WEB 3046 Mergers and Acquisitions (Webinar)

Level: Intermediate – Advanced

Course Type: Overview

Description:

We will explore issues that arise when companies with complex structures apply for Skilled Worker and Intra-Company routes sponsor licences.

The high level of recent merger, acquisition and restructuring activity in the UK means practitioners are frequently being asked to advise on the immigration and right to work aspects of corporate transactions. Where one or more of the entities involved has a sponsor licence, this will often consist of reviewing the current sponsor licence arrangements, advising on the appropriate arrangement post-transaction and then taking the necessary steps to ensure that the appropriate entity is able to continue to employ its sponsored workers. This may involve either making a notification to the Home Office or submitting an application for a new licence. If the transaction involves staff transferring between entities, this can also involve right to work issues.

Practitioners are also frequently required to have an understanding of the types of structures that international companies employ and advise on whether these structures mean that these businesses can transfer their overseas employees to the UK under the Intra-Company routes (including Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker and Graduate Trainee).

The course will explore issues that arise when companies with complex structures apply for Skilled Worker and Intra-Company routes sponsor licences. It will consider the steps that need to be taken when a company that holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence is involved in a corporate transaction. Finally, it will look at the right to work issues that arise from corporate transactions.

Topics:

• Initial sponsor licence applications, with a focus on Skilled Worker and Intra-Company routes licences;

• Adding new UK and overseas group entities to a sponsor licence;

• Qualifying types of corporate group structures for the Intra-Company routes;

• Recognising and dealing with common change of ownership scenarios;

• Worked examples of the steps that practitioners should take when notifying the Home Office when a sponsor licence holder is involved in a corporate transaction; and

• Right to work and due diligence issues which arise as a result of corporate transactions.

By the end of this course you will gain an understanding of the requirements relating to qualifying linked entities for the purposes of senior specialist worker licences, be able to identify relevant changes to corporate structures as well as understand the appropriate action to be taken in respect of such changes.

Audience:

This session is aimed at practitioners who have existing knowledge of sponsor licence applications and are looking to broaden their understanding of corporate structures and the steps that need to be taken from an immigration standpoint before, during and after the completion of a corporate transaction.

Please note the course will not cover step by step guidance on reporting or submitting change of circumstance requests or in depth guidance on general sponsor licence application requirements and documents.

Tutors: Robert Houchill and Kate Harding at Kingsley Napley.

Robert Houchill has extensive experience of assisting individuals and organisations with their UK immigration and nationality matters. Robert’s experience covers all kinds of immigration and nationality applications but with a particular emphasis on corporate immigration matters, and helping high net worth individuals.

Robert often helps organisations with sponsor licence applications and advises on immigration compliance issues. He has also worked with organisations to challenge UKVI decisions following sponsor licence suspensions and revocations.

Prior to joining Kingsley Napley in March 2019, Robert worked for five years at law firms in London, including Gherson and Bates Wells Braithwaite, and at a Russian law firm in St Petersburg for two and a half years.

Kate Harding has extensive experience of assisting individuals and corporations with their UK immigration and compliance needs, particularly in the technology and financial services sectors. Kate’s experience covers all UK immigration and nationality applications, with a particular emphasis on corporate immigration and sponsorship matters.

Prior to joining Kingsley Napley in January 2022, Kate studied English and French Law at the University of Exeter before joining Laura Devine Immigration, another top tier immigration firm where she worked for six years.