Partner, Immigration, Kingsley Napley

Ilda is a partner in the immigration team at Kingsley Napley. She is a South African qualified attorney and a British qualified solicitor who joined the firm in January 2010.

Ilda has more than ten years of UK corporate immigration law experience, managing large company clients as well as handling complex matters for individuals, British nationality applications, appeals, judicial reviews and applications under European Law including Brexit related advice.

Ilda also has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of the Points Based System, including assisting employers with their Skilled Worker or Temporary Work sponsor registrations and advising on immigration compliance issues. Equally, she has extensive experience in advising investors, entrepreneurs and high-net worth individuals.

Prior to joining Kingsley Napley LLP, Ilda was the UK Country Manager for Emigra Europe Limited, a specialist global immigration consultancy firm, with service centres on three continents, providing global immigration services for over 100 different countries. Ilda was responsible for the overall management of the UK office, including advising large multinational clients in respect of their UK Immigration related matters.

She also worked as an Associate at ASG Immigration where she advised on all aspects of business and personal immigration, with an emphasis on multinational employees, skilled migrants and applications under European law.

Ilda has spoken on matters of immigration law for several distinguished organisations throughout her career. She has also written several articles on a variety of subjects relating to UK Immigration law.

She is recommended as a Thought Leader in the 2022 International Who's Who of Business Immigration Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, and is ranked as a Leading Individual in Legal 500 UK 2021. She has also been recognised in the Citywealth Leaders List 2020.

Why do you support the work of The Entrepreneurs Network?

I have had the privilege of working with Philip and his team at the Entrepreneurs Network for many years and am always impressed by their passion to make sure that the UK is a good place to do business, not only from an immigration perspective but overall. Equally, I think they have done a fantastic job at engaging with policymakers in advocating for entrepreneurship as well as providing valuable insights from different organisations, more specifically policymakers, businesses and academics. I know that supporting such a network can lead to better policies and conditions for entrepreneurs to thrive.

What research should more people read?

Over the years The Entrepreneurs Network has done a really good job in publishing their research and highlighting the issues that affect entrepreneurs. Over and above The Entrepreneurs Network – I would recommend looking at the Centre for Climate Engagement, Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge website as they play a unique role in bringing leading academic research to a targeted audience of chairs and non-executive directors to accelerate climate leadership on boards in the private and public sectors.

Why is the UK an attractive place to grow a business?

The UK has a lot to offer for any business looking to grow here. I believe that our language, legal system and time zone makes it easy to set up in the UK. Similarly, employers have access to world class talent and a business friendly regulatory environment.