Senior Associate - Immigration

Fieldfisher; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

60:40 office vs WFH policy

Private medical insurance

Matched pension contributions

Holiday trading options

Modern Birmingham office

Job summary

Fieldfisher's Birmingham Immigration team seeks an experienced lawyer to lead complex corporate and private client matters, advising on Sponsor Licence compliance and work routes. The role offers autonomy, client development opportunities and cross-team collaboration across Employment, Tax and Corporate practice areas.

The successful candidate will manage client relationships, mentor juniors, and contribute to growth of a nationally recognised immigration practice within Fieldfisher.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with extensive immigration experience.
• 7+ years PQE in a recognised immigration practice, UK corporate immigration focus.
• Strong drafting, analytical and communication skills, capable of managing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of corporate and private client immigration matters.
• Advise employers on all aspects of UK business immigration and sponsor licences.
• Lead client relationships, supervise juniors, and contribute to BD activities.
• Deliver pragmatic, risk-based advice and ensure timely matter delivery.

Skills

Client relationship management

Commercial awareness

Leadership

Drafting & analytical skills

Problem solving

Education

Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales

Typically 7+ years' PQE in immigration

Tools

UK Sponsor Licence compliance

Sponsor licence & compliance experience

Job description

About the Team

Fieldfisher's UK Immigration team sits within our market-leading People and Work practice. We advise a diverse range of UK and international clients, from multinational corporations and financial institutions to technology companies, life sciences businesses, and high-net-worth individuals.

Led by Rhona Azir, the team provides strategic corporate and private client immigration advice, supporting organisations navigating the UK's evolving immigration framework while helping individuals secure their long-term immigration objectives. The team works closely with colleagues across Employment, Tax, Corporate and our international offices to deliver seamless cross-border solutions.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced immigration lawyer seeking greater autonomy, responsibility for complex matters and the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of a nationally recognised practice.

Role Purpose

The role requires a commercially focused lawyer who combines technical excellence with strong client relationship skills, leadership capability, and a commitment to developing both people and the wider practice. We are happy to consider candidates who are looking for a part time or full time role.
Our career development drivers set out what professionals are expected to demonstrate at each level of development. In this role, the Senior Associate will be expected to contribute across the following areas:

• Business & Financial Management e.g. Contributes to the negotiation of profitable fee levels for a variety of clients.
• Client Focus e.g. Able to work on large client matters with limited supervision.
• Working with People & Teams e.g. Delegates work to more junior colleagues and manages their performance and manages upwards effectively by making best use of partner/director time.
• Business Development e.g. Project manages BD activities and uses interaction to win new work from existing clients and contacts.
• Technical Skills e.g. Has a comprehensive knowledge of specialist areas of law and recognises where changes in law may require amendments to precedents and takes action.
• Knowledge & Innovation e.g. Successfully implements knowledge sharing initiatives within the team and client base and actively seeks publication or speaking opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Technical and Client work

• Manage a varied caseload of complex corporate and private client immigration matters with minimal supervision.
• Advise employers on all aspects of UK business immigration, including:
• Sponsor Licence applications, management and compliance.
• Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility and other sponsored work routes.
• Right to Work compliance and audits.
• Home Office compliance visits and investigations.
• Immigration implications arising from mergers, acquisitions and business restructures.
• Advise private clients on:
  • Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
  • British citizenship and naturalisation applications.
  • Family and partner applications.
  • Global mobility and complex personal immigration matters.
• Manage urgent and high-value immigration matters for key clients.
• Deliver pragmatic, commercial and risk-based advice tailored to clients' objectives.
• Build trusted adviser relationships with HR teams, senior stakeholders and individual clients.

Business Development

• Play an active role in developing the Immigration practice and growing client relationships.
• Identify cross-selling opportunities with Employment, Corporate, Tax and other practice groups.
• Prepare client alerts, articles and briefing papers on developments in immigration law.
• Present at client training sessions, seminars, webinars and industry events.
• Contribute to pitches, panel reviews and strategic business development initiatives.

Team Leadership

• Supervise, mentor and support junior lawyers, trainees and support staff.
• Assist with training programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Contribute to the team's operational excellence and quality standards.
• Support resource planning and matter management across the immigration team.

Other Responsibilities

• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers and trainees, supporting their professional development.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships through excellent service delivery and responsiveness.
• Contribute to business development initiatives including pitches, client presentations, publications, and industry events.
• Drive efficient matter management, financial discipline, and delivery against budgets and timelines.
• Collaborate effectively across international offices and practice groups.
• Support innovation, process improvement, and knowledge management initiatives within the practice.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards, firm policies, and regulatory obligations.

About You

The ideal candidate will be a technically strong and commercially minded lawyer who thrives in a collaborative, market facing and high-performing environment. They will demonstrate excellent communication skills, consistent technical excellence and sound commercial judgement, along with the ability to manage complex matters while building trusted relationships with clients and colleagues.

Candidates who currently specialise in a particular derivatives asset class are welcome, provided they are open to working across the wider derivatives practice and developing new areas of expertise.

Experience and Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales.
• Typically 7+ years' PQE gained within a recognised immigration practice (pre-qualification experience will also be considered).
• Extensive experience advising on UK corporate immigration matters.
• Strong technical knowledge of UK Sponsor Licence compliance and sponsorship requirements.
• Experience managing a varied caseload independently.
• Exceptional drafting, analytical and communication skills.
• Commercially focused with strong client relationship management capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure.
• Strong academic background.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating documentation, managing transactions end-to-end, and analytical skills.
• Displays resilience and the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under pressure with the ability to think laterally and solve complex problems.
• Delivers work efficiently while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
• Demonstrates ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development.
• Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to client service and business development.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to contribute positively to team culture, promoting inclusion and collaboration effectively across global teams.

Who are we looking for?

• We don't have a type. We believe our differences are our strengths; varied cultures, approaches and experiences can only benefit us.

What do we offer?

• You can be yourself: It takes everyone to make us who we are. We're a culture of diverse perspectives, with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together.
• In the office or WFH?: We think the best balance is more time in the office than at home, so we operate a 60:40 rule.
• Beyond salary: We offer plenty of benefits; private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more. Visit: Reward & Benefits ¦ Fieldfisher.
• Modern Office Space: Situated in the prestigious Paradise Birmingham at 2 Chamberlain Square, Fieldfisher Birmingham has become renowned for working closely and collaboratively with colleagues across the UK and international Fieldfisher Networks..
• Nurturing your talent: Take a 'build a career' approach to your training. You'll be on a pathway but free to wander if you see something you'd like to study more closely.
• Funnel your interests: You have a life outside work, and we can help it to flourish. Join clubs, affinity networks, inclusive events, and pro bono/charity initiatives.

Inclusion is not exclusive:

If all our differences are highlighted, no one stands out for being different. At Fieldfisher, all our rich diversity is celebrated.

We will provide the equipment to allow you to shine at the interview and beyond. Just let us know what you need.

For accessibility information on our Birmingham office, visit: Accessing Fieldfisher Birmingham ¦ Fieldfisher

We recruit on a rolling basis. Your application may be reviewed before the application deadline. We accept applications until we have filled the role.