Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Specialties: Immigration law including, but not limited to, business immigration, consular processing, family-based immigration, immigration consequences of criminal activity, and removal defense.
Advise and represent clients in employment-based immigration matters.
Representing major U.S. and multinational corporations in employment-based immigration matters. As part of a two-attorney team with 4-7 paralegals, responsible for managing waves of 500-800 PERM labor certifications and corresponding I-140 immigrant visa petition filings for a global Tier-1 IT services & consulting client with annual billing of $1.5-2 million USD. Supervising teams of paralegals including reviewing & signing draft petitions, allocating work assignments, billing, training & mentoring, participating in hiring interviews, conducting performance evaluations, and recommending promotions & disciplinary measures. Preparing responses to complex Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), motions and appeals before the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Representing foreign nationals during adjustment of status and naturalization interviews at USCIS Atlanta Field Office. Managing own caseload and developing office-wide and case-specific strategies in light of new U.S. immigration policies.
Advised and represented a variety of corporate and individual clients in matters of employment-based immigration. Prepared responses to complex RFEs, NOIDs, and appeals to the AAO with 100% success rate in overcoming complex RFEs and NOIDs concerning EB-5 (both I-526 and I-829), O-1A, L-1A and H-1B visa petitions. In addition to managing own caseload, reviewed and revised IV and NIV petitions, PERM labor certifications, adjustment of status and naturalization applications prepared by paralegal staff. Managed and salvaged existing client relationships and conducted consultations with new clients. Developed case-specific strategies in light of current and new U.S. immigration policies.
Represented major U.S. and foreign corporate clients in all aspects of employment-based business immigration. Responsible for obtaining approvals of highly-sophisticated L-1A, L-1B, E-2, H-2B, H-1B, O-1, and I-140 nonimmigrant and immigrant visa petitions, PERM labor certifications, consular processing, and adjustment of status applications. Advised clients on compliance with applicable USDOL and USDHS rules and regulations. Managed a high-volume immigration caseload and supervised a team of paralegals and support staff.
Practice devoted solely to business immigration covering a broad spectrum of industries including IT Consulting, Secondary and Higher Education, Finance and Health Services, and ranging in size from start-ups to companies with annual revenues in excess of $500 million USD. Specific focus on preparation of responses to complex RFEs on issues such as availability of specialty occupation work, employer-employee relationship, managerial/executive capacity, specialized knowledge, ability to pay, foreign degree equivalencies and PERM experience & education/skills requirements. Advised clients in connection with, and prepared responses to, USDOL PERM and LCA (Wage & Hour) Audits/Investigations. Conducted legal research and wrote appeals and motions to reopen/reconsider before the AAO and BALCA. Assisted managing attorney in overseeing a staff of four paralegals and a junior attorney. Ensured filing deadlines were met and workloads balanced appropriately.