Practice Areas
Lara Akinlude is a dual-qualified attorney in California and England and Wales. Her practice covers UK and US immigration, commercial and business law, complex litigation, and IT and internet law. She advises individuals, families and businesses on cross-border relocation and related legal matters.
Complex Litigation
IT & Internet Law
Immigration and Human rights Law
Commercial & Business Law
UK and US Immigration Services
UK and US business immigration
For entrepreneurs and companies moving into a new market, immigration planning needs to account for the proposed business activity, ownership, investment, staffing and the role each person will perform. Lara advises on UK business immigration and US expansion, with commercial contracts advice where relevant. Read the UK–US business immigration FAQs.Can Lara help with immigration when I start or buy a US business or establish a business in the UK?
Yes. Lara Akinlude advises on UK and US immigration, related commercial contracts, US company formation and business setup, and UK company incorporation.
When starting, buying or expanding a business, the immigration strategy should be considered alongside the proposed investment, ownership, business structure and the roles of owners and relocating staff. Company formation alone does not grant immigration permission.
Discuss the scope of the engagement before incorporating a company or completing a purchase, including which formation, immigration and contract services are included and whether separate tax advice is needed.
L-1 intracompany transfers for UK companies
L-1 classifications provide a potential route for qualifying employees transferring from an affiliated overseas business to a US office. L-1A covers executives and managers; L-1B covers employees with specialized knowledge. A UK company opening a US office needs to assess the relationship between its businesses, the employee’s overseas work history and the proposed US role. Lara advises companies considering L-1 transfers, including expansion involving a new US office. Before preparing a petition, useful information includes the corporate ownership structure, evidence of overseas operations, the employee’s duties and work history, and the US staffing and operating plans. See USCIS guidance on L classifications and employee transfer FAQs.Can directors of a UK company use L-1 visas to open a US branch?
Potentially. Lara advises UK companies considering L-1 transfers to a new US office. A director title alone does not establish eligibility: the applicant’s actual duties, qualifying overseas employment and the relationship between the UK and US businesses must meet the relevant requirements. For L-1A, the proposed US role must qualify as executive or managerial. New-office cases also require evidence about the US operation and its ability to support that role within the required period. Prepare ownership records, overseas employment and duties, and US operating and staffing plans for assessment before deciding who will transfer. USCIS guidance on L-1 documentation and new offices.E-2 investor visa advice for entrepreneurs
Lara advises entrepreneurs considering starting or buying a US business through an E-2 investor strategy. Assessment includes the applicant’s qualifying nationality, investment, ownership or control, business activity and supporting evidence. Buying a company alone does not establish eligibility. Prepare a summary of the business, its ownership, the proposed transaction and investment, the source of funds, and your intended role before seeking advice. The E-2 investor visa FAQs below explain the starting points.O-1 visas and EB-2 National Interest Waivers
Lara advises on O-1 applications and EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions, including assessment of the applicant’s professional background, proposed US activity and supporting evidence. These routes have different purposes and requirements; professional success alone does not establish eligibility. Read the O-1 visa FAQs or explore the EB-2 NIW FAQs.UK spouse, partner and family visa advice
Lara advises individuals and families on UK spouse and family visa applications, including moves from California and elsewhere in the United States. The appropriate route depends on the family relationship, the UK sponsor’s status, the applicant’s circumstances and the relevant immigration rules. For partner applications, relationship evidence, financial requirements and English language requirements may need assessment. Family visas and dependants joining someone on a work route are different categories, so the intended route should be established before documents are assembled. Bring details of your relationship, your partner’s UK status, your current location and immigration history, and any previous decision letters. Read official UK partner and spouse visa guidance, UK–US relocation FAQs and information on refusals and complex cases.Discuss your immigration plans
Contact Lara Akinlude to discuss your proposed relocation, application or business expansion. Include your destination, purpose of travel, relevant business or family circumstances and any time-sensitive decisions so the appropriate next step can be considered.E-2 Investor Visa FAQs
What is an E-2 investor visa?
The E-2 is a US nonimmigrant visa category for qualifying nationals of treaty countries who invest substantially in a US business and meet the other requirements of the category.
Eligibility involves more than simply buying or forming a company. The applicant’s nationality, investment, ownership or control of the enterprise, business activity and other requirements all need to be considered.
Can a British entrepreneur apply for an E-2 visa to start a business in America?
A British national may potentially qualify for E-2 status if the applicable treaty and individual eligibility requirements are satisfied.
The case typically requires careful evidence relating to the investment and the US enterprise. Whether the E-2 is the best option should also be considered against any alternative immigration routes available to the entrepreneur.
Can I use an E-2 visa to buy an existing US business?
Purchasing an existing business may potentially form the basis of an E-2 strategy where all relevant requirements are met.
The transaction should be reviewed from an immigration perspective before it is completed because the investment structure, ownership, funds and operating business can all be relevant to the immigration application.
Should I speak to an immigration lawyer before investing money in a US business?
Yes. Immigration advice should ideally be obtained before significant funds are committed.
An immigration lawyer can assess whether the proposed investment and business structure are compatible with the intended immigration strategy and identify evidence that should be preserved during the investment process.
UK–US Immigration Application FAQs
Which UK immigration routes should a US business owner consider when expanding into Britain?
Lara Akinlude can assess the proposed UK activity, your role, the overseas company’s operations and your longer-term plans before identifying a suitable route. Owning or registering a UK company does not by itself give permission to live and work in the UK.
Possible routes to assess include UK Expansion Worker for qualifying senior managers or specialist employees establishing an overseas business’s first UK branch before it starts trading; Innovator Founder for an eligible innovative, viable and scalable business with approved endorsement; or a sponsored work route where an eligible role and licensed sponsor meet the relevant requirements. These are different routes, not interchangeable permissions for every business owner.
UK Expansion Worker does not itself lead to settlement. Sponsorship, endorsement, employment history, the proposed role and accompanying family members should be considered before committing to a relocation or business structure.
UK Expansion Worker guidance · Innovator Founder guidance · Skilled Worker guidance.
How does an L-1 transfer from a UK company to a US office work?
Lara advises companies and employees considering L-1 transfers. Start by checking the qualifying relationship between the UK and US businesses, the employee’s overseas employment and the proposed US duties. Then assemble corporate, employment and role evidence, including operating and staffing plans for a new US office.
For an individual L-1 petition, the US petitioning employer generally files Form I-129 with USCIS. After petition approval, an employee applying from abroad ordinarily completes the applicable visa application and embassy or consulate process before seeking admission to the United States. Employers with an approved blanket L petition use a different procedure.
For someone already in the US, whether a change of status is available depends on their circumstances. Petition approval, visa issuance and admission or a change of status are distinct steps. Confirm when the employee may lawfully begin the proposed work before finalizing the transfer.
Official temporary worker visa process · USCIS L-1 guidance.
How can a US resident apply to move to the UK with a British spouse or partner?
Lara advises on UK spouse and partner applications for US-based clients. Marriage to a British citizen does not automatically grant UK immigration permission. First assess the relationship, the British partner’s circumstances, the couple’s plans to live together and the applicable financial, English-language and other requirements.
An applicant living in the United States who is applying from outside the UK uses the outside-UK online partner application process, then follows the instructions for evidence and identity verification. If the applicant is already in the UK, their current permission determines whether an in-country application is available; visitors usually need to leave to apply.
Prepare identity and relationship records, financial and accommodation evidence where required, and any previous immigration decisions. A planned marriage may require assessment of a fiancé or other appropriate route rather than assuming a spouse application is already available. Lara can assess where and how to apply before the couple makes travel plans.
Official partner and spouse application guidance · Family visa guidance and switching restrictions.
I live in America and have family in Britain. How can I join them legally?
The route depends on your relationship, the family member’s UK nationality or immigration status, and your own circumstances. A spouse or partner, a child, a parent and an adult needing long-term care do not qualify under one universal family category. Having a relative in Britain does not by itself establish eligibility to live there.
If the family member holds temporary work or student permission, an eligible dependant route may be relevant instead of a family visa; the rules and restrictions for that particular route must be checked. Visiting family is also different from moving to live with them.
Lara can assess the intended route using your relationship, the relative’s UK status, your age and any care or dependency circumstances, your current location and immigration history. Establish eligibility and the correct application process before submitting documents or arranging a permanent move.
Official UK family visa categories.
Contact Lara to discuss your circumstances and the scope of advice.