Alison Hunter, Partner
“Alison Hunter is an expert in European free movement matters, especially those relating to families and children. She is also routinely instructed in complex nationality cases involving children adopted overseas by British citizens.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison knows everything there is to know about inter-country adoption. She is very reassuring with clients, particularly when cases become complicated.” – Chambers 2023
“She is absolutely fantastic.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison is an incredibly good lawyer with a lot of experience. She puts it into practice, both in case work and in her wider policy focus.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison is an excellent lawyer, particularly on EU-related matters.” – Chambers 2023
“She is fantastic. She possesses a very good understanding on the intersection of immigration and family law.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison Hunter – the best immigration lawyer for adoption-related immigration issues, would always recommend her first.” – Legal 500 2023
“Alison Hunter is an expert in European free movement matters, especially those relating to families and children. She is also routinely instructed in complex nationality cases involving children adopted overseas by British citizens. ‘She is extremely professional, knowledgeable and reliable. She gives straightforward, honest advice and always delivers on or before the deadline.’ ‘She is super bright, particularly on EU law.’” – Chambers and Partners 2021
“Alison Hunter specialises in inter-country adoption as well as European free movement matters. A source enthuses: ‘Alison is everything that a lawyer should be: experienced, skilful, honest, reliable, practical, logical and most importantly efficient’.” – Chambers and Partners 2019
“Alison Hunter is ‘very well-known and sought after for her work on complex family cases particularly concerning children in the care system, inter-country adoption and surrogacy’.” – Legal 500 2019
“The go to immigration solicitor for adoption related immigration law, diligent, solution orientated and a joy to work with.”
“Alison Hunter is universally regarded as the immigration guru for intercountry adoption issues.” – Legal 500 2022
“Formidably clever and determined, she has great attention to detail and is an excellent lawyer.”
“Alison Hunter is an expert in European free movement matters, especially those relating to families and children. She is also routinely instructed in complex nationality cases involving children adopted overseas by British citizens. ‘She is extremely professional, knowledgeable and reliable. She gives straightforward, honest advice and always delivers on or before the deadline.’ ‘She is super bright, particularly on EU law.’” – Chambers and Partners 2021
“Alison Hunter specialises in inter-country adoption as well as European free movement matters. A source enthuses: ‘Alison is everything that a lawyer should be: experienced, skilful, honest, reliable, practical, logical and most importantly efficient’.” – Chambers and Partners 2019
“Alison Hunter is ‘very well-known and sought after for her work on complex family cases particularly concerning children in the care system, inter-country adoption and surrogacy’.” – Legal 500 2019
“Alison Hunter is ‘widely recognised for her work in family migration’.” – Legal 500 2018
“Alison Hunter has ‘almost unrivalled experience of dealing with cases of international adoption and surrogacy’.” – Chambers and Partners 2018
“Thank you for being consistently patient, kind – and email responsive! The work you do is challenging and vital and you do it with great humanity so thank you.” – Client
“One of the most meticulous, professional, prompt and efficient solicitors I have ever met. Alison gives clear and tailored advice and is always straight to the point. She is hyper-reactive if you have follow-up questions and will get back to you with any relevant information for your personal situation. She goes above and beyond for her clients. Highly recommended.” – Client
Alison is a partner at the firm. Over two and a half decades of practice, she has developed extensive experience in all areas of UK nationality and immigration law. Her specialist knowledge of European free movement law and her expertise in intercountry adoption matters are both widely recognised. Her practice also covers spouse and partnership applications, Global Talent applications and other work based applications. She has been listed a Band 1 leading individual in Chambers and Partners for a number of years.
Recent work and notable cases
- Securing a right to remain for the former spouse of a European national who was the victim of domestic violence.
- Securing permission to enter the United Kingdom for three children who were in an orphanage after their father had murdered their mother.
- Obtaining immigration status for applicants under the Global Talent scheme, including actors, musicians, start up founders etc.
- Securing indefinite leave to remain for several children adopted by single parents, as well as in cases where the adoption was not recognised by the UK
- Assisting couples with one British partner who have resided in a European member state under European law to return to the live in the United Kingdom under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- Securing the registration as a British citizen of a Russian child adopted by a British parent living abroad.
- Obtaining leave to remain for a US national married to a British citizen after their application was refused because the incorrect documents were submitted.
- Assisting a US/British couple regularise the US partner’s immigration status after they were incorrectly advised to apply for a marriage visit visa.
- Obtaining permanent residence for a German national and his Brazilian partner after their first application was refused due to a lack of evidence.
- Securing leave to remain for a non-European national whose partner was in receipt of a disability benefit and could not otherwise meet the financial requirement.
- Advising people who have missed the deadline to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme to secure their immigration status in the United Kingdom.
- Applying for children who have been matched with parents resident in the UK, to come to the UK to be adopted.
Publications and training
- Delivered the ILPA course, Adoption: a guide for immigration practitioners.
- European Journal of Migration and Law, Between the domestic and the international: the role of the EU in providing protection for unaccompanied children in the UK.
- COMPAS report, Diversity in the Labour Market: The Legal Framework and Support Services for Migrants entitled to work in the United Kingdom.
- Contributor to the European Commission’s report, Freedom of Movement of Workers.
Memberships and volunteering
- Law Society
- Co-Chair of the European Working Group of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA)
- Member of ILPA
Education and experience
- Read law with French law at King’s College, London and obtained a Master’s degree in Human Rights Law at University College, Law.
- Trained at Freshfields.
- Joined Wesley Gryk Solicitors in 1997 and became partner in 2006.
“Alison Hunter is an expert in European free movement matters, especially those relating to families and children. She is also routinely instructed in complex nationality cases involving children adopted overseas by British citizens.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison knows everything there is to know about inter-country adoption. She is very reassuring with clients, particularly when cases become complicated.” – Chambers 2023
“She is absolutely fantastic.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison is an incredibly good lawyer with a lot of experience. She puts it into practice, both in case work and in her wider policy focus.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison is an excellent lawyer, particularly on EU-related matters.” – Chambers 2023
“She is fantastic. She possesses a very good understanding on the intersection of immigration and family law.” – Chambers 2023
“Alison Hunter – the best immigration lawyer for adoption-related immigration issues, would always recommend her first.” – Legal 500 2023
“Alison Hunter is an expert in European free movement matters, especially those relating to families and children. She is also routinely instructed in complex nationality cases involving children adopted overseas by British citizens. ‘She is extremely professional, knowledgeable and reliable. She gives straightforward, honest advice and always delivers on or before the deadline.’ ‘She is super bright, particularly on EU law.’” – Chambers and Partners 2021
“Alison Hunter specialises in inter-country adoption as well as European free movement matters. A source enthuses: ‘Alison is everything that a lawyer should be: experienced, skilful, honest, reliable, practical, logical and most importantly efficient’.” – Chambers and Partners 2019
“Alison Hunter is ‘very well-known and sought after for her work on complex family cases particularly concerning children in the care system, inter-country adoption and surrogacy’.” – Legal 500 2019
“The go to immigration solicitor for adoption related immigration law, diligent, solution orientated and a joy to work with.”
“Alison Hunter is universally regarded as the immigration guru for intercountry adoption issues.” – Legal 500 2022
“Formidably clever and determined, she has great attention to detail and is an excellent lawyer.”
“Alison Hunter is an expert in European free movement matters, especially those relating to families and children. She is also routinely instructed in complex nationality cases involving children adopted overseas by British citizens. ‘She is extremely professional, knowledgeable and reliable. She gives straightforward, honest advice and always delivers on or before the deadline.’ ‘She is super bright, particularly on EU law.’” – Chambers and Partners 2021
“Alison Hunter specialises in inter-country adoption as well as European free movement matters. A source enthuses: ‘Alison is everything that a lawyer should be: experienced, skilful, honest, reliable, practical, logical and most importantly efficient’.” – Chambers and Partners 2019
“Alison Hunter is ‘very well-known and sought after for her work on complex family cases particularly concerning children in the care system, inter-country adoption and surrogacy’.” – Legal 500 2019
“Alison Hunter is ‘widely recognised for her work in family migration’.” – Legal 500 2018
“Alison Hunter has ‘almost unrivalled experience of dealing with cases of international adoption and surrogacy’.” – Chambers and Partners 2018
“Thank you for being consistently patient, kind – and email responsive! The work you do is challenging and vital and you do it with great humanity so thank you.” – Client
“One of the most meticulous, professional, prompt and efficient solicitors I have ever met. Alison gives clear and tailored advice and is always straight to the point. She is hyper-reactive if you have follow-up questions and will get back to you with any relevant information for your personal situation. She goes above and beyond for her clients. Highly recommended.” – Client
