Our Team

TRP is a specialist immigration law firm established in 2003 serving clients throughout the UK and at all levels of the legal process. TRP has been recognised as a leading firm from the start. We are consistently listed as a leading firm in the Chambers & Partners Directory.  Our lawyers are recognised for the commitment and professional service provided to the firm’s clients.

Margaret Finch – Solicitor Consultant

Margaret qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and practised exclusively in immigration and asylum law. Prior to studying law she did an English Literature degree at Cambridge University and worked abroad for several years. She was a founding partner of TRP in 2003. Margaret retired from TRP in June 2022 though continues to support the firm with administrative matters as a Consultant.

Sean Mcloughlin – Solicitor & Director

Sean, also a founding partner in 2003, has been working in the immigration and asylum law field since 1996 and qualified as a solicitor in 1999. Sean’s caseload includes a broad range of immigration and human rights cases, including deportation, entry clearance, nationality and leave to remain applications & appeals, unlawful detention claims and judicial review. In 2008, Sean was shortlisted as a finalist for the Legal Aid Immigration Lawyer of the Year Award. Sean is Law Society Level 3 accredited and listed as a ‘Leading Individual’ in the Chambers Guide.

Tim Shotton – Solicitor

Tim joined TRP in 2004, having practised as a solicitor since 1996 and having worked in the legal advice sector since 1983. He is a recognised specialist in asylum support issues and immigration-related welfare benefits matters, having had many years’ experience advising in the areas of housing, welfare benefits and community care. Tim’s work includes complex immigration and asylum cases. Tim is renowned for his attention to detail and sheer determination to get the right result. In recognition of his dedicated approach to his clients, Tim was shortlisted as a finalist for the Legal Aid Immigration Lawyer of the Year Award in 2016.

Andrew Frost – Solicitor

Andrew has practised in asylum and immigration law since 2007. Andrew worked as a Caseworker and latterly Senior Caseworker at Refugee and Migrant Justice for 3 years before joining TRP in 2010. He qualified as a solicitor in 2014. Andrew undertakes a broad range of asylum and immigration work. Andrew has a degree in History and International Politics from Keele University, a Masters degree in Post Soviet politics from the London School of Economics and studied Law at Birmingham City University.

Nelson Cifuentes – Solicitor

Nelson is a qualified solicitor who has been working in the field of immigration and asylum law since 2007. His practise comprises all aspects of UK personal immigration, business immigration and British nationality law. Nelson worked as an immigration advisor, qualifying as a solicitor in 2010, at Wornham & Co Solicitors in Birmingham for 9 years before joining TRP in 2016. Nelson has extensive experience in representing individuals with applications for leave to remain in the UK based on their private and family life. A large part of Nelson’s current work involves preparing Points Based System applications for individuals, acting for UK businesses in their Sponsor Licence applications and advising businesses on sponsor licence compliance issues. Nelson has a degree in Psychology from the University of Wolverhampton and a Diploma in Laws from the University of Wolverhampton. Nelson completed the Legal Practice Course at Birmingham College of Law.

John Sandiford – Solicitor

John is a qualified solicitor with Higher Rights of Audience who has been working in the field of immigration and asylum law since 2014. John’s practise comprises all aspects of UK immigration and asylum law. He qualified as a solicitor in 2012, completed his accreditation as a Senior Immigration Caseworker in 2014 and completed his accreditation as a Supervising Senior Caseworker in 2022. He has considerable experience of representing a diverse range of individuals in respect of complex human rights, asylum and trafficking applications. He also has extensive experience of applications for Judicial Review to the higher courts as well as asylum, human rights and deportation appeals in the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal. He successfully represented an individual in SIAC who had been deprived of British citizenship on grounds of national security. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor John studied Philosophy at The University of Sheffield and then went on to complete the Graduate Diploma of Law at BPP Law School and the Legal Practice Certificate at the College of Law.  John is listed in the Chambers and Partners Guide as ‘Up and Coming’ in the field of human rights, asylum and deportation law.

Jeni Lloyd – Solicitor

Jeni started working with TRP Solicitors as a caseworker in January 2017. Initially she assisted the firm’s lawyers in the preparation of a diverse range of cases and in due course developed her own caseload.  Her cases include applications and appeals in entry clearance, further leave to remain and EEA cases. Jeni has prepared citizenship applications and has conducted many asylum and human rights cases. In February 2018, Jeni accredited as a Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme.  In May 2022, Jeni qualified as a solicitor.  Prior to joining TRP, Jeni studied Human Rights Law at Aberystwyth University, and then went on to graduate Cum Laude with a Masters in International Law from Leiden University in the Netherlands. Jeni also has extensive research experience from her prior experience as a Research Assistant for international law practice, ‘Human Rights in Practice’, specifically in the fields of slavery, human trafficking and extraordinary rendition.

Ruth Farquharson – Solicitor

Ruth joined TRP in September 2018. She studied Mathematics at the University of Glasgow and later completed the GDL at the University of Law. Ruth has worked in public health statistics at the NHS in Edinburgh and has developed research skills working at the National Library of Scotland. Whilst studying the GDL she volunteered at Citizens Advice Bureau and gained experience advising clients on a range of issues. In August 2020 Ruth accredited as a Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme and in June 2022 qualified as a solicitor.

Eugene Daniel – Solicitor

Eugene is a qualified solicitor who has been working in immigration law since 2015 and has over ten years’ experience in the legal sector including working in criminal defence. His work has included assisting numerous clients in their partner and private life applications and appeals.  Eugene studied law as well as politics at university and retains a keen interest in international relations.

Zeliha Bagdat-Kuscu – Caseworker

Zeliha joined TRP in October 2021. Zeliha holds a Bachelor and Masters degree in Dutch Civil Law from the Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Law in 2018 and the Legal Practice Course in 2020 at Birmingham City University whilst being a volunteer with Citizens Advice Bureau and working full-time as an OISC qualified immigration caseworker at the Refugee and Migrant Centre. She has knowledge and experience of preparing naturalisation, entry clearance, leave to remain, settlement and EEA/EUSS applications. Zeliha has been working with several charities, supporting and guiding families with children in matters of education and social welfare law. Zeliha is committed to contributing to society and supporting clients to reach the best possible outcome in their immigration matters.

Katayoon Zare – Office Manager

Katayoon joined TRP in May 2018. She has over 10 years’ experience of business management and previously worked with the Refugee and Migrant Centre as a volunteer administrator, advisor and interpreter. Katayoon also worked as a freelance interpreter for more than 3 years and has an extensive experience of teaching languages. Katayoon obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources in Iran and a Master’s in Business Administration at Birmingham City University. She also holds a Level 3 BTEC in Teaching and Learning, Assessors, and Information Advice and Guidance qualification (IAG).

Richard Heap – Administrator

Richard joined TRP in 2018 as an Administrative Assistant. He studied English with Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham, where he received a Diploma of Higher Education. Richard is passionate about the work done here and has an active interest in Human Rights and Immigration Law.

Lee Garratt – Bookkeeper

Lee is an experienced freelance bookkeeper. He maintains the firm’s accounts and provides assistance and advice to the Director on all the firm’s financial matters.