Li XiangManaging Associate

I joined Lewis Silkin as a Legal Assistant in April 2014 and became an Associate following completion of a training contract with the firm in 2016. I was promoted to Senior Associate in April 2021 and Managing Associate in April 2024.

Before joining Lewis Silkin I worked for two years as an OISC-regulated immigration adviser at a Big 4 professional services firm. Prior to that I worked for a magic circle law firm for a year as a corporate law paralegal.

I was brought up in China and studied in Japan before coming to the UK. I hold a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws, both awarded by Shimane University, Japan. I also hold a Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course awarded by The College of Law, London. I qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2016 and am a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association.

I am fluent in Chinese, Japanese and English and advise clients in all these three languages. I am member of both the China and Japan desks.   

Immigration & Global Mobility

My work involves all aspects of Immigration Law, including all Tiers of the Points-Based System, for example, Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, Temporary Work category. I also advise clients on obtaining sponsor licence and related compliance duties and responsibilities, right to work check and global mobility strategy. In addition, I advise private individuals on spouse/unmarried partner applications under Appendix FM, late EUSS applications, Indefinite Leave to Remain and Naturalisation cases.

Alongside the advisory work, I provide regular tailored online and in-person trainings for clients on various immigration topics and recent changes.

Advisory work in Chinese and Japanese

I am fluent in Chinese and Japanese and regularly advise clients on all aspects of Immigration Law in these languages to avoid any language barrier. In addition, I provide trainings and webinars in Japanese and Chinese on a regular basis.