Understand the trends affecting the legal profession and law firms in London.

Brexit could or will put impact on the laws leading literally numbers of areas from environment and immigration to intellectual property and finance. Law firms in London are in great demand to explain to clients in all these areas what's going on; indeed some have said wryly that the only people who will benefit from Brexit are lawyers and consultants.

At the moment there is one superseding theme to the guidance lawyers are giving – “the real challenge Brexit presents is simply the uncertainty.” The training partner of a national firm added: “Brexit is creating opportunities for lawyers in the short term because businesses are seeking advice on what it will look like.” This need for advice will intensify as Brexit negotiations continue and the shape of Britain's future relationship with the EU crystallizes.

A key area of the economy – and legal practice – affected by Brexit is financial services. The biggest issue is whether UK-based firms will retain their 'passport' rights to trade in the EU post-Brexit. At the time of writing in summer 2017 the answer to this question is no clearer than a year ago, but a trend has already begun for banks moving jobs abroad to places like Dublin and Paris.

So has the Brexit vote been bad news for the economy as predicted? The signs are mixed. One managing partner told us of “an initial dip in work after the referendum results when businesses and investors sat on their hands for a long time and thought 'I have to process this and work out what it means'.” The training partner of a City firm was more upbeat: “After the result, lots of people had prophesied doom and gloom, but actually the markets and our clients adjusted very quickly to the reality that we are going to leave the EU and want to focus on making sure there are no significant hiccups in deal activity.” The economic indicators are mixed too: GDP was up 0.2% in the first quarter of 2017 and 0.3% in the second, but growth is slower than expected, slower than in 2016, and slower than in the rest of the EU. The construction and manufacturing sectors are particularly jittery while services and tech are doing better.

Some law firms in London have optimism emerges from a growing presence overseas which they feel will help shore up any stumbles in the UK – that's great for the firms, but not much comfort to trainees and other employees in Britain if jobs are moved abroad. National firm Pinsent Masons has already set up shop in Dublin explicitly because of Brexit, and notoriously conservative US firm Sullivan & Cromwell has opened an office in Brussels to complement its London presence.

Since the recession law firms in London have learnt to do more with less. With tighter budgets, clients are demanding greater value for money. They are no longer ready to pay for a junior lawyer to sit in a room photocopying if a temp can do the same for peanuts. New technology and outsourcing are also hitting demand for trainees, with roles outsourced abroad or to low-cost parts of the UK and AI being used to do mundane tasks. Expect to hear more about the role of AI in the profession: the prognosis is that the lawyer's role will be less about drafting and more about their judgement, experience and business advice.

Why and how to get citizenship in St. Kitts?

The Federation of St. Kitts is the smallest sovereign state in the America. Located in the West Indies, the federation unites the islands of St. Kitts, with its own legislation.

The English-speaking islands remain under-developed by Caribbean standards, but tourism, the principal economy of the islands, has been growing steadily, bringing with it new hotel and resort developments. The island has international airports, and two ferry lines connect it with other regions.

St. Kitts is one of the countries in the world that offer instant citizenship by investment. There is no requirement to spend time in country, and there are basically two paths to citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis in order to receive a Passport from St. Kitts and Nevis. The best way is to gain an entry through one of the widely used citizenship programs in St. Kitts.

Donation to Sugar Fund

The donation to the sugar fund is a $250,000 one-time donation to the “Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation” (SIDF), which was set up to benefit sugar workers displaced by the elimination of large-scale sugar cane production in 2005.

There is 2nd option involves an investment in approved real estate property on the Island of St. Kitts.

Investment in Real estate

To apply for Citizenship programs in St. Kitts by investment under this option, you must invest a minimum of $400,000 in the qualified real estate. This is 50,000 more than in 2011 when the price was raised due to demand for this program. It is likely it will rise again.

Should you decide to move forwards, funds for your investment are placed in escrow. They will only be released if your application for citizenship is approved.

