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Elena Hinchin immigration lawyer

Elena advises on all aspects of UK immigration law. She has particular expertise in providing strategic immigration advice to high net worth individuals, professionals, family offices and businesses in respect of relocation to the UK, alongside vast experience in handling complex immigration matters, including political asylum claims and immigration appeals. 

She has acted for clients before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, in Judicial Review applications and in applications to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Elena is fluent in Russian and Hebrew.

Elena advises on a broad range of UK immigration, nationality and human rights matters. Her diverse client base includes high net worth individuals, professionals, businesses and family offices. Elena regularly works with international clients and advisers from multiple jurisdictions. 

In a fast-moving and increasingly complex immigration system, Elena has vast expertise in navigating, interpreting and applying UK immigration laws to clients’ needs and circumstances in a clear and practical manner. Elena combines this with her strength in understanding the bigger picture and delivering holistic and strategic advice to her clients. In doing so Elena takes into account her clients’ wider circumstances and incorporates immigration strategy into their overall planning and structuring. She frequently coordinates work with other parts of the firm, for example, working closely with Farrer & Co’s tax experts so that both immigration and tax concerns are aligned and addressed and any tax requirements – such as day count for the statutory residence test, required investments and UK businesses - can be taken into account and achieved in an immigration-compliant and tax-efficient way. Elena also routinely works with family offices and other advisers, in the UK and globally, to provide the most comprehensive and seamless service.

Elena has significant expertise in dealing with complex immigration matters which fall outside the scope of immigration rules. In addition to pre-arrival planning, she routinely advises clients who, having lived in the UK for some time, find themselves unable to meet the requirements of the immigration rules. With a thorough knowledge of UK immigration laws and a creative approach, she is regularly able to successfully secure alternative options for her clients. 

She regularly works with global businesses, charities and senior executives, advising them on issues such as secondment or relocation to the UK; the concept of splitting time between the UK and other countries and setting up or running the business’ UK offices from an immigration perspective. Elena’s work includes advising on sponsor licence related matters, ranging from helping businesses obtain sponsor licences; assisting with running and maintaining their licences and the licence related systems; assisting sponsor holders with Home Office investigations and inspections; and assisting sponsored (and non-sponsored) staff with ongoing immigration questions (for example, switching between categories, obtaining indefinite leave to remain and citizenship).

Elena’s sponsor licence work has particular focus on work with education providers. She advises schools and universities in relation to sponsor licence matters, including dealing with complex situations; compliance reviews; and assistance with specific student cases.  

Elena has particular expertise in political asylum claims, human rights applications and immigration appeals. These are often high-level protection cases involving cross-jurisdictional elements. In this context she frequently works alongside multiple teams of lawyers in the UK and globally, such as extradition and Interpol specialists. She has acted for clients before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, in Judicial Review applications and in applications to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Much of Elena’s work involves project management and the coordination of large teams of professionals to ensure that matters run smoothly and effectively, notwithstanding complicated circumstances and competing priorities in different jurisdictions.  She is able to progress matters quickly and efficiently and while taking on board the complexities of other practice areas and local laws, arriving at practical results. Elena has considerable experience in liaising with foreign advisers and co-ordinating legal advice worldwide, including Russia and the CIS, Middle East, Switzerland and USA.

Elena qualified as a solicitor in 2009.

Testimonials

"Elena Hinchin is experienced, sharp, creative in problem solving and quick - almost perfect." (Chambers HNW 2024)

“Elena's client care is the best and she has the full broad spectrum of experience." (Chambers HNW 2024)

“Elena is an absolute professional in this field. She has the answer to any question without delay, immediately delves into the situation and offers several options." (Chambers HNW 2024)

"Elena Hinchin leads the team and is a leading practitioner. She has unparalleled experience, strategic judgment and is excellent with clients." (Legal 500 2024)

"Elena Hinchin is just a great partner and leader of this collection of legal practitioners. It is very easy to recommend her in the UNHW individual space." (Legal 500 2024)

"Elena Hinchin always goes the extra mile for clients and offers very concise and helpful advice." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Elena Hinchin is an incredible asset for the firm." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Elena is a great partner, who really goes the extra mile to make sure you are supported, to understand your concerns and build the right solution." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Elena Hinchin...is a high-level professional. She is distinguished by the ability to work with a large amount of information, sensitive and attentive attitude to the client, thoughtful and correct selection of necessary documents." (Legal 500 2023)

"Elena Hinchin...is hugely experienced, extremely well-connected, highly efficient and effective in achieving positive outcomes." (Legal 500 2023)

"Elena Hinchin is just a great partner and leader of this collection of legal practitioners. It is very easy to recommend her in the UNHW individual space." (Legal 500 2024)

"Elena is a highly sophisticated and very personable individual...She is very organised, provides excellent client care, and is on top of everything in her case." (Chambers HNW 2022)

Elena is ranked Band 1 for Immigration: High Net Worth Individuals in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2022.

"Brilliant - she is very approachable, she's responsive, she is looking out for clients all the time." (Chambers HNW 2021)

Elena is listed as a key lawyer for Immigration in the Legal 500 2022 Guide. 

"Elena Hinchin worked with us to achieve our desired outcome on a short time horizon. She swiftly overcame unexpected issues outside our collective control and worked diligently to deliver what we were looking for. Excellent subject knowledge and impressive work ethics. I highly recommend her." (Legal 500 2022)

"Elena Hinchin has been of exceptional help to us as a business. She is proactive, pragmatic, efficient and always at the end of the phone if you need her. She very quickly appraises the situation and offers solid advice which stems from her desire to do the best by your business. She listens to any concerns you may have as a client and offers up alternative ways of proceeding, which allow you to make informed choices. One feels like she truly cares about what is best for her clients." (Legal 500 2022)

"Elena Hinchin is very attentive and responsive to our needs. She is constantly providing up-to-date information on UK immigration to ensure compliance in every aspect of our work." (Legal 500 2022)

"Elena Hinchin stands out as a stellar partner for both family offices and UHNWIs to deal with, she makes the extremely frustrating and complicated situations that we often find ourselves in resolvable and the whole immigration conundrum becomes a comfortable experience for all involved. We cannot recommend Elena more highly." (Legal 500 2022)

"Elena Hinchin is incredibly knowledgeable and hard working. Exactly the sort of lawyer you want in your corner." (Legal 500 2022)

 

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