ZH Law | Direct Access Barrister, regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Received a penalty notice for allegedly employing an illegal worker? You have 28 days to fight it.
No need for a solicitor. Talk to a barrister directly. We review your penalty fast and fight to get it reduced or cancelled.
- 27+ years
- 5,000+ clients
- Offices in London & Leicester
- Regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board
The 28-day objection clock starts the day your notice is dated. Miss it and you could have to pay up to £60,000 or more.
ZH Law | Direct Access Barrister, regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Received a penalty notice for allegedly employing an illegal worker? You have 28 days to fight it.
No need for a solicitor. Talk to a barrister directly. We review your penalty fast and fight to get it reduced or cancelled.
- 27+ years
- 5,000+ clients
- Offices in London & Leicester
- Regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board
The 28-day objection clock starts the day your notice is dated. Miss it and you could have to pay up to £60,000 or more.
You may not have to pay
A civil penalty notice feels final. It is not. In many cases the amount can be reduced, and in some it can be cancelled altogether, if the right objection is made in time and backed by the right evidence.
Most employers do not know which ground applies to them, and a wrongly worded objection can waste the one chance you get. That is what the first consultation is for.
There are 3 grounds to challenge a penalty:
You were not the liable employer, for example where the worker was engaged by a contractor or a separate entity.
You held a statutory excuse, meaning you carried out the prescribed right-to-work checks correctly before employment.
Or the Home Office miscalculated the amount, or ignored mitigation you were entitled to.
We review your notice, tell you honestly whether it can be fought and on which ground, and act before your window closes.
Why employers choose ZH Law
Direct access barrister
You instruct the barrister who argues your case, with no additional costs for a solicitor and no delay in the middle.
27+ years in immigration
Deep experience in business immigration, sponsor compliance and Home Office penalties.
From start to finish
Objection and County Court appeal, handled by the same team from start to finish.
Protect your sponsor licence
A penalty can put your licence at risk, so we defend both together.
What it costs
A penalty is already a cost you did not plan for, so we keep our fees clear and predictable from the first meeting. No hidden charges, so you know the price before you commit to anything.
Initial consultation
A full review of your notice, an honest view on whether it can be challenged, and the grounds we would argue.
Civil penalty objection
Drafting and filing your statutory objection with supporting evidence, within the 28-day window.
County Court appeal
Full representation if the Home Office rejects your objection.
Thinking long-term, acting early and paying for quality representation is always worth it in the long term.
Our Specialist Legal Services
A civil penalty rarely sits on its own. It can put your sponsor licence, your ability to hire and your reputation at risk. We handle the penalty and everything connected to it, so you deal with one team rather than four.
Civil penalty objection
A statutory objection to the Home Office within the 28-day window, argued on the ground most likely to succeed for you.
County Court appeal
If the objection is refused, we appeal within 28 days of the decision and represent you fully.
Statutory excuse review
We examine your right to work checks to establish or strengthen your legal defence.
Right to work audits
We check your processes and records before a problem becomes a penalty.
Mitigation representations
Where liability stands, we push to bring the amount down as far as it will go.
Sponsor licence protection
We shield your licence from the knock-on action a penalty can trigger.
Our Process
How we handle your case
The 28-day window is short. Here is exactly what happens after you reach out.
Message us or send your notice
We respond within 48 hours to open your case.
Consultation and review
We review the notice, the dates, and your right-to-work records to find your strongest ground to object.
Objection filed within 28 days
We prepare and submit your statutory objection with full supporting evidence.
Appeal and resolution
If the Home Office rejects it, we take it to the County Court and advise on protecting your licence throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to object?
28 days from the date on your notice. If you choose to pay a first breach within 21 days, you pay a reduced amount.
Can a penalty really be cancelled?
Yes, on the 3 grounds above. We assess which one fits your case the best.
Do I need a solicitor first?
No. As a direct-access barrister practice, you come straight to us without the need to go to a solicitor.
Will this affect my sponsor licence?
It can. We defend the penalty and protect your licence together.
How much does it cost to start?
An initial consultation is £500 + VAT. An objection starts from £1,500 + VAT and a County Court appeal from £4,000 + VAT.
What changes on 1 October 2026?
Penalties now reach agency, subcontractor, and gig workers in your supply chain, not just direct employers. If you use flexible labour, your exposure has increased.
Ready to Talk?
Your 28 days are already running. Speak to a barrister today.
Send your notice now, and we will tell you fast whether it can be reduced or cancelled.
London
3 to 7 Temple Avenue, EC4Y 0DA
0203 887 7306
Leicester
1st Floor, 62 to 64 Belgrave Road, LE4 5AS
0116 365 6400