By making this investment, you can qualify yourself, as well as your spouse, and your minor children under the age of 18 for citizenship.

You can also apply for your children 18-25 enrolled full-time in a university as well as adult dependent children or parents.

You don’t have to live in the housing you have purchased, in fact, you can rent it out. Many projects have built-in property management, and the real estate can even pay for itself.

Certain projects will even give you cash back on your real estate contribution – for instance, you come up with the 400,000 k and then they will return 200,000 to you as you can strip equity on the property.

There is something for everyone, and it is even possible to arrange a fractional ownership scheme where you can go in with other investors, to collectively buy more real estate. For instance, you could buy a one-quarter share of a $1.6 million beachfront villa for $400,000.

To start with, you can browse through various service providers dealing into citizenship programs in St. Kitts. This would help you choose the best programs for your entry to the state. 

Citizenship Programs in Cyprus – A great opportunity to upgrade your life.

Everyone wants to move ahead in life. Be it personal or professional, people work day and night just to ensure that they are their loved ones enjoy a happy life. If you’re also looking to take a step further, you can opt for the citizenship of Cyprus. There are many citizenship programs in Cyprus to choose from.

No more Work Visa concerns

Having a Cyprus citizenship expands your professional opportunities and career growth, as only EU citizens have the power to move to an EU country and be easily employed without a work permit.

Access to medical benefits, including free healthcare

A European Health Insurance Card is free of charge for any EU citizen and allows a person to get world-class health care services provided by the EU state they are currently staying in, as well as in Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Educational advantages for you and your children

As a Cyprus citizen, you can study at any EU university under the same conditions as local nationals. Tuition fees for EU citizens are moderate or even completely waived, while those applicable to non-EU citizens are much higher and are accompanied by additional paperwork. There are over 1,300 institutions providing high-quality educational programs.

Easier procedures for purchasing property in Cyprus and other EU states

Buying real estate in Europe from abroad can be a cumberson and complex procedure. Having a Cyprus citizenship can make the whole process much easier and faster.

Taxation

Those who look for opportunities to split their assets and optimize the overseas tax will be attracted to Cyprus’s law tax rates and the possibilities to restructure their business and optimize the expenses for taxation.

Chance to automatically transfer Cyprus citizenship to children, parents and further ancestors

If you have dependent children who are under the age of 18 at the time your application for citizenship is accepted, they will not need to submit a separate application. They will receive their citizenship at the same time as you do. Furthermore, your children or their children born after the Cyprus citizenship is obtained will automatically be Cypriot citizens, as Cyprus citizenship is automatically transferred to new family members with no need for additional paperwork or application.

Leisure

Cyprus is also captivating because of its long summer time, beautiful beaches and entertainment industry, all of it factors which make it a paradise for holidaymakers. Winter in Cyprus is quite short and mild, with average daytime temperatures around 15°C. However, the height of Troodos mountain range allows Cyprus to become a ski resort in winter as well.

Safety

Island residents can feel safe here, as Cyprus has one of the lowest crime rates in the EU. Cypriots are very friendly and almost all speak English so there is no need to know Greek when you enter the country.

Dual Citizenship

Cyprus accepts dual citizenship. Thus those who are not willing to farewell their initial citizenship are not obliged to do so when obtaining Cyprus citizenship.

Place of permanent residence

Cyprus does not require permanent residence on island as a criterion for obtaining Cyprus citizenship or afterwards, so there is no need to change your permanent place of living and you can still enjoy all the benefits of being a Cyprus and EU citizen.

By obtaining a Cyprus citizenship you can now experience better life opportunities, 340 days of summer during the year and enjoy the rich history of the country as well as all the EU benefits provided to its citizens. You can also extend many attractive opportunities to both your children and to your parents who are sure to enjoy a safe and pleasurable retirement.

With easy to avail citizenship programs in Cyprus, you can choose to have the citizenship by investing a substantial amount on money there. 

The indispensable role of an immigration lawyer.

The entire legal framework is known to be highly complex as there are hundreds of thousands of clauses that one may choose to look in. And when it comes to deal into immigration issues, things can really go berserk as one doesn’t know how to move further. This is when consulting with a US immigration lawyer in London. This is because US immigration law is known to be the most complex one and only a renowned expert can manage it in the most proficient way.

Considering the importance job an immigration lawyer needs to play, it is very necessary to dig out more about the role of an immigration lawyer in our society.

The role of a US immigration lawyer in London is generally that of an advisor or counselor to foreign citizens and immigrants who must interact with U.S. immigration authorities.  Immigration lawyers provide advice and guidance for matters such as visa applications, green cards, citizenship and naturalization, deportation issues, and employment for non-citizens.

Immigration lawyers spend far less time handling civil disputes in court than other types of lawyers.  Instead, they usually act as mediators between clients and immigration authorities such as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

A majority of people hire an immigration lawyer when they need assistance in submitting an application for some type of immigration document, such as a visa or green card.  This is especially true when the person is unable to fully understand the various requirements under immigration law.

There are various instances when hiring an immigration lawyer is absolutely necessary.  Some of these situations include:

·         If an applicant has been convicted of a crime:  Nearly all USCIS forms ask whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime.  The applicant must disclose their entire criminal record, even for charges that were dropped or expunged.  It is usually not necessary to hire a criminal lawyer; immigration lawyers always understand how immigration and criminal law overlap.

·         Prior immigration applications have been denied:  An immigration lawyer will be able to determine why the application was denied.  They can also tell if it is possible to appeal the application or re-apply later in the future.

·         If the person has previously been deported or excluded from entry into the U.S.:  Sometimes deportation or exclusion means that the person is permanently barred from future applications.  An immigration attorney can provide advice on the effects of deportation and exclusion.

·         If an applicant has a medical condition:  Some, but not all medical conditions may prevent a person from obtaining entry into the U.S. (such as some communicable diseases).

·         When an applicant is waiting an unreasonably long time during the application process:  Immigration lawyers are familiar with application processes, including deadlines and waiting times.  A lawyer can sometimes help the applicant obtain expedited or rush processing.

·         If the applicant is seeking an employment-based visa, but their prospective employer is not assisting with immigration issues:  Processing for employment-based visas can be complicated.  An immigration lawyer can help ensure that future employers are fulfilling their obligations to future immigrant workers.

·         If the applicant’s marriage to a U.S. citizen was terminated before they were able to have conditions removed on their permanent resident status:  Visa applications based on marriages are usually filed jointly.  If the marriage has been terminated due to divorce or death, it can be particularly difficult to prove that the marriage was not fraudulent.

·         If an applicant is seeking to adjust their permanent resident status but was recently divorced and married to a different U.S. citizen:  The main issue here is that the first marriage may be suspected to be a scam.  An immigration lawyer may be necessary to prove that the first marriage was legitimate.

If a person is immigrating to the U.S. with their family and their child might reach age 21 before permanent resident status is granted:  Eligibility for permanent resident 

Now avail Malta citizenship at a hefty price.

Want to spend rest of your life at a scenic location? Why don’t you go for Malta? It is like heaven on earth. If you love architecture, Malta will make you lose your mind. Parts of Malta look like they could be in the Middle East or North Africa. Parts look like Europe or even South America. Parts of Malta are crumbling; parts are beautifully restored.

Malta is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The Azure Window in Gozo, pictured above, is probably the most famous spot — but the Maltese Archipelago is filled with everything from rolling fields to white cliffs to desert landscapes and endless vineyards. There’s beauty in every direction.

If obtaining citizenship is in your mind, there are many citizenship programs in Malta offering great deals. Malta’s citizenship program, which offers a passport to those willing to pay 1.2 million euros, about $1.3 million, has been controversial since it was introduced more than a year ago. But the residency requirements, meant to make the program more palatable, are only increasing the consternation among critics, who say the program has resulted in the sale of citizenship to the global 0.1 percent.

