Partner
Julia Onslow-Cole
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Languages
- English
Contact information
Julia is a Partner at Fragomen focusing on Global Government Strategies and Compliance. She divides her time between Fragomen’s London and Dubai offices and supports clients worldwide to optimise global mobility strategies, enhance compliance and leverage best practice in all critical immigration related policies including crisis management. In addition, Julia advises private clients on complex international migration solutions.
Before joining Fragomen, Julia was a Partner, Legal Markets Leader and Head of Global Immigration at PwC leading complex multi-jurisdictional client engagements and providing strategic global immigration advice. Julia has advised several governments on major projects encompassing visa processing systems, residency legislation, communications and citizenship by investment programmes. Julia liaised with the UK government and business on Brexit and has given expert evidence at the European Parliament. She has also represented business at the UK Prime Minister’s immigration stock take meeting and was a formal advisor to the Home Office on business, investment and growth. She continues to participate in stakeholder engagement with the UK government and liaises closely with governments in the Middle East.
Julia was recognised in the area of immigration law in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom™. She was also named a 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for London immigration law.
Education
- Harvard Business School, Leading Professional Services Firms course, 2007
- SOAS University of London, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Comparative Law, 1981
More from Julia
Awards
Named 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for London immigration law in The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom™
Named in Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom, 2020 to 2025
Listed in Who's Who Legal: Corporate Immigration, 2020 to 2023
Named a Thought Leader: Corporate Immigration, Lexology Index, 2024 to 2025
Named a Thought Leader: Corporate Immigration, Who’s Who Legal, 2019 to 2025
Outstanding Contribution to Global Mobility Award, Forum for Expatriate Management, 2021
Listed in Benivo’s The Global Mobility Top 100, 2021
Listed in Best Lawyers, 2019
Professional accomplishments
Chair, International Bar Associations Human Rights Institute Charitable Trust
Board Member, Permits Foundation
Chair, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Board Member, Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP)
Board Member, Breaking Barriers
Stakeholder, Home Office EU Immigration Employer’s Representative Group
Former Member, Mayor of London’s Brexit Advisory Group
Board of Directors, Dubai International Chamber
Former Deputy Chair, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Publications and lectures
Weekly Guest on the Linkedin “Benivo Live Show” providing a global immigration update, March 2020 to present.
Speaker, “Global Trends Update.” CEDA 2025 Migration Update, Melbourne, Australia, 28 March 2025.
Interviewed, “UK Economic Outlook and Business Concerns.” BBC News, 26 March 2025.
Speaker, “Fragomen Roundtable featuring Permits Foundation and AmCham Costa Rica.” Fragomen, San Jose, Costa Rica, 13 March 2025.
Speaker, “Plenary session 1: The Creation of Market Appropriate Laws and Regulations.” International Bar Association Middle East Conference: Law firms and in-house legal departments working together, Dubai, UAE, 20 February 2025.
Speaker, “New U.S. Administration: Next Chapter of Global Semiconductor Policy.” Fragomen, Webinar, 20 February 2025.
Interviewed, “Navigating the Future of Immigration: A Deep Dive with Julia Onslow-Cole.” Legal Bridge, 7 February 2025.
Speaker, “Episode 16: The Impact of The New US Administration On Global Talent Mobility.” GME TV | Leaders LIVE!, Webinar, 6 February 2025.
Speaker, “Policy Shifts in the U.S.: What Immigration, Tariffs and Trade Mean for Global Business (Part II).” Fragomen, Webinar, 6 February 2025.
Quoted, “The Growing Focus on ‘Cultural Compliance’ to Bolster ‘Business Compliance’.” NetExpat, 12 January 2025.
Author, “Navigating geopolitical risk and the global impact of the US election.” People Management, 13 December 2024.
Contributor, “Green Borders: Policy Recommendations to Improve Talent Mobility.” International Organisation of Employers, 19 November 2024.
Speaker, “Policy Shifts in the U.S.: What Immigration, Tariffs, and Trade Mean for Global Business.” Fragomen, Webinar, 19 November 2024.
Panelist, “Opening Panel - Geopolitical Change: Navigating the Trends Impacting Talent Mobility in an Uncertain World.” Fragomen's Middle East & Africa Conference: Vision, Innovation, and Transformation, 12 November 2024.
Interviewed, “UAE Future Tech Talent 2024 Report.” United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy, Integra Seven and du, Pages 17-18, 15 October 2024.
Speaker, “Emerging Issues and the Permits Foundation 2021 Survey”, Permits Foundation 20th Anniversary Conference, 9 December 2021.
Speaker, “Plenary Session.” International Bar Association Immigration Virtual Conference, 18 November 2021.
Chair, “Behind the Headlines: Afghanistan.” Breaking Barriers and UK for UNHCR, 9 November 2021.
Speaker, “Citizens of nowhere, and everywhere.” Spear’s Wealth Insight Forum 2021, 27 September 2021.
Speaker, “The Future of Immigration: Creating an Efficient Immigration Policy & Effective Border Control.” Public Policy Exchange, 21 September 2021.
Speaker, “GME Live: Distributed and Remote Workforce Strategy.” Global Mobility Executive, 30 June 2021.
Speaker, “2021 Immigration and Compliance: Challenges and Solutions.” AmCham Abu Dhabi, 15 June 2021.
Speaker, “Fostering Shared Humanity.” Horasis Global Meeting, 8 June 2021.
Speaker, “Advancing a New Policy Framework for Migration and Mobility.” WECAN: Mobility Across the Pond, 22 April 2021.
Speaker, “Global Immigration Trends.” New England Relocation Association’s “Wicked Good” Learning Series: Session 3, 19 November 2020.
Speaker, “C-19 Experiences & Future Planning.” NextExpat’s Mobility Best Practice Exchange, 2 July 2020.
Interviewed, “Fragomen Gains Immigration Expert, Brexit Adviser from PwC.” Law360, 14 Feb. 2019.
Interviewed, “Q&A: Fragomen Taps Big Four's PwC for Its Newest Partner.” The American Lawyer, 7 Feb. 2019.
Signatory of the ground-breaking London First/PwC Report on the impact of migrant workers in London and further report entitled ‘Global Britain’ covering Immigration options post Brexit released in November 2018
Julia’s insights
May 13, 2025 | Conference
May 8, 2025 | Conference
