John Kiely

As Head of Howard Kennedy’s Immigration team, John Kiely provides strategic and bespoke advice across all areas of UK immigration law.

John leads the firm’s corporate and private client immigration offering, with particular expertise in advising high-net-worth individuals, families and entrepreneurs on complex, high-value matters.

With over 13 years of experience, John is recognised for his expertise in complex immigration matters, including settlement and nationality issues, applications under Appendix FM, Tier 1 (Investor), Global Talent, Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, International Sportsperson and Innovator Founder routes. He also has significant experience in preparing discretionary applications outside the Immigration Rules based on Article 3 and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to safeguard clients’ rights in exceptional and sensitive circumstances.

John advises corporate clients on sponsor licence management and compliance obligations, helping businesses mitigate risk and avoid civil penalties.

He works closely with private wealth advisers, tax specialists and family offices to deliver integrated solutions for clients with significant assets and cross-border interests. John is regarded as an industry leader in Tech Nation visa applications and has developed niche expertise in International Sportsperson visas. His insights have been sought by national publications on football transfers and Government Body Endorsement criteria, and he has appeared in The Financial Times and The Economist in relation to immigration and high-net-worth matters.

John is ranked in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide and Legal 500 for both corporate and private client immigration, reflecting his reputation for excellence in this specialist field.