The Malta Citizenship by Investment Programme is the first EU approved citizenship Programme to be launched in Malta. It offers a second citizenship option to families wishing to relocate their personal or business affairs to an EU country. Citizenship granted through this programme is valid for life and it is passed on to future generations by descent.

Being one of the growing economies in the European Union, the Republic of Malta enjoys a stable political climate and a bi-partisan political scene which is largely convergent on issues of national and economic importance. Together with Germany, Malta has weathered the financial crisis and maintained economic growth during this challenging time.

Benefits of citizenship programs in Malta

·         Visa-free travel to over 166 countries, including EU, USA, Canada.

·   Right to live, work, study in any of the 28 EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland &   Liechtenstein.

·         EU approved citizenship program since Feb 2014

·      Family eligibility includes parents of main applicant and spouse, minor children, unmarried            dependent adult children <27. Descendants automatically entitled to citizenship thereafter.

·         Malta is a neutral, safe and stable country with a friendly people living a European lifestyle but with    a Mediterranean quality of life.

·         Efficient process:

·         Citizenship approved after 4 months processing time.

·         Fast track residence cards within 1-3 weeks with Schengen mobility for 18 months.

·         A total of 12 months to issue passport (inclusive of processing time) from the date of initial                 residency.

To qualify for Malta Citizenship by Investment, the main applicant is required to contribute at least €650,000 to Malta.  Of this contribution, 70 percent will go into the Fund set up by the Government of Malta and run by a board of trustees. The rest goes to the consolidated fund.   Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.

Citizenship programs in Grenada – Citizenship is on sale.

Are you looking to migrate to Grenada? There are many folks like you who want to spend the rest of their lives at a place of their dreams. If you think that you need to go through the typical immigration procedures of the respective country to obtain the visa and necessary approvals, it is not so as it is the money that can get you the same. It simply means that now you can choose to get the citizenship of some countries by making impressive investment. Isn’t this a great option?

Principal grounds for acquiring citizenship are birth within a certain territory, descent from a citizen parent, marriage to a citizen, and naturalization. The conditions under which the privilege of naturalization is granted vary from state to state, but family relationships or lengthy periods of residence are usually essential, besides character and other requirements. There are many citizenship programs in Grenada that provide easy way to obtain citizenship.

Citizenship-by-Investment programs offer you the opportunity to legally acquire a new nationality and an alternative or second passport quickly and simply, without major disruption to your life.

Austria, Antigua, Grenada and Barbuda, Malta, and St. Kitts and Nevis are the Citizenship-by-Investment programs which Henley & Partners considers sufficiently clear in law and processes, and having sufficient reputation and transparency, to be considered the top tier of Citizenship-by-Investment programs. Cyprus and Dominica are two programs which, depending on the client’s specific circumstances, can still be of interest. Austria, although a highly expensive and somewhat complex option, can be very attractive for an investor who intends to invest in the country in a significant way in business assets or venture capital.

·         Grenadian citizenship appears to be amazingly easy to obtain. There are two option to acquiring citizenship in Grenada.

·         The first path is called the NTF program. This requires a non-refundable $200,000 donation to the government. Sound easy? It is.

·         The second path is a real estate investment program. This requires an investment of $350,000 in one of currently 14 government-approved real estate projects, plus an additional non-refundable $50,000 payment to the Grenadian government. The property must be held for at least three years. Beware, as there is no guaranteed buyer for the property.

Whichever path a client chooses, the client should be ready for other extra administrative expenses. Moreover, the non-refundable payments must be paid before any serious vetting of the application takes place. And the Grenada government has numerous layers of vetting that occur concurrently. There are many citizenship programs in Grenada to choose from.

Grenada citizenship offers the traveler the option of using another more user centric passport to travel to the Middle East. Even U.S. citizens could get Grenada citizenship and use an alternate passport when traveling to the Middle East. Definitely, Grenada citizenship allows visa free travel throughout the EU and a host of other countries. Perhaps, more importantly, there are many wealthy families facing removal because of denied asylum applications. Grenada offers a nice life style with a wonderful university, medical school and veterinary school.

Effects on employment law and immigration policy.

There is political weight on the UK Government to cut EU migration. Pending the negotiation of the withdrawal treaty, no immediate changes emerge. EU nationals will continue to be able to move freely, work and live in member states, including the UK. But the situation remains uncertain. In the longer term, if EU citizens here are no longer part of a free movement arrangement, new immigration rules will be required to regularise the position.

While a person’s authority to work remains an factor for employers, the prospect of free movement coming to an end means employers must now also ask:

·         What does Brexit mean for employees who are EEA nationals?

·         How can they be given useful and reassuring information on an inherently personal and uncertain topic?

·         What needs to happen so that they and their families can continue to live in the UK?

·         What about employing EEA nationals in the future?

The answer lays in a thorough consultation with the leading UK immigration lawyers.

A points-based system has been in place in the UK since 2008 to govern economic migration from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Since the UK's Brexit vote, it's unclear what the UK’s future immigration policy will be for EEA nationals.

While major parts of existing EU law will primarily be wrapped into UK law under the "Great Repeal Bill," Britain will have the freedom to try and shape its own policy on touchstone issues including immigration — which is often cited as a major reason Britons voted to leave the EU in the first place.

May and senior cabinet colleagues have consistently declined to assure the right to remain to the 3 million European Union nationals who already live in the UK.

Trade minister Liam Fox has described EU nationals living in the UK as one of the government's "main bargaining chips" in upcoming negotiations, and May has argued that the UK would be left "high and dry" in negotiations by guaranteeing the rights of EU nationals without receiving similar assurances for UK nationals living in the EU.

Under EU law, member countries are bound by the mutual free movement of people, which means that they may not impose visa requirements, work permits, quotas or other immigration restrictions on each other’s citizens – EU nationals are free to live and work in any EU country with full access to labour markets. In the decade leading up to the Brexit referendum in June 2016, net migration from EU countries to the UK soared. This increase was largely made up of lower-skilled migrants from eight newly acceded Eastern European countries, namely the A8 group of countries, comprising Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, which joined the EU in 2004. The UK was one of only three EU countries (along with Ireland and Sweden) that decided not to impose labour access restrictions on citizens of the A8 countries, an option available to all EU members during the initial seven years of the new members’ accession agreement. According to the reputed UK immigration lawyers, “Migration from the A8 to the UK thus rose sharply in the following years, with the number of A8 nationals in the UK multiplying more than tenfold from 112,565 in 2004 to 1.2 million in 2015. The number of EU14 nationals in the UK, by contrast, remained comparatively flat, rising from 620,185 in 2004 to 794,527 in 2015. Against this backdrop, Brexiters promised that a break from the EU would allow the UK to end free movement, take control of its own borders and tamp down on unwanted immigration.”

How to choose from the best citizenship by investment programs?

Citizenship by Investment is considered as a legal option in regard to a person making a land investment into a country, frequently as a real estate purchase and consequently being allowed the citizenship and travel permit of that nation.

Going by their basic definition, citizenship investment programs are actually what they say they are: If you can confess all on a definite and intensive personal verification, and you have enough support to make a huge money related investment to that nation, you will get citizenship and a travel permit within months. A few projects are more costly than others, and some will require that the investor either buys a current business or builds up another one, in order to utilize a few nearby subjects as a major aspect of their investment. Different projects require that the financial specialist physically dwells for a particular day and age in that nation, even take in the dialect.

Best citizenship options to consider:

An ever-increasing number of countries are supposedly considering making new Citizenship by Investment programs including Ireland and Turkey. They would be welcome augmentations to what is as of now a profoundly completive market. To be fruitful, they should offer an incentive for cash and straightforward entry, which is something the accompanying three projects convey in plenitude:

St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment

A great travel permit that gives its holder access to a universe of careful saving money and private expense covers, zero wage charge and no residency prerequisites. St Lucia is a major country to open a Citizenship by Investment program. St. Lucia citizenship by investment program is one of the best in the world. 

Greece Citizenship.

It's diffident, it's fundamental yet it takes care of business – it has access to 171 nations without passports and flexibility to live and work anyplace in Western Europe. Also, a Greek identification will set the purchaser back approximatively one-twentieth of the cost of the Austrian equal.

Dominica Citizenship

Similar advantages to St. Kitts and Nevis. In the event that you require an area where you can get prudent, adaptable and imaginative managing an account, pay alongside no charges and have the opportunity to put resources into a prime nearby land.

Guatemala Citizenship

It's not precisely a Caribbean island, but rather the Central American republic of Guatemala. It is a wonderful nation in its own privilege with bounty to see and improve the situation the traveler/holiday maker. Likewise, Guatemala offers an indistinguishable tactful managing an account and great tax collection from does its Caribbean rivals, however, its Citizenship by Investment program is both the least expensive and the speediest to get on the present market.

After considering such a vast number of citizenship programs, it won’t be too hard for you determine the best way forward for you. Always keep in mind it is the right knowledge that actually paves the way for the best results all together. So, explore all the options before putting your money into a specific channel. 

London immigration lawyers – Playing an indispensable role in the economy.

London Immigration lawyers have a major role to play in resolving the conflict between narrow-minded territorialism and a global world of ideas advancing at fast speed.

Global wealth is greater now than at any previous time in history. While total wealth in the United States and Europe has grown since 2000, the wealth of emerging economies has grown much faster. In fact, the proportion of the world’s wealth that comes from emerging economies has doubled since 2000. Not only that, the total wealth growth in emerging economies comes mostly from new wealth creation, whereas wealth growth in mature economies comes mostly from appreciation of existing assets. Technology has not only connected economies, it has contributed directly to tremendous global wealth production. The technology industry drives the growth of emerging markets, since technology companies can be started with a relatively small initial investment in labor, materials and cash.

If current trends continue, the Asia-Pacific region will surpass North America as the wealthiest region in the world in the next five years, with total wealth of $48.1 trillion (North America’s total wealth is projected to rise to just $48 trillion in the same period). It is reported that China alone presently has 1.3 million millionaires, although since China still appears to be primarily a cash economy, the actual number may be double that. It is no surprise, then, that the American EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme witnessed a whopping 94 percent increase in petitions filed in 2011 and a 58 percent increase in petitions filed in 2012.

The challenges faced by the United States in formulating immigration policies that will enable it to continue to be a strong player in the global economy are paralleled in Europe, confirming the need for reform. The American tendency toward protectionism is paralleled in the notion of “fortress Europe” among the general public, policymakers and potential immigrants to Europe. As in the United States, Europe’s labour market faces a shortage of skilled workers. Empirical studies find that in Europe as in the United States, the effects of economic immigration, especially of skilled workers, are positive, not negative. Although attracting skilled immigrant workers will be essential for Europe as the economy becomes ever more globally interconnected, public discourse and public policy on immigration in Europe lacks a coherent direction.

The enlargement of the European Union and ongoing economic turmoil in Europe has wafted anti-immigrant rhetoric, and even violence against immigrants in Europe. Though Europe has a clear economic need for skilled immigrants, the competing voices at national and London immigration lawyers make the formation and implementation of a coherent policy difficult. Recently, there have been a few positive developments in European policies toward skilled immigrants, such as the 2009 introduction of the Blue Card, which enables high-skilled non-EU citizens admitted to work in one EU country to live and work in other EU countries as well. But highly skilled immigrants to Europe face a patchwork of national policies, requiring temporary permits granted at the discretion of immigration officials, and thus an uncertain future in their would-be adopted homes.

Have your checked the legal expertise of a litigation solicitor in London UK?

How to check and verify the expertise of a litigation solicitor so you can choose the best lawyer to claim personal injury compensation?

A litigation solicitor is a lawyer who acts for either a Claimant or Defendant in litigious cases such as personal injury claims. If you are making a claim for compensation you are considered the Claimant in the action.

Such claims are takes as litigious as you are claiming compensation from the Defendant and unless the Defendant concedes liability and makes an offer of settlement the claim will become litigated or in other words the claim will be issued at court with the inevitable conclusion that there will be a winner and loser.

What is the expertise a litigation solicitor UK should have?

There is an inordinate skill in preparing a claim for court and arguing the claim. Many lawyers hold themselves out as a litigation solicitor UK, but may not have taken very many claims to trial.

A good litigation solicitor UK will have had many claims go to trial and reaches a successful outcome for the Claimant – this will generally not only winning the claim, but also recovering the exact amount of compensation.

How can you check the legal expertise of a litigation solicitor UK?

The Law Society for the different countries that make up the UK will have records of the expertise and date of qualification of litigation lawyers in London. There are three Law Societies – England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

There are various types of litigation solicitor UK. For compensation claims for personal injury the solicitor is known as a personal injury litigation solicitor and for a civil claim, such as house repossession, the solicitor is known as a civil litigation solicitor.

Also basis the amount of compensation your claim is likely to be worth solicitors may need different levels of experience. For example a claim worth over £50,000 will need a solicitor who is familiar with High court multi track work whereas a claim worth between £1,000 and £1,500 will require a county court fast track solicitor.

Personal injury claims are integrally complex.

Litigation solicitors in London have right from the outset of your claim should prepare your claim as though it will have to go to court. In the majority of claims do not go to court as the claim settles prior to issuing proceedings.

For the claim to settle at the correct sum of money however your solicitor should have left no stone unturned and included all your correct losses supported by evidence.

A litigation solicitor UK needs also to instruct and understand reports from other experts such as medical experts, engineers etc. and this in itself is an involved skill.

In regard to cost, it is understood that the loser pays the winners costs, but there are various ways of ensuring your solicitor’s legal fees and costs are paid in any event.

Get to know some great things about citizenship programs.

In this article, you’ll get to know about some important details pertaining to various citizenship programs.

Portugal

Properties purchased for less than this price are of inferior and outside major cities in Portugal not worth buying. Portugal is a Schengen country, and you will be given residence permit valid for entry/exit through any member state in EU.  No requirement to live in Portugal. You might want to come to Portugal for fingerprinting once in a year or two years.  After 5 years Permanent Residency and after that +1 year, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship (means 6 years total) in a warm and sunny western European country. Recently Portugal have had problems with issuing residence permits to Chinese investors, caused delays, but seem to be on the track now.

St Kitts and Nevis

Citizenship programs in St. Kitts require just $250,000 donation, plus there are various charges and they will give you instant passport in about 8 months. Citizenship programs in St. Kitts are quite popular among them who have lots of problems with Canada and USA. Recently Canada canceled visa waiver agreement with St Kitts citing St Kitts selling passports to Iranians and Syrians. In 2014, US have accused St Kitts of facilitating financial crimes from passports obtained through Citizenship by investment program. Real estate in St Kitts is overpriced which are sold over 400,000$ and the total price for real estate + citizenship will go as high as $590,000.  Many of those from the Middle East, prefer $250,000 a cheap, best and fastest route. They don’t want to buy real estate from a faraway country, wasting so much money buying real estate.

Switzerland

Switzerland has business program which requires CHF 1 million or more turnover in Business. Another option is if you don’t intend to work, you can get residence in any Swiss canton by paying a lump sum tax (CHF 250,000) every year, plus you should rent or buy a house to live.

The problem with Switzerland is yes beautiful country to live, very expensive, PR only after 10 years of living and Swiss citizenship after 12 years of living (very difficult to get Swiss citizenship too). Swiss taxes are very high too for the rich!

United Kingdom

UK has a popular “entrepreneur program” where you have to start a company in UK with £200,000 pounds. You cannot work outside except for your company under this program. If you have more money say £2 million pounds, you can get residency in 2 months.

The problem with UK is you have to spend 8 months every year to qualify for PR and after 5 years you get UK citizenship. Another problem is with UK visa or residence permits; you cannot visit Schengen countries, having invested that kind of money. If you don’t want to live in UK then this program is not for you.

After the Brexit, i wonder UK is of any interest! If you look on the flip side, yes because pound is weak now, UK investor program is the cheapest.

Decoding immigration investors program in Malta.

Malta has become increasingly popular with foreign investors and entrepreneurs thanks to the various incentives that the country has to offer. Albeit small in size, Malta is definitely not short of reasons why one would choose to relocate here including excellent climate, vibrant Mediterranean lifestyle, rich history and culture and safety. The country is well connected to other European countries and boosts of a thriving economy, multilingual population and excellent education and health care services.

Benefits of immigration investors program in Malta

·         Visa Free travel to more than 160 countries in the world;

·         Access to work, live and study in any of the 28 EU countries;

·         A second passport – Malta accepts multiple citizenship;

·         Additional benefits and advantages in the UK as a commonwealth citizen;

·         No need to reside in Malta permanently;

·         Access to advantageous tax systems;

·         Acquisition of Maltese Citizenship available to all dependent family members;

·         Neutral, safe and stable economy and political climate.

Application Requirements

·         The programme is open to applicants of at least 18 years of age.

·         Dependent parents of age 55 and over and children of age 26 and under are allowed to apply along with the applicant.

·         Applicants are required to make the mandatory investment amongst others in Real Estate (purchase or rent of immovable property), bonds and stocks.

·         The programme is available to any reputable individuals and their dependents who pass a rigid due diligence process.

Application Procedure of Immigration Investors Program in Malta

Step 1 – Eligibility and File Preparation: Checking of the eligibility of applicant and file preparation and collection of required documents.

Step 2 – Residency Card: A residence card application is submitted to set the clock ticking on the 12 month residency requirement. Physical presence of the applicant is required as biometrics will need to be captured.

Step 3 – Submission of Application: Submission of the application to the Malta Individual Investor Programme Agency (MIIPA) along with payments due.

Step 4 – Process of Application: MIIP confirms if documentation submitted is formally in order, subject to further verification. Once the applicant’s due diligence process is satisfied an approval letter is issued by MIIPA.

Step 5 – Settlement of Contribution: A formal request is issued whereby applicant is required to settle the contribution within 20 working days.

Step 6 – Investment Documents: Provide evidence of property investment, portfolio investment, health insurance and genuine links.

Step 7 – Oath of Allegiance: After IIP obligations are fulfilled, the applicant along with family members will be invited to take an Oath of Allegiance in Malta.

Step 8 – Certificate of Naturalisation and Maltese Passport Application: The Government of Malta issues the Certificate of Naturalisation and the processing of Maltese Passport Application reaches its final stages.

Investment Required

Contribution

Main applicant: €650,000; spouse: €25,000; for each and every child below 18 years of age: €25,000; for each and every unmarried child between 18 years of age and 26 years of age: €50,000; for each and every dependent parent above 55 years of age: €50,000.

Property

Acquire a property in Malta having a minimum value of €350,000 and retain it for a period of at least 5 years; or Lease a property in Malta for a minimum annual rent of €16,000 and retain it for a period of at least 5 years.

Investment

Invest in Malta an amount of at least €150,000, in amongst other stocks, bonds, debentures, special purpose vehicles, or other investment vehicles as may be identified from time to time, and retain the investment for at least 5 years.

Residence

The main applicant must prove that he has been a resident of Malta for a period of at least 12 months, preceding the issuance of the naturalisation certificate.