LONDON, January 19, 2012: Morgan Lewis today announced that Tracy Evlogidis—a leading international practitioner and head of the immigration practice at a UK law firm—will be joining the firm as a partner in its Labour & Employment practice, resident in London, following the expiration of the required notice period at her current firm. Two associates, Nick Hobson and Gemma Goodhead, who currently work under Ms. Evlogidis, will also join Morgan Lewis.
"The UK's immigration laws have changed and developed at a fast pace in the last few years, and we expect this development to continue," noted Eleanor Pelta, leader of the Immigration team in the Labour & Employment practice at Morgan Lewis and President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "Having Tracy in London will be a wonderful way to offer our multinational clients an on-the-ground perspective of the goings on at the UKBA and other government departments interpreting and implementing these changes."
Ms. Evlogidis and her colleagues provide advice to multinational corporations and high net worth individuals on a full spectrum of UK immigration and nationality issues. Their work includes exceptional or complex nationality applications, rights under European law and family related immigration as well as employment related immigration. They enjoy close relationships with a number of attorneys in other jurisdictions.
"We are excited to add this robust immigration capability to the full portfolio of employment-related services we offer our clients in Europe," said Joseph J. Costello, leader of the firm's Labour and Employment practice, the global capabilities of which have received high marks in recent years. Leading international peer review survey Chambers Global notes, "The firm is a byword for quality work; it's timely and responsive and has a great reputation." The ranking also acknowledged the firm's U.K. employment team, sharing client comments that London practice leader, Matt Howse "understands the business cultures of international clients."
"Immigration services will be particularly useful to our corporate and energy clients, as well as the high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs to whom we currently provide tax and transactional advice," added Chuck Lubar, managing partner of the firm's London office.
Ms. Evlogidis and her colleagues will join an immigration practice that spans four offices on two continents, providing clients with both the international resources of a top-tier law firm and the highly specialized competency of a dedicated immigration team. Immigration is one of the practice areas offered through Morgan Lewis's award-winning Labour and Employment practice, which is home to more than 270 attorneys in 15 U.S. offices and 3 international offices and was recently named a finalist in the 2012 American Lawyer's "Litigation Department of the Year" for Labour and Employment—the fifth time the practice has earned such an honor, having previously won the award in 2006 and been named a finalist in 2004, 2008, as well as 2010.