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UK

Sharmila Mehta

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

sharmila.mehta@keystonelaw.co.uk

“Thank you so much for all your help with my application. I've been thoroughly impressed by your attention to detail, professionalism, and responsiveness throughout.”

- Mr G, Client

Sharmila is a solicitor with more than 30 years’ experience. She specialises in UK-inward Immigration Law and British Nationality and has been lawyer to prominent international families, Middle Eastern royalty, celebrities, and global companies. Having worked closely with senior officials at the Home Office on many sensitive cases, Sharmila is able to draw on experience and guidance in the early stages of a matter. She is past Chair and member of the Law Society’s Immigration Law Committee, which lobbies UK government and key stakeholders for change to UK immigration policy and process.

Whether advising businesses or private individuals, Sharmila is widely regarded for her straightforward, practical, and strategic advice – taking into account wider tax planning, personal needs, and succession elements

Expertise

Sharmila advises businesses and individuals on UK immigration, including sponsor licences, executive mobility, Global Talent, and family settlement, as well as EU and citizenship applications.

Experience

  • Delivered a series of Brexit-related talks to an internationally renowned UK university for its 900 EU staff.
  • Successfully unravelled an out-of-status entrepreneur in circumstances which had left her unable to travel to compete as an international Olympian.
  • Advised an EU national with his application for a British passport and future renunciation of his EU citizenship in order to facilitate the purchase of his home in Monaco.

Sharmila specialises in UK-inward Immigration Law and British Nationality, advising net-net-worth individuals, royalty, prominent families, and celebrities.

Experience

  • Succeeded in an application to the Home Office for the Skilled Worker sponsor CEO of an international bank in circumstances which would otherwise have left him waiting for permanent residence for a further three years.
  • Assisted a family office with immigration applications, enabling family members to exceptionally switch status within the UK, bypassing the need for them to apply overseas at a time when it was dangerous to return to their home country.
  • Worked for an UHNW family in exceptional circumstances applying for entry clearance in their home country for Tier 1 Investor extensions. Worked closely with Home Office officials to ensure correct process for this family of five.
  • Acted for a family office, as trusted advisor, in relation to the provision of UK legal services for a businessman, including his and his family’s status as Investor and PBS Dependents.
  • Recently instructed by a UK bank to assist a client with applications for UK naturalisation in circumstances where the applicant had excess absences due to his role as CEO of a major investment bank.
  • Assisted a wealthy family holding citizenship by investment Cypriot passports with EU and UK status during their permanent relocation to Spain, working alongside tax advisors to protect non-domicile status.
  • Acted for a PEP and family on general UK immigration matters including an overseas domestic worker, a UK permanent residency, and UK naturalisation.

Sharmila specialises in UK-inward Immigration Law and British Nationality and has been lawyer to prominent Middle Eastern royalty, celebrities, and global companies.

Experience

  • Instructed by the family of a deceased KSA billionaire businessman in connection with a claim for cash deposits paid for Bentley, Maybach, and Brabus cars, a $500,000 loan agreement and deposit or equivalent asset for £1.25b land purchase agreement.
  • Advised a Lebanese HNWI regarding surrogacy from the USA.
  • Represented an Iranian billionaire on their application for Investor status and subsequent UK residency.
  • Acted for a Dual KSA/UK national with a request from His Majesty’s Passport Office to change her name on her KSA passport which we were able to reject.
  • Gained a UK visa extension for the family of a deceased KSA billionaire businessman based on his profile and investments made within the UK.
  • Advised a Lebanese HNWI for last 10 years as an Investor, Entrepreneur, ILR and now on UK citizenship, together with advice for children by surrogacy from the USA.
  • Advised a UHNW Middle Eastern family in exceptional circumstances applying for entry clearance in their home country for Tier 1 Investor extensions. Working closely with Home Office officials to ensure correct process for this family of five.
  • Assisted a large Middle Eastern family office with immigration applications, enabling family members to exceptionally switch status within the UK, bypassing the need for them to apply overseas at a time when it was dangerous to return to their home country.
  • Acting for Syrian PEP and family on general UK immigration matters including an overseas domestic worker, a UK permanent residency, and UK naturalisation.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised in Chambers High Net Worth for Immigration High Net Worth Individuals 2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Immigration 2022–2026

Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Immigration 2025

Recognised in The Lexology Index: Immigration 2025

Recommended Lawyer in The Spear’s 500 Immigration Law Index 2025

Top Recommended Lawyer in The Spear’s 500 Index for Immigration 2023

Chair and Member, Law Society of England and Wales, National Immigration Law Committee

Shortlist judge, Women of the Future Awards, UK and South East Asia

“Sharmila is very capable and has a lovely bedside manner with clients as well.”

Chambers High Net Worth 2025

Sharmila qualified as a solicitor in 1992. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, she worked at the following firms:

  • Farrer & Co
  • Magrath
  • Glenisters Solicitors

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