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WEB 3131 ILPA Sponsorship Law Conference (Online)
We are delighted to invite you to ILPA’s annual Sponsorship Law Conference, our flagship annual event for immigration professionals navigating the UK’s evolving immigration sponsorship law and policy landscape.
This year’s conference comes at a pivotal moment, in light of significant changes to the UK’s visa sponsorship framework, UK Visas and Immigration’s (‘UKVI’s) changing sponsor compliance expectations, and the publication of the UK Government’s Immigration White Paper in May 2025.
With sweeping reforms announced in the White Paper now beginning to take effect—including higher skill and salary thresholds for Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility route applicants, and stricter sponsor compliance requirements—this is an essential opportunity to hear what’s happening and what to expect next from experts in this area.
We are thrilled to welcome back our brilliant Co-Chairs:
- Nichola Carter, Partner at Keystone Law
- Nicolette Bostock, Partner at Withers LLP
We are also pleased to be joined once again by senior representatives from UKVI:
- Adam Lee, Work Services Operations Lead
- James Turner, Head of Work Services
Alongside them, a panel of leading immigration practitioners will share observations, insights and practical guidance on navigating changing sponsorship law and policy.
The full programme is shown below. Book now to secure your place—this promises to be one of our most timely and impactful conferences yet.
ILPA Sponsorship Law Conference Agenda 2025
🕘 10:00 – 10:05 | Opening Remarks
Speakers: Nichola Carter (Keystone Law), Nicolette Bostock (Withers)
- Welcome and housekeeping
- Overview of the day
- Participation guidelines for hybrid attendees
🕘 10:05 – 10:40 | Home Office Keynote
Speakers: Adam Lee and James Turner, UK Visas and Immigration (Home Office)
Topic: Recent and upcoming developments for sponsors and sponsored migrants
- Latest statistics and trends including compliance trends
- UKVI latest updates and priorities for the year ahead
- Roll out of new sponsor management system and e-Visa systems
- Priority services and operational updates
- Updates: White Paper/ SSHD Labour Party Conference announcements
🕘 10:40 – 11:00 | Live Q&A with the Home Office
Speakers: Adam Lee and James Turner, UK Visas & Immigration
🕚 11:00 – 12:10 | Deep Dive: Sponsor Licence Compliance
Speakers Natasha Chell (Laura Devine Immigration), Joe Middleton KC (Doughty Street Chambers)
Session Highlights:
- Compliance triggers and risk areas
- Due diligence, audits, and sponsor support
- Enforcement strategies and case law insights
- Practical tips for navigating complex scenarios
🕒 12:10– 12.25 | Coffee Break
☕ Refresh and reflect
🕐 12:25 – 13:30 | Sponsorship of Business Owners
Speaker: Tom Brett-Young (VWV LLP)
- Impact of April 2025 changes on minimum salary requirement and genuineness assessment in Skilled Worker licence and migrant applications
- Current trends: evidence requests and decisions
- Alternative categories
🕜 13:30 – 14:15 | Lunch Break
Time to recharge and connect
🕑 14:15 – 15:15 | Complex Issues in Sponsored Worker Applications
Speakers: Jonathan Kingham (Lexis Nexis), Malini Skandachanmugarasan (Winckworth Sherwood LLP)
Session Highlights:
- Interplay between Immigration Rules, policy, and practice
- Key developments for sponsored workers
- Trending topics
🕒 15:15 – 15:30 | Coffee Break
Refresh and reflect
🕐 15:30 – 16:05 | Tricky issues with Corporate Restructures & Sponsorship
Speaker: Joanna Hunt (DAC Beachcroft)
- What to look out for when managing sponsor licences and sponsored workers during corporate changes
- Latest trends, tips and observations on corporate restructures from practice
🕞 16:05 – 16:40 | Spotlight: Sports sector workers
Speakers: Glyn Lloyd (Newfields)
Routes Covered:
- Sponsorship within the elite sports sector- an overview
- Discipline-specific commentary
- Latest changes, trends and observations
- Sponsored visa conditions and restrictions – pro-tips
- Sports visitors- permitted activities and permitted paid engagements
🕓 16:40 – 17:00 | Closing Q&A & Remarks
Speakers: All panelists and Chairs
- Final reflections
- Audience questions
- Wrap-up and next steps