Skip to content

Jane Biddlecombe

Senior Associate - Employment and Immigration

My experience

I am an employment law specialist with over 20 years of experience in all sectors including manufacturing, logistics, education, technology, engineering and agriculture dealing with:

  • disciplinary issues and dismissals;
  • performance management; absence management and capability issues;
  • handling grievances;
  • discrimination;
  • redundancies and business re-organisations;
  • post-termination restrictions;
  • employment issues relating to acquisitions and disposals including TUPE;
  • drafting employment contracts and policies/procedures;
  • settlement agreements, including Director exits; and
  • tribunal claims, including representation at hearings.

I am also an immigration specialist advising on all aspects of immigration law.

Business:

  • right to work checks and penalties;
  • obtaining a sponsor licence to employ skilled workers in the UK and advising on compliance with sponsor duties;
  • visas for employees For example, Skilled Worker visas, Global Business Mobility visas (including intra-group transfers of senior or specialist workers) and Temporary Worker visas (including seasonal worker visas for farms and vineyards);
  • advice on the rights of EU nationals to work in the UK and settled status;
  • advice on the post-Brexit immigration system for employing skilled overseas staff, including EU nationals.

Personal:

  • joining family in the UK (e.g. partner visas, fiancé(e) visas and parent visas);
  • applications to extend leave to remain in the UK;
  • settlement/indefinite leave to remain applications;
  • British nationality queries and British Citizenship applications;
  • visas to work in the UK, such as Skilled Worker visas and Global Business Mobility visas;
  • studying in the UK under a Student visa or working under a Graduate visa; and
  • advice on temporary Worker visas such as Youth Mobility Scheme visas and Religious Worker visas.

Whether they are small owner managed businesses or large national companies, I have an excellent reputation in partnering with my clients to achieve practical and commercial solutions to their problems.  I work with my clients to pro-actively manage their day-to-day employee issues and, where possible, avoid protracted disputes.

I work closely with each of my clients, tailoring my support to the needs of the business and the company’s attitude to risk.

In relation to immigration advice, it is often daunting for both individuals and businesses to navigate the Immigration Rules and Home Office guidance documents.  I support my clients by providing clear and concise advice in this complex area and regularly updating clients in this ever changing field of law.  

It is vital for clients to keep up to date in the fast moving areas of employment and immigration law. I provide training to HR teams and managers (either at our offices or at the client’s premises) as well as presenting at our seminars (ranging from small group case studies to large seminars with over 150 attendees).  

I am also a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association.

Insights from Jane Biddlecombe

From grape to glass: The importance of international farm workers in the vineyard and winery industry

Read article

Sponsoring a migrant worker

Read article

Sponsor licence guidance : Recruiting overseas nationals

Read article

New sponsor duty to report hybrid working patterns - Home Office U-Turn

Read article

How I’ve helped our clients

Thank you for your support. Everything was made simple for me and the process very clear. This is the second time I have used Paris Smith for very different reasons and in both instances the service provided was excellent. I cannot recommend them enough and I will definitely use Paris Smith again in the future.

Phil Ashworth

Hattingley Valley Wines has historically utilised experienced overseas vineyard and winery resources at key times of the year such as harvest. Understanding the new rules related to overseas workers following the UK leaving the EU was critical to the business and we turned to Paris Smith to provide advice and guidance. Jane Biddlecombe led this project and provided a clear and concise outline of what we could/couldn’t now do and easy to understand guidance on Visa sponsorship.

Bruce Green, Finance Director
Hattingley Valley Wines

My experience with Jane Biddlecombe, Senior Associate has been nothing less than fantastic. As one of her specialties is Visa Applications (in my case US citizen marrying a UK Citizen) she has been an incredible help. With her years of experience in that area, she catches every detail in the paperwork and knows what to add or delete where necessary. As a person, Ms. Biddlecombe has been patient, kind and really cares as sometimes I've been on the verge and she's talked me through. She's not just someone who excels in her field, but she's a wonderful human being. Her combination of skills and self cause me to not only be happy that I've retained her, but that I've gotten to know her.

Marlow Palleja - US national applying for a fiancée visa to marry her British fiancée in the UK

Jane Biddlecome is, in my opinion, one of the most knowledgeable immigration lawyers. Her professional demeanour toward clients is exceptional. It's a privilege to work with Jane, and I'm certain she's a valuable asset to Paris Smith.

Dr Nara Ringrose, Head of People & Organisational Development
Aquila Nuclear Engineering

Just wanted to let you know that Jane Biddlecombe has now finalised a settlement agreement with my employers and their income protection insurers and we are very pleased with the result. Jane managed to secure a tax free payment due to my disability and also improved my employer's offer in respect of notice and holiday entitlement. None of these things would have been possible without Jane's sure and steady handling of the case. She had a lot to do in correcting my employer's mistakes on the agreement and it was very much appreciated. We wouldn't hesitate to use your firm again and we will be recommending you to others.

Employee - Insurance company

We recently engaged Paris Smith to assist us to obtain a Sponsor Licence and subsequent Tier 2 visas required for our staff members to relocate from our China office to our recently opened UK office. Throughout the process we found the service provided by Jane to be timely, detailed and concise with checks, explanations and cross checks carried out at all stages. The end result was a successful application which led to the Tier 2 visas being issued on time, which from a company owner's point of view was a fantastic result. We also came in around 12% under the allotted budget for the process which has added to our overall satisfaction with the service and advice provided.

Chris Anderson, Managing Director - Sunvast International
Sunvast International

Just a quick note to say thank you for the advice you gave us back in October last year. The visa was approved today - as evidenced by the celebrations happening in Dusseldorf! We received zero queries on our application - I’m attributing this to your good advice and us doing the things you said to do six months before the application was made. With many thanks.

Individual obtaining a spousal visa

The advice received from Paris Smith in respect of immigration matters has been extremely valuable, in particular with the support provided from the team around Tier 2 Sponsorships which was a subject that, as a business, we had little exposure to at the time we were required to apply for this licence; Jane and the team have always provided sound and detailed advice in respect of immigration matters that has ultimately led to issues being resolved in a timely and efficient manner for us as a business.

Sam Ginger, HR Manager - Millbrook Healthcare Ltd

Jane Biddlecombe was a great help in my application for EU Settled Status. My own attempt to complete the process was rejected. It is harder than it looks. Jane's detailed knowledge of the rules was a great help in selecting documents for a new application and she ensured that I replied within the unknown-to-me time limits. The new application was successful. I highly recommend Jane for anyone navigating UK residence and immigration issues."

Carl Rosenberg

Many thanks Jane for your time, it was extremely beneficial for the team. I am impressed by your professional attitude and your unique knowledge of immigration law. I am looking forward to working with you in the future.

Dr Nara Ringrose, Director of Human Resources
Porton Biopharma Ltd
ARTICLES