Pat Saini

Spear’s Review

Pat Saini, head of Penningtons Manches Cooper’s immigration team and co-head of the firm’s 30-year-old India group, tells Spear’s that becoming a ‘trusted adviser’ to her clients means spending time getting to know them and the sector they work in while building a thorough understanding of their family and business needs.

The India practice offers advice and referrals to British clients exploring opportunities in India. It also offers full service to Indian nationals – whether they reside in India or not – who want to live, set up businesses or educate children in the UK.

Saini helped the British government with the development of the global talent visa and has since specialised in acquiring it for tech entrepreneurs. She sits on the gender committee at Penningtons and maintains a particular interest in advising junior lawyers. ‘It’s very important for my team members – who can end up dealing with clients that are in difficult situations – to have support,’ she notes. ‘I try to teach my juniors that empathy is so important.’

Adviser Profile

Pat heads the immigration team at Penningtons Manches Cooper and co-heads the firm’s India practice. She is also a core member of the private wealth, technology and education sector groups. Working with other practice areas ensures that the immigration team are able to offer coordinated advice to clients. In addition, Pat sits on the firm’s inclusion committee and leads on gender.

Outside of her day job, Pat chairs the immigration working group at Tech London Advocates.

‘Immigration remains a complex and often politically charged area of law. Rules and guidance can be changed at short notice; keeping abreast of the changes is important so that we can offer pragmatic solutions to our clients.’