Key contacts

Carter Thomas Solicitors was founded by Nichola Carter and Julie Thomas. The firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’) and also works in accordance with the OISC Code.

Our Immigration Team
Nichola Carter heads Carter Thomas’ leading immigration team. A solicitor with 20 years’ experience, Nichola has been consistently ranked as one of the UK’s leading immigration lawyers in both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners since 2004. Regarded as one of the UK’s leading sponsor compliance experts, Nichola advises businesses, charities and education sector clients, including universities and independent schools, that need sponsor licences. She also advises investors, innovators, entrepreneurs, businesspersons and high net worth individuals seeking entry to the UK. You can find out more about Nichola here.

Email: ncarter@carterthomas.co.uk

Nick Gore is a partner in our immigration team. Nick, who joined the firm in 2016, manages the team on a day-to-day basis and leads our private client work. Nick has a keen interest in ensuring the UK attracts top international talent and has significant experience preparing successful Global Talent applications. He also advises businesses seeking sponsor licences, including under the Skilled Worker and Sportsperson routes, and defends companies against sponsor licence suspension action when needed.  Nick’s passion for this field of law began in 2014 whilst working with ASSIST, a Sheffield based charity supporting destitute asylum seekers, and subsequently South Yorkshire Refugee and Justice. Nick completed a Master’s in Law at the University of Sheffield along with the Legal Practice Course. Nick has been named by The Legal 500 as a ‘Rising Star’.

Email: ngore@carterthomas.co.uk

Irfan Ali is a senior associate solicitor in our immigration team who leads our business client work. Irfan has been practising personal and business immigration law for over seven years. His clients include businesses and charities from a range of sectors and individuals seeking leave to enter or remain in the UK for work and business purposes. He also advises on global talent, family life, long residence and numerous other applications and has dealt with complex matters including deprivation of citizenship. Irfan is experienced in advising and challenging negative Home Office decisions including representation in appeals before the Immigration Tribunals and in Administrative Review and Judicial Review applications. Irfan graduated with a First Class Honours degree in law from the University of Sunderland and completed his Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University. Irfan’s work has been recognised in The Legal 500.

Email: iali@carterthomas.co.uk

Cathryn Davies is a solicitor in the immigration team. Cathryn has significant experience advising personal and business clients on a range of issues including family-based applications and naturalisation applications, deportation cases and sponsor licence work. She also provides training to the immigration team and coordinates the team’s business development work. Cathryn studied an LLB (Hons) at the University of Liverpool and the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law. Having developed a passion for immigration law in 2013 whilst at university, Cathryn’s volunteer work includes working as a volunteer adviser for the award-winning pro-bono Ukraine Advice Project.

Email: cdavies@carterthomas.co.uk

Carla Mirallas Martinez, a dual qualified (UK-Spain) solicitor, is an expert on UK immigration law issues affecting EU citizens and their family members, including complex EUSS applications. Carla is a trustee of the Here for Good project, set up to provide pro-bono advice to EU citizens during Brexit. Her legal practice now extends to family-based and British citizenship applications and cases with a human rights element. Carla gained her Bachelor’s in Law from Barcelona’s Universitat Pompeu Fabra and her Master’s in Human Rights from Birkbeck, University of London. She has worked in the field of immigration law since 2015 and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Email: cmirallas@carterthomas.co.uk

Charlotte Roach is a legal associate in the immigration team. She works on matters including sponsor licences, Skilled Worker visas and Appendix FM, British citizenship and EUSS applications. Charlotte completed her LLB Law with Spanish Law degree at the University of Sheffield in 2017, during which she spent a year at the Universidad Autónoma in Madrid. She joined us from a top tier London-based law firm and has worked in immigration since 2018. Prior to that, she volunteered for a charity assisting refugees. Alongside her legal work, Charlotte is also training to become a solicitor.

Email: croach@carterthomas.co.uk

Sijabulisiwe Dube, a legal associate in the immigration team, has been working in the field of immigration law, including volunteering roles, since 2015. Sija works on a range of cases including sponsorship and Skilled Worker applications for businesses and Appendix FM, ILR and British citizenship applications for individuals. Sija gained her law degree from Birmingham City University and completed her Legal Practice Course at BPP University. Sija is also training to become a solicitor.

Email: sdube@carterthomas.co.uk

Sarah Jabir, one of the immigration team’s legal associates, first started working in the field of immigration and asylum law in 2017 for South Yorkshire Refugee Law & Justice. Sarah works alongside Irfan Ali and his team providing a range of immigration services, including sponsor licences and Skilled Worker visas. Sarah completed her LPC at the University of Law and holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Human Rights from the University of Sheffield. Sarah is also training to become a solicitor alongside her legal work.

Email: sjabir@carterthomas.co.uk

Laura Stacey, a legal associate in our immigration team, commenced her career in immigration law in 2014 at the Central England Law Centre. Since then, she has worked for numerous immigration and refugee charities/NGOs in the UK and Australia. Laura works with Nick Gore and his team providing immigration services to individual and business clients. She has completed her SQE and is working towards qualifying as a solicitor. Laura has an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Oxford and a Masters in Modern European Languages from the University of Edinburgh.

Email: lstacey@carterthomas.co.uk

Key Contacts – Management and Client Support Services
Nichola Carter in addition to her immigration work described above, Nichola oversees the development and implementation of the firm’s strategy and direction. She is also responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and is a member of the firm’s management board.

Julie Thomas is the firm’s operations director and a member of the management board. She has dual responsibility for managing the business and enhancing the firm’s brand and profile, ensuring that the firm’s business growth strategy remains on track. A professional with a significant amount of experience in client services, business development and communications, Julie has worked with a number of leading brands, including magic circle law firms in her 20-year career. Julie gained her degree at the University of Nottingham.

Email: jthomas@carterthomas.co.uk

Craig Thomas is the firm’s IT director and has responsibility for delivering robust and effective IT and communications systems. As a member of the management board, Craig also contributes to the development and implementation of the firm’s strategy and operational management. Prior to joining Carter Thomas, Craig spent over 20 years at a top 50 UK law firm delivering bespoke IT solutions. Craig graduated with a degree from Sheffield Hallam University in 1997.

Email: cthomas@carterthomas.co.uk

Laurence Cubbon is the firm’s finance associate and has responsibility for ensuring that client invoices and other financial matters are dealt with in an efficient manner. He also provides support to the Operations Director assisting with client engagement processes, record-keeping and other general office duties. Laurence is a graduate of Lancaster University having obtained a degree in Economics.

Email: lcubbon@carterthomas.co.uk