Neil Shanghavi

Neil is a Partner in Mishcon Private with expertise in business and corporate immigration law, specialising in advising organisations and individuals on complex and strategically significant UK immigration matters. Neil advises multinational corporations, financial institutions, professional services firms, and high-growth businesses on the full spectrum of business immigration issues. His practice includes Sponsor Licence strategy and governance, Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility routes, Global Talent applications, and risk-based immigration audits. He has particular expertise in handling Sponsor Licence suspensions and revocations, guiding employers through urgent, complex compliance challenges and helping them protect business continuity and workforce stability.

Alongside his corporate practice, Neil has extensive experience advising individuals on complex and sensitive personal immigration matters. His work includes acting for senior executives - particularly on immigration strategy relating to joining or hiring, as well as leaving, termination, settlement or exit arrangements - high net worth clients, entrepreneurs, and internationally mobile professionals. He provides bespoke immigration solutions, assists with discretionary applications, and supports clients with matters involving elevated evidential or procedural complexity.

Neil has deep sector expertise in financial services, having represented leading US investment banks, private equity firms, and fintech clients for over a decade. He also has extensive experience across Asian markets, having spent two years working across China, Nepal, and India, and frequently advising clients in Hong Kong. Neil works closely with colleagues across the firm’s Employment, Corporate,  Tax and Innovation practices to deliver coordinated, commercially aligned advice on cross-border transactions, restructuring, and governance matters.

Clients value Neil’s measured approach, technical insight, and commitment to delivering clear, pragmatic, and commercially attuned solutions to their most challenging immigration issues.

Neil is a Tier 1 ranked specialist in business and corporate immigration and is recognised by The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner for his expertise in advising organisations and individuals on complex commercial immigration matters.

Key Experience

• Clients include blue chip companies, leading US investment banks, business executives, HNW foreign investors and top-flight sports persons.
• Advising on all aspects of corporate immigration and providing solutions for businesses seeking to establish a UK footprint.
• Securing and maintaining immigration status under Global Business Mobility including UK Expansion Workers and Senior of Specialist workers.
• Full circle guidance on Skilled Worker sponsor licence applications including for pre-revenue companies, and obligations including post-acquisition or divesture.
• Advising companies on the design, implementation and maintenance of their sponsorship compliance programs and practices.
• Strategic and commercial advice on sponsor licence compliance and reporting including change of ownership, global restructurings, and change of employment, in addition to taxation issues and their impact upon sponsored employees working in the UK.
• Advising on immigration considerations that arise as a result of TUPE or similar transfer of employment provisions for sponsored workers.
• Leading Human Resource professionals on employee moves (including C-Suite and VIP level) under the Points Based System (PBS).
• Providing technical advice on complex Indefinite Leave to Remain and nationality and applications.
• Delivering combined advice on global mobility, comparing immigration requirements across various jurisdictions.
• An established understanding of working with clients in the Asian markets, having spent two years working across China and India advising on private and corporate UK immigration matters.
• Formerly worked in Nepal advising on the rights of settlement in the UK for former British Gurkha veterans, as part of the Gurkha Justice campaign led by Joanna Lumley.
• Formerly worked on the leading and winning case before the Court of Appeal, establishing the settlement rights in the UK of the adult dependent children of former British Gurkha veterans.

Career History

Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Solicitor, Howe & Co
Trainee Solicitor, Howe & Co
College of law, LPC
University of Brighton, LLB (Hons) in Law with Business