The Against All Odds Award for Breaking through red tape in Immigration
Presented to an attorney who refused to accept “no” as a final answer. This award recognizes extraordinary persistence in navigating bureaucratic obstacles to deliver results for their client when the odds were stacked against them.
Nelli Shevchenko combines innovative thinking with a tangible impact on UK immigration practice for both corporate and individual clients. As a Senior Associate in the UK Immigration team at Sherrards, she has demonstrated exceptional foresight in developing proactive solutions for businesses adapting to increased work visa salary thresholds and has worked closely with in-house mobility teams to translate complex legal requirements into practical, commercial strategies. Nelli has also supported Ukrainian nationals by engaging with government stakeholders to improve visa processes during a period of urgent humanitarian need. Alongside her advisory work, she has developed digital tools to streamline sponsor licence audits and right-to-work compliance, helping clients improve efficiency while navigating an increasingly complex immigration landscape. She has successfully overturned adverse decisions across some of the most unforgiving categories in UK immigration. Her wins include Global Talent applications, sponsor licence grants, and work visa cases where earlier refusals had left clients with few apparent options.
Nominated by Thalia Weston