Paragon Law Employees - About Us-1

Our Immigration Lawyers

The people supporting you when you need it the most.

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Meet our immigration lawyers and support staff

Paragon Law is a regional immigration law heavyweight and is one of the largest specialist immigration law firms in the UK. We are one of only a few firms in the UK who have successfully combined a highly-regarded business immigration department with a highly-respected asylum and human rights team. The strength, depth, and level of specialism shown by our employees has enabled us to consistently appear in leading legal directories.

Not only do we value excellent service and success, but we are also committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We are proud that our employees are as diverse as the clients in which we represent. Our emphasis on diversity has been recognised by our peers: having been awarded ‘Best Employer’ by the Law Society at the National Solicitors Race Awards. In order to monitor ourselves and evaluate our progress we regularly conduct diversity surveys which are in line with the SRA's requirements.

Our People

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Kirin Abbas

Director and Solicitor

Corporate Immigration - 01159644110

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Meet Kirin

Kirin Abbas

Director and Solicitor

Corporate Immigration - 01159644110

Kirin Abbas is a Director at Paragon Law and is also a leading immigration solicitor in our Business Immigration department. Kirin has a particular expertise in the technology, sports, engineering, higher education, and energy sectors. Kirin Abbas also works closely ...

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Shehzad Babar

Associate Solicitor

Corporate Immigration

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Meet Shehzad

Shehzad Babar

Associate Solicitor

Corporate Immigration

Shehzad Babar is a driven and dedicated immigration solicitor, with over 14 years’ experience in Immigration, Asylum and Human Rights Law, 6 years’ PQE, and an academic background and previous work experience in Corporate Law, whilst in Karachi, Pakistan. 

Having graduated with a 2:1 ...

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Jack Brooks

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

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Meet Jack

Jack Brooks

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

Jack Brooks is a senior caseworker at Paragon Law in our asylum and human rights department. Jack works closely with the asylum and human rights solicitors and lawyers to help them to gather witness statements, conduct client interviews, and prepare applications.
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Paige Brown

Business Administrator

Operations

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Meet Paige

Paige Brown

Business Administrator

Operations

Paige Brown is a Business Administrator at Paragon Law. As part of her role, Paige is responsible for administration duties, reception cover, assisting with the booking of interpreters for appointments and providing specific secretarial support.
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Sana Bukhsh

Personal Assistant

Corporate Immigration

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Meet Sana

Sana Bukhsh

Personal Assistant

Corporate Immigration

Sana has over 15 years’ experience as a Personal Assistant in the business immigration team at Paragon Law. Sana helps the team manage corporate immigration clients that instruct the firm with a large volume of skilled worker visa applications and assists our clients with their reporting duties ...

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Sue Chan

Case Administrator

Corporate Immigration

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Meet Sue

Sue Chan

Case Administrator

Corporate Immigration

Sue Chan is a Case Administrator in Paragon Law's Business Immigration team.  Sue assists on sponsor licence and skilled worker visa applications. Sue will also manage client queries and progress ...

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Holly Costema

Finance Executive

Operations

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Meet Holly

Holly Costema

Finance Executive

Operations

Holly ensures accurate measures are taken to enable the correct financial functioning of the business. Responsible for all types of billing such as Legal Aid, private bills, and certificated matters, Holly also prepares files that are requested for audit by the Legal Aid agency.
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Wendy Cracknell

Client Care

Operations

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Meet Wendy

Wendy Cracknell

Client Care

Operations

Wendy Cracknell is Paragon Law’s Receptionist and is the first point of contact for all clients who enquire through the telephone or through email. Wendy is responsible for ensuring that clients are satisfied and that they are allocated a lawyer who is appropriate to their needs.

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Elliott Dipper

Senior Caseworker

Personal Immigration

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Meet Elliott

Elliott Dipper

Senior Caseworker

Personal Immigration

Elliott Dipper joined Paragon Law in 2019 as a Senior Caseworker in the Personal and Family Immigration team. Prior to joining Paragon Law, Elliott graduated with a First-Class honours degree from Nottingham Trent University. During his time at Paragon Law, he has provided free legal assistance ...

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Ellie Dyke-French

Paralegal

Corporate Immigration

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Meet Ellie

Ellie Dyke-French

Paralegal

Corporate Immigration

A 2022 Law graduate from Nottingham Trent University, Ellie now assists the legal directors and advises clients on skilled worker visas, global mobility visas and sponsor license applications.

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James Firman

Practice Director

Operations

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Meet James

James Firman

Practice Director

Operations

James Firman has been part of Paragon Law for many years, initially joining as a General Administration Apprentice, James has since risen through the ranks going from Billing Assistant, Assistant Finance Manager and Income Manager, to his current position of Practice Director. James is ...

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Karen Halliwell

Associate Solicitor

Personal Immigration

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Meet Karen

Karen Halliwell

Associate Solicitor

Personal Immigration

Karen Halliwell is a qualified immigration solicitor and Law Society accredited supervising senior caseworker. Karen graduated from The University of Hull in 2004 having achieved a Law degree (with French Honours) and studied abroad at the Universite d’Orleans in the Loire Valley in France. She ...

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George Hanvere

Solicitor

Personal Immigration

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Meet George

George Hanvere

Solicitor

Personal Immigration

In 2019, George Hanvere graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a First-Class Honours in Law (LLB) and went on to have a summer internship at Paragon Law where he experienced a broad range of roles within the firm. Following a successful period as an intern, George Hanvere was offered a ...

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Freddie Jackson

Marketing Executive

Operations

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Meet Freddie

Freddie Jackson

Marketing Executive

Operations

An innovative and versatile Digital Marketeer, specialising in Social Media Marketing. After completion of a BSc Hons in Marketing (Digital), Freddie is now responsible for Paragon Law's digital communications and branded stylings.
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Kiara Jambholkar

Business Administrator

Personal Immigration

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Meet Kiara

Kiara Jambholkar

Business Administrator

Personal Immigration

Kiara, is currently taking a placement year at Paragon Law before returning back to her law degree at university.

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Thao Nguyen

HR and Operations Executive

Operations

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Meet Thao

Thao Nguyen

HR and Operations Executive

Operations

Thao Nguyen is Paragon Law’s HR and Operations Executive. Thao is responsible for Paragon Law’s HR systems, recruitment processes, and ensuring that all the training is in place for Paragon Law’s employees.

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Emma Okenyi

Director and Solicitor

Personal Immigration

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Meet Emma

Emma Okenyi

Director and Solicitor

Personal Immigration

Emma Okenyi is an immigration solicitor and Director at Paragon Law and she heads up the firm's Personal and Family immigration department. She specialises in representing clients in family and personal immigration matters. She has extensive experience in all aspects of immigration law and in ...

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Andy Poole

Paralegal

Corporate Immigration

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Meet Andy

Andy Poole

Paralegal

Corporate Immigration

Within the corporate immigration team, Andy assists the legal directors and advises clients on skilled worker visas, global mobility visas and sponsor license applications. Prior to working at Paragon Law, Andy was an advisor in the student visa sector. 

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Rory Shanahan

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

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Meet Rory

Rory Shanahan

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

Rory Shanahan is a senior caseworker in Paragon Law’s Asylum and Human Rights department. 

Rory Shanahan joined Paragon Law in 2019 and during his time at Paragon Law he has gone on to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law, the Bar Professional Training Course, and has gained a ...

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Deirdre Sheahan

Director and Solicitor

Asylum and Human Rights

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Meet Deirdre

Deirdre Sheahan

Director and Solicitor

Asylum and Human Rights

Deirdre Sheahan heads up Paragon Law’s Asylum and Human Rights department. Deirdre Sheahan specialises in asylum and human rights claims, in particular those relating to very vulnerable migrant groups. These include the asylum claims of unaccompanied children, LGBTI claimants and women who have ...

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Joe Stickland

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

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Meet Joe

Joe Stickland

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

Joseph Stickland is an accredited Law Society Senior Immigration Caseworker (IAAS) in Paragon Law’s Asylum and Human Rights department.

Joseph completed his undergraduate degree in Law from Durham University in 2017, and, in 2021, he attained a Distinction in the LPC (LLM) at The ...

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Nikita Swift

Solicitor

Personal Immigration

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Meet Nikita

Nikita Swift

Solicitor

Personal Immigration

Nikita Swift is a solicitor in Paragon Law’s Personal and Family Immigration department.

Nikita joined Paragon Law in 2022, shortly after she qualified as a solicitor. Prior to her time at Paragon Law, Nikita studied Law with Criminology (LLB) and the Legal Practice Course (LLM) at ...

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Kusam Vasishta

Finance Manager

Operations

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Meet Kusam

Kusam Vasishta

Finance Manager

Operations

Kusam Vasishta is Paragon Law’s Finance Manager. Kusam is responsible for billing, payments, financial reporting, settling invoices, and supervising the other members of Paragon Law’s finance team.

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Thal Vasishta

Director and Solicitor

Corporate Immigration - 01159644117

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Meet Thal

Thal Vasishta

Director and Solicitor

Corporate Immigration - 01159644117

Thal Vasishta is the founder and managing director of Paragon Law and is one of the UK’s leading Immigration Lawyers. He has been specialising in business immigration since 1996. Thal works with some of the UK’s largest companies and niche businesses, advising them on their legal requirements ...

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Laura Wills

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

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Meet Laura

Laura Wills

Senior Caseworker

Asylum and Human Rights

Laura Wills joined the Asylum and Human Rights department in April 2023. She holds an LLB, LPC and an LLM in Human Rights Law.

Before joining Paragon Law, Laura spent nine years working as an academic at the University of Nottingham’s Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC). During this time, she ...

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This is an immigration law powerhouse, best known for handling complex and high-profile cases. The lawyers are admired for their hard work and dedication to clients. They push and push and never take no for an answer.

Chambers & Partners

Deirdre Sheahan

Contact an immigration expert

If you have a specific query relating to immigration, visas, or sponsoring someone in the UK please use this form to get in touch with an immigration advisor. Alternatively, if you know who you would like to contact then please click on the relevant profiles.

Not ready to talk? Our free immigration resources may have the answer to your questions

See our resources
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The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to increase in January 2024

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UK Immigration Rules Changes in 2023: What you need to know

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Can I bring my elderly parents to the UK?

There are a number of immigration routes which enable you to bring your elderly parents to the UK. Read more about bringing your parents to the UK.
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Care worker shortages: A roundtable report

In May 2022, we participated in a roundtable event to discuss the labour shortages in the UK's care sector. Read more about the discussion.
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Update - Right 2 Rent

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