Associate

Job Description

Associate

London, UK

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate to join our UK Inbound team in London.

About us:

Fragomen is the world’s leading exclusive provider of immigration services. We are a firm of more than 6,200 immigration-focused professionals and staff spanning more than 60 offices worldwide. Immigration has been our sole focus for 70 years, and today we offer support in more than 170 countries. We are problem-solvers, innovators and established thought leaders in immigration, providing strategic immigration advice to a diverse range of clients from individuals to the world’s leading multinational corporations.

Fragomen’s professionals are respected thought leaders in the immigration field providing expertise to governments across the world including the US Congress, the UK Parliament, the European Union and the United Nations.

A career at Fragomen will provide you with the opportunity to work in an exciting environment for a broad range of clients, where no two days will be the same. You will face interesting challenges and you will work with dedicated, friendly and ambitious people, where providing exceptional client service is at the core of what we do. We are extremely proud of our diverse workforce at Fragomen and we are fully committed to providing equal opportunities.  We believe that our differences make us stronger.

About the team:

Our UK Inbound team is a diverse team with experienced Senior Associates, Associates, Senior Paralegals and Paralegals. Using their entrepreneurial spirit the team is constantly thinking of new ways to provide industry-leading immigration support. As part of the team, you will work with experienced immigration professionals whilst gaining exposure to Senior Partners in the UK and beyond.

Sitting within Fragomen’s UK In-bound practice, Team Optics assists a range of corporate clients, from large international corporations to SMEs across a variety of sectors. The client list includes everything from established household names to disruptive start-ups, including some of the firm’s largest clients, offering a full spectrum of immigration needs and a real opportunity to exercise strategic thinking.

The team assists clients across their UK and EMEA immigration work, which is unique within the practice. They operate a fluid model, which means cross collaboration and support across the mini teams within the larger team. The work is unusually varied for corporate immigration, with a large amount of niche private client work being kept on team, as well as compliance work and they are often at the forefront of advising on strategy and completing regional projects that are then replicated by other teams across the practice. Within their private client work, they draw on relationships with accelerator programmes for Global Talent endorsement applications and enjoy extensive work across multiple disciplines ranging from digital tech, healthcare, and creative writing. They help many young entrepreneurs with fulfilling their potential once investment has been sourced and continue to support in their progression with immigration assistance as start-ups achieve sustained growth, such as Sponsor License applications and other non-sponsored visa alternatives.

As part of the team, you will work with experienced immigration professionals whilst working directly with Managers, Senior Managers and Partners in the UK and beyond.

About the role:
You will be predominantly engaged in transactional work, including advising on, preparing and submitting visa applications, and will also be expected to advise clients on all aspects of UK immigration, including right to work and compliance. Our clients value partnership so place a real focus on establishing close working relationships where we function as an extension of their team, and there will be opportunities to spend time with clients face-to-face to build and develop their regional EMEA immigration programs. 

You will assist the day-today UK transactional work for clients and will have the opportunity to assist on several regional client projects across EMEA for the Financial Services clients, namely providing support for the annual Campus Hire programmes across EMEA and acting as a liaison to coordinate and field EMEA immigration queries between the client and country case teams. There are also several client accounts, across different industries and sectors including:

• Biotech and pharmaceuticals

• Fashion and luxury skincare

• Entertainment and media

• Financial services

You will have the support of Senior Managers as well as administrative support for your day-to-day caseload. In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in business development activities and be involved in wider Firm initiatives (including government liaison and pro bono work).

Other key responsibilities will include:

• Acts as key point of contact on client accounts, providing legal and strategic advice, with senior associate/manager support as needed

• Managing and developing client relationships, with manager support as needed

• Legal research as required

• Maintaining a full caseload in an organise and efficient manner while adhering to deadlines

• Participation as required in client reviews; preparation of reports and meetings and involvement in presentations and training

• Leadership and training with junior colleagues

• Responsible for billing/WIP reports

About you:

The successful applicant for this role will have UK Inbound immigration experience and will likely, though not necessarily, be a UK qualified Solicitor. The ideal candidate will have experience in advising on corporate immigration matters, with a particular focus on sponsored work visas. You will be proactive and highly organised with a strong client-facing background. Attention to detail is key, as is the ability to work autonomously, as well as collaboratively as part of the team.

Also required:

• Confident advising client stakeholders and developing business

• Strong technical capabilities

• Accuracy

• The ability to communicate clearly and concisely

• Adaptability

• You will ideally be a self-starter with resilience and strong commercial acumen

• A positive outlook and a solutions-driven focus is crucial

Fragomen in London:
Our London office has over 340 people working collaboratively and creating a dynamic, positive environment. You can expect a great working environment and regular events such as Summer and Christmas parties, social and cultural events.

The Firm operates a hybrid working model, which incorporates a blend of in-person attendance as well as working from home – our aim being to fully leverage our remote working technology and provide a balance for our people in the way that they work.

Whether in the office or working remotely, we are proud of our team spirit and we like to reflect this in the way that we work and everything we do. Our Responsible Business Strategy (RBS) prioritises Fragomen’s social responsibility through one cross-cutting theme and five focus areas.. These focus areas include: Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion, Charity & Pro bono work, Social and Environmental & Sustainability. The RBS initiative offers great opportunities for everyone at Fragomen to get involved and help steer a variety of initiatives and activities at the Firm. These range from social events and activities, to regular wellbeing newsletters and diversity discussions.

Fragomen is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for all employees and applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, heritage, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.