Immigration

Overview

Within the ever-shifting landscape of U.S. immigration laws, regulations and policy changes, we deliver on short-term objectives like visa and green card approvals without losing sight of the long-term goals and challenges facing our clients and their global workforces.

Our Immigration team applies a responsive, practical and multidisciplinary approach to business and employment-based immigration issues. We help clients obtain temporary work visas for foreign nationals, secure lawful permanent residence (green cards) for valuable long-term employees, and comply with increasingly complex I-9 and E-Verify employment verification rules:

  • Every day, in an efficient and practical manner, we help our clients navigate complex U.S. immigration agency restrictions on temporary work visas – including H-1B visas for professional specialty occupation workers, L-1 visas for intracompany transferees (including blanket L-1 authorization for large multinational organizations), E visas for treaty traders and treaty investors, TN visas for professionals from Canada and Mexico, J-1 waivers for physicians, O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability and for renowned entertainers, and P visas for professional athletes.
  • We have successfully obtained hundreds of green cards for our clients, including professionals, multinational executives and managers, workers with extraordinary ability, skilled workers, and “national interest” candidates.
  • We guide our clients through the often-complicated maze of applying for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
  • We counsel employers with respect to compliance with I-9 employment eligibility verification regulations, E-Verify, anti-discrimination laws and employer sanctions provisions of immigration law.
  • We represent employers in compliance audits, site visits and investigations conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Justice, the State Department, and the Department of Labor.

Our Immigration team members also have backgrounds in employment law and litigation, allowing our team to provide comprehensive advice when immigration issues inevitably overlap with disciplinary measures, employment contracts, discrimination risks, I-9 investigations and administrative enforcement hearings. Moreover, we have the backing of a national law firm of more than 900 attorneys with experience in other relevant disciplines, including tax, benefits, corporate M&A and international trade.

Select Experience

  • Representation of large, regional hospital chains in visa matters, green card sponsorships and J-1 physician waivers.
  • Leading-edge work with cap-exempt H-1B visa petitions for hospitals, nonprofit healthcare organizations and for-profit physician practices.
  • Representation of global and regional manufacturers, information technology (IT) firms, financial services companies, health plans and insