Immigration expertise for the agricultural sector
When it comes to rural and agricultural law, experience is everything. Our team has a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the issues that matter to rural communities. We work alongside farmers, landowners and rural businesses.
We understand that the rural sector faces unique challenges that demand a special kind of legal support. We ensure our advice is tailored, by taking the time to learn about our clients’ needs, their aspirations and to understand the issues that matter to them. From family farms to large estates, we help clients navigate the legal complexities of rural business and explore the full breadth of opportunities in an ever-changing world.
Our rural team is also supported by experts from across the firm, in real estate, planning, environment, employment, immigration, energy, tax, banking and finance, health and safety, litigation, construction, intellectual property, commercial contracts, private client and family and divorce.
The agricultural sector in Scotland and across the UK is heavily reliant on migrant seasonal and permanent workers to undertake key planting, harvesting, grading and processing tasks on farms. However, we understand there can be uncertainty, frustrations, and rigours associated with navigating UK immigration law and policy when bringing workers into the UK.
Top-ranked in both the Chambers and Legal 500 directories, our dedicated and experienced team of immigration law specialists have an established reputation for providing pragmatic and innovative solutions to the issues faced by our clients in the agricultural sector.
What we can help with...
\
Business Immigration
Our specialist team understand the importance of global mobility to the rural sector and how recent changes to the immigration rules may make it more difficult for Licenced Sponsors to sponsor overseas workers – particularly in the Skilled Worker route. We can advise you on the best route to recruit workers, navigating you through the relevant visa schemes.
We can advise you on the various immigration issues and provide bespoke training in areas such as:
| Sponsor licence applications, maintenance and compliance | Home Office audits | Right to work checks |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa | Seasonal Worker visa | Business visit visa |
| Switching visa categories | Sponsoring workers on contract/self-employed basis | Global Mobility visa |
\
Personal Immigration
Our immigration lawyers also regularly advise on a broad range of personal immigration matters and can help your employees if their families are planning to emigrate with them to the UK. We regularly deal with all types of personal visas and matters, including business & family visitors, family migration, international adoptions, settlement in the UK, British citizenship and workers & students. We have in-depth knowledge of the systems and procedures to ensure that applications are processed with minimal stress.
Our team are also well placed to advise clients on ongoing trends in terms of processing times, biometric appointment availability and Home Office policy positions and practices.
Our specialists
Grace McGill
HEAD OF IMMIGRATION
grace.mcgill@burnesspaull.com
+44 (0)131 357 4464
Grace is an experienced practitioner in all aspects of UK immigration law having practised in the field for over 25 years. She has been appointed as an accredited Specialist in Immigration Law by the Law Society of Scotland. She has been recognised for her work by Chambers and the Legal 500 having been acknowledged as a leading individual in Scotland since 2015, appointed to the Hall of Fame in 2023.
She was appointed as a GlobalScot by Scottish Enterprise given the extensive nature of her practice representing both corporate and private clients globally and has been recognised as a Global Leader in the field by Who’s Who Legal since 2020.
Linda Tinson
HEAD OF RURAL
linda.tinson@burnesspaull.com
+44 (0)131 473 6909
Linda is a leading adviser in the rural and agricultural sector. She provides a range of services, including transactional business across all rural property types, traditional conveyancing matters, succession planning, business structuring, partnership reorganisation, and agricultural holdings.
Having previously been a partner in a farming business, her first-hand knowledge of the industry allows her to better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by her clients.
A member of the Integrity Committee of The Food Integrity Assurance Scheme and a Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme graduate, her dedication to promoting integrity in the food industry further demonstrates her holistic approach to her work
Built with Shorthand