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 for over two decades. 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.

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’.

Irfan Ali, a partner in our immigration team, leads our business client work. Irfan has been practising immigration law for almost a decade. His clients include businesses and charities from a range of sectors. He has also advised individuals seeking leave to enter or remain in the UK for work and business purposes. Irfan now specialises in business immigration and is responsible for creating our bespoke sponsor licence platform. He is also experienced in advising on 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.

Gordana Gligorevic, a solicitor in our immigration team, advises both our business and personal clients. Having qualified over a decade ago, Gordana’s clients benefit from her in-depth knowledge, combined with her ability to resolve extremely complex immigration issues. Gordana’s business client service includes preparing complex sponsor licence applications and advice on maintaining compliance. She also advises on intra-corporate transfers, health and care visas, visas for senior employees and dependant applications. Her personal client service covers all stages from the initial visa application to ILR and British citizenship. Gordana is an LLB graduate of Birkbeck, University of London. She obtained her LPC from the University of Law.

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.

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. Carla has worked with the Here for Good project for many years and is a former trustee. The project was initially set up to provide pro-bono advice to EU citizens during Brexit. Her legal practice now extends to family-based and British citizenship applications, including complex child registration cases. She also has expertise in the Global Talent route and cases with a human rights element. She 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.

Charlotte Roach is a senior 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.

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.

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.

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.