Our people
Roger Gherson
LLB (Hons), FRSA, Principal Solicitor, Recognised Sole Practitioner
Named as an expert in all the leading guides to immigration lawyers, Roger Gherson has a reputation for tenacity, reflected in the firm's breadth of litigation work, which includes immigration tribunal cases, judicial reviews in the High Courts and appearances at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and the European Court of Human Rights. Roger also has in-depth knowledge of human rights and asylum claims (private only), whether in the context of extradition, national security proceedings or otherwise. He is also regularly quoted in the legal and business press on immigration and nationality matters.
Roger holds a law degree from University College London. He established Gherson in 1988 and has over 25 years' experience in all aspects of UK immigration and nationality law and related human rights work both within the UK and internationally. Roger leads a significant team of advisors that includes solicitors, barristers, immigration consultants, paralegals and translators. His expertise covers the full spectrum of business, investor and employment-related immigration as well as personal immigration matters.
Roger is "singled out for his 'unbounded energy' and his ability to 'retain strategic oversight of a large and difficult caseload'" in 2012's The Legal 500.
Lisa Amos
Immigration Consultant
Lisa joined Gherson in 2000 and is a specialist
in all corporate immigration matters, including sponsor licence applications,
prevention of illegal working, objections to civil penalties and all matters
relating to Tiers 1 and 2 of the Points-Based System, with a particular
emphasis on issues relating to 'dependant leave to remain/enter' applications
(unmarried partners, spouses, children and adopted children, domestic workers,
etc.). She has extensive experience in respect of Tier 1 (General), HSMP Forum
Judgement, ILR, Sole Representative, Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (Post-Study
Work) and Tier 5 temporary workers applications as well as related appeals and
administrative reviews. Lisa is also recommended in this year's The Legal 500.
Kathryn Bradbury
LLB (Hons), Solicitor
Kathryn has extensive experience in applications under Tier 1 (Investor), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 4 Student of the Points-Based System. Her experience in personal immigration includes applications under the rules relating to civil partnerships, unmarried partners, marriage and child cases. She has also worked on numerous EU free movement cases and in challenges to the extended family member provisions with particular reference to durable relationships (unmarried partners). She has significant expertise in appeals, human rights challenges and judicial reviews including recent challenges to the Points-Based System and Sole Responsibility provisions in child cases.
Kathryn joined the firm in 2001 having worked with the Legal Services Commission. She has 10 years' experience in the broad spectrum of UK immigration, EU free movement and UK nationality law. She trains internally and externally on immigration law and she regularly contributes articles on immigration to the press. According to The Legal 500 2012, she "imparts 'realistic, clear advice', and shows 'amazing attention to detail'".
LLB (Hons), Solicitor
Davina advises on all aspects of immigration and is currently working within the corporate immigration team. She has experience providing specialist legal help and advice on immigration, asylum, nationality and human rights law. Davina has also worked in other jurisdictions, having undertaken internships at law firms in South Africa and Argentina and at the Division of Policy Development & Law at the United Nations. She holds a degree in law from the University of Leicester and completed the Legal Practice Course with the College of Law. In 2008 she was accredited under the Law Society's Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme.
Hugo Fletcher OBELLB (Hons), FCMI, Barrister
Hugo joined Gherson in 2012 and works on compliance issues, business development, training and personal immigration. He holds a law degree from University College London and was called to the Bar in 1979, but subsequently left to pursue a career in the British Army, serving in the Parachute Regiment. This period included two years working as a diplomat and negotiator with the UK Delegation to the European Union.
Alina Fosh
MA, Solicitor
Alina joined Gherson in 2006 and specialises in complex asylum cases, appeals heard at the Immigration Tribunal and human rights cases taken to the European Court of Human Rights. She holds a Masters in Law from Kiev State University and a Graduate Diploma in Law from the BPP Law School in London. She also completed an LPC course at the BPP Law School with distinction. Alina speaks Russian, Ukrainian and basic Polish.
Elena Hinchin
LLB (Hons), Solicitor
Elena has experience of complex asylum cases, immigration appeals and ECHR applications. Elena also has overseas legal experience. Elena holds a degree in law from the University of Essex. She joined Gherson Solicitors in 2006, having completed the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law and she speaks Russian and Hebrew.
Lee Jackson
LLM, Barrister
Lee specialises in asylum and human rights work, as well as general immigration. Lee holds a law degree from the London School of Economics and a masters degree from University College London. He was called to the Bar in 1995. After qualification, Lee was a Legal Officer at the Refugee Legal Centre. He entered private practice at the Bar in 2000, where he represented applicants at all levels up to the Court of Appeal, before joining Gherson in May 2009.
