I am head of our Business Immigration team in the UK, a member of Bird & Bird's International HR Services Group and a native speaker, reader and writer of Japanese.
I specialise in helping employers attract, retain and move their key talent across the world.
My extensive experience as a dual-qualified UK/US lawyer allows me to offer a unique blend of immigration strategy, compliance advice and bespoke solutions for clients hiring EU and non-EU nationals. My clients include FTSE 100 companies, SMEs and start-ups in the aerospace, pharma, finance, energy, retail, TMT and creative industries.
I specialise in all areas of business immigration, including Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility work visas, business visitors, indefinite leave to remain, European applications, legal right to work checks, audits, company reorganisations, and sponsor licence/compliance. Most of my work involves advising clients on cross-border projects.
Offering practical advice in the face of complex Home Office Rules, I help our clients to manage the risks associated with the inconsistent application of Home Office rules by case workers. With the prospect of changes for employers following Brexit, it is anticipated that clients will have more, and different rules to get to grips with.
Before I left California, my home of 29 years, for London in 2010, I spent a decade as a business litigator at a global business litigation firm in Los Angeles. Whilst at a major consultancy firm in London between 2010 and 2013, I drove revenue growth by expanding the immigration service offered to Japanese corporate clients. I also presented training sessions and immigration updates to new assignees, HR professionals and industry executives.
Before joining Bird & Bird, I worked as a solicitor at a top tier Chambers-ranked immigration firm in London. I also spent a year on full-time secondment at a British multinational investment bank and financial services company in London, advising key stakeholders on UK immigration law.