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Home1 / Melissa Southall

Melissa Southall

Senior Associate
Immigration team
T:0121 746 3300
E: m.southall@sydneymitchell.co.uk
Office: Birmingham

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About Melissa

Melissa is a Senior Associate in our Immigration team and recognised as a Leading Associate in the Legal 500 Directory.

Melissa has extensive experience in all kinds of immigration and asylum work.  Her particular interest lies in applications involving the rights of children, working with local authorities, acting for young clients facing immigration challenges.

Melissa comments:

“Helping vulnerable clients, reuniting families and getting comments like the below from a Foster Carer in relation to three orphaned children is what makes my job worthwhile.”

Expertise

Melissa and André Minnaar have a long and collaborative history, having worked together as a team for over sixteen years. Their professional journey began in 2009 when André trained Melissa as a trainee solicitor. After a brief period in 2013 when they worked at different firms, they reunited in 2014 at their previous firm.

In 2019, Melissa joined André to form Sydney Mitchell’s Immigration team.

Melissa went to College of Law in Birmingham after gaining an LLB honours in law with French from the University of Birmingham.

Outside of work Melissa enjoys travel, reading, cooking and keeping fit!

 

Notable Cases

  • Won a de facto adoption appeal case for three minor children adopted from birth in Nigeria as well as an appeal whereby a spouse had been granted a visa but her minor child had been refused with the Home Office arguing the sole responsibility requirement was not met.
  • Melissa successfully made a Spouse/partner visa for a family who had been scammed by another firm and whereby the marriage was not recognised under UK law as the divorce had not been finalised at the time of their marriage overseas.
  • Melissa, deals with both personal and business immigration doing Sponsor Licence Applications, Skilled Work Visas and Settlement applications for those who have completed 5 years on the Skilled Work/Tier 2 route. She has also dealt with Global Talent and Innovator Founder Visas as well as advising companies who face Civil Penalties for potentially employing illegal workers.

Testimonials

Unlocked a bright future

“Melissa, if you ever doubt the importance of what you are doing, or have a bad day, or someone is ungrateful, have a look at the picture [ of the girls on their very first day at school]. You are doing nothing less than helping change lives for the better. Your work has not only brought this family together, but you’ve unlocked a bright future for them filled with all kinds of possibilities. In my view Melissa, you are among the very best of people. Thank you.”  Client 

Outstanding service 

“From the very first phone contact with Melissa Southall, I felt reassured that our case would be in very safe hands. We needed a solicitor who was highly knowledgeable, approachable, understanding, empathetic, effective as well as efficient, honest, responsive in a timely manner, easy to talk to, and open to queries or any issues that would require legal guidance and advice, as well as extremely professional and courteous. Melissa has been all that, and more – the case was not straightforward and the circumstances relating to the case were constantly fluctuating during the whole process. However, Melissa was steadfast and got us through to completion. We were overwhelmingly pleased when we received the news that our case has been successful. Thank you so much, Melissa (and to your team). I have no hesitation to highly recommend Melissa Southall as a solicitor who can be trusted because she will look after your case in an outstanding manner.”  Client 

Amazing solicitor 

“Melissa Southall has assisted my family and I with our immigration matters for nearly 10 years and every single time she has been exceptional at her job. She is very professional and keeps you well informed. She answers emails promptly and is available for phone conversation when you needed. She will provide advice on the required evidence and communicate with you throughout the entire application process”  Client 

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Get in touch

Birmingham

Cavendish House
39 Waterloo Street
Birmingham
B2 5PP

  • 0121 746 3300

Solihull

Chattock House
346 Stratford Road
Shirley, Solihull
B90 3DN

  • 0121 746 3300

Sheldon

Shakespeare Building
2233 Coventry Road
Sheldon
B26 3NL

  • 0121 700 1400

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