security as enduring advantages.
[See also: Why so many wealthy Americans are moving to the UK]
Geopolitical uncertainty
Geopolitical instability has also become an increasingly important driver of immigration work. The conflict involving Iran has prompted many internationally mobile families to reassess where they – and their assets are based. Immigration lawyers report heightened demand from British nationals returning from the UAE, as well as from citizens of Gulf states, Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East seeking greater security or establishing alternative residency options should circumstances deteriorate.
For some wealthy clients, political asylum has also become an important consideration. Matt Ingham of Payne Hicks Beach explains that the need for protection is by no means confined to those of modest means. ‘I’ve heard various UHNWs say that the UK is the safest place in the world. So there’s been an increase in political asylum,’ he says, reflecting a broader trend among internationally mobile families seeking long-term security alongside mobility.
[See also: J.P. Morgan: UHNWs should invest in security amid geopolitical tensions]
The majority of the lawyers on this list are London-based but deal with clients from a number of jurisdictions, such as the Middle East, Europe, Africa and East Asia, to name but a few.
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- Methodology
- Best immigration lawyers: some names to know
- Best immigration lawyers: the complete list
- Contact us
Best immigration lawyers: some names to know
Jurga McCluskey
- Focus: UHNWs moving to the UK
- Ranking: Top Flight
- Firm: Deloitte
‘High-net-worth individuals are usually cash-rich but time-poor, so they are very keen to have the right strategy as to how they can move around the world while looking after their business affairs without too many complications,’ says Jurga McCluskey, head of Deloitte‘s UK immigration practice.
McCluskey works closely with Deloitte’s tax and accountancy teams to provide integrated immigration and wealth planning advice to global HNWs, many of whom hail from the Middle East, China, India, Africa and Kazakhstan. But it’s not all about business: ‘Most of my clients think about their children more than themselves,’ she tells Spear’s.
Read Jurga McCluskey’s full profile on Spears500.com
Kathryn Bradbury
- Focus: (U)HNW migration policy
- Ranking: Top Flight
- Firm: Payne Hicks Beach
Kathryn Bradbury, joint managing partner at Payne Hicks Beach, handles the ‘time-consuming and highly complex’ immigration and citizenship matters facing HNW and UHNW clients.
Regarded within the profession as one of London’s top immigration lawyers, Bradbury is an expert on UK policy, EU free movement and family-based applications, as well as the business categories of the UK immigration rules.
Read Kathryn Bradbury’s full profile on Spears500.com
Elena Hinchin
- Focus: Complex immigration law
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Farrer & Co
Elena Hinchin, an immigration partner at Farrer & Co, represents a wide range of wealthy clients in complex immigration matters.
Formerly a solicitor at immigration boutique Gherson, as well as an adviser within a multi-family office, Hinchin joined Farrer in 2015 to represent private and corporate clients on matters that at times have a cross-disciplinary element.
She is experienced in political asylum claims and appeals and has represented cases before the European Court of Human Rights and in judicial review applications, and the UK Home Office has consulted her on its move towards an electronic visa system.
Read Elena Hinchin’s full profile on Spears500.com
Hazar El-Chamaa
- Focus: Middle Eastern HNWs
- Ranking: Recommended
- Firm: Penningtons Manches Cooper
Hazar El-Chamaa leads the private wealth immigration team at Penningtons Manches Cooper, advising HNWs and families looking to move to Britain from a variety of countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US and Brazil. ‘My role is varied,’ she tells Spear’s. ‘I can have a call from a university dealing with a licence compliance issue, or the agent of a professional sportsperson, or a HNW looking to relocate to the UK.’
A fluent Arabic speaker, she reports an increase in instructions from UHNW families from the region as her practice has developed. Working closely with Penningtons’ tax and other private client departments – including family and sports law – El-Chamaa offers a route into the firm’s full legal service.
Read Hazar El-Chamaa’s full profile on Spears500.com
Best immigration lawyers: the complete list
Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles on spears500.com. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically by surname.
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With additional reporting by Christian Maddock