Joe Levtov
MA, Solicitor
Joe joined Gherson in February 2000 and practices primarily in personal immigration law, with particular expertise in human rights cases. Joe holds a degree in English from Queen Mary and Westfield College London and an MA in Slavonic and Eastern European Studies from the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies, London University. He undertook his Common Professional Examination and Legal Practice Course with the College of Law in Birmingham and London. Joe is also fluent in Russian.
Isobel Neilson
LLB (Hons), Solicitor
Isobel works in the general immigration team, having been admitted as a solicitor in March 2012, when she joined Gherson. She graduated with a law degree from SOAS, University of London. She then undertook her Legal Practice Course at Kaplan Law School in London. She trained at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP.
Chetal Patel
LLB (Hons), Solicitor
Chetal specialises in corporate immigration and regularly deals with applications under the Points-Based System, in particular under Tiers 1, 2 and 4. She also advises companies and educational establishments on sponsor licences, their respective duties and illegal workers and students.
Chetal read law and business studies at Swansea University and then undertook her Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Moorgate, London. Chetal trained at Birketts LLP and qualified in September 2009. She joined Gherson in January 2011 and speaks fluent Gujarati.
Jackie Penlington
BA (Hons), Solicitor
Having joined Gherson in January 2008, Jackie now advises on all aspects of private and corporate immigration and nationality matters. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in History from the University of Cambridge. She completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Law and LPC at the College of Law, Guildford, graduating top of her year in 2003. She undertook her training at Penningtons Solicitors and qualified as a solicitor in 2007. Jackie speaks French and basic Italian and Spanish.
Lucy Garrett
BA (Hons), Trainee Solicitor
Lucy joined Gherson in June 2009 and currently
specialises in corporate immigration and nationality matters. She also deals
with applications under the EEA Regulations 2006 and the Point-Based System,
with a particular focus on Tiers 1 and 2. Lucy holds a BA (Hons) degree in
English and American Literature from the University of Kent. She also completed
the Common Professional Examination and Legal Practice Course with Anglia
Ruskin University.
Abel Manukyan
MA, LLM, Trainee Solicitor
Abel joined Gherson in October 2010 and works on personal immigration matters, primarily dealing with investors and entrepreneurs. In 2012 he spent approximately five months on secondment at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP in London gaining experience in corporate, property and private client and tax matters.
Abel holds a Bachelors and a Masters in law from Yerevan State University, Armenia. As a recipient of the UK government's Chevening scholarship, Abel went on to obtain an LLM degree from the University of Essex. He undertook his Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course with the College of Law in London. Abel speaks Armenian and Russian.
Kate Treanor
BA (Hons), LLB, Trainee Solicitor
Kate joined Gherson in August 2011 and currently works within the general immigration team. Kate holds a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from Newcastle University and a Graduate Diploma in Law from the College of Law, London. Kate also completed the Legal Practice Course with distinction, graduating from the College of Law with an LLB degree.
Frederick Allen
BA (Hons), MA, Paralegal
Frederick worked as an immigration paralegal at Turpin and Miller LLP before joining Gherson's general immigration team. He read Jurisprudence at the University of Oxford and then undertook an MA in Conflict Studies and Human Rights at Utrecht University.
Kamilla Kelemen
LLB (Hons), Paralegal
Kamilla joined Gherson's complex asylum team in January 2012 and has a wealth of experience in human rights and immigration appeals. She is currently working in the corporate immigration team and speaks Slovak, Czech, Russian and basic Polish. Kamilla holds an LLB in law from Kingston University and she has also completed a corporate LPC at the College Of Law, Moorgate in London.
Christina Josephides
BA (Hons), Paralegal
Christina has experience of complex asylum cases and immigration appeals. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in English from Kings College London. She completed the Graduate Diploma in Law at the College of Law, London in 2009. Prior to joining Gherson in January 2011, she worked as Protection Associate for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Cyprus. Christina also speaks fluent Greek and Spanish.
Julia Strickett
BA, LLB (Hons), Paralegal
Julia joined Gherson in 2012 and currently assists with Tier 1 and Tier 4 visa applications. She holds an LLB (Hons) degree from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and a BA in History and Art History from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Prior to admission to the High Court of New Zealand, Julia worked in migration and refugee law. In 2010 Julia relocated to Melbourne, Australia, where she worked in policy and law reform for the Administrative Law and Human Rights Section of the Law Institute of Victoria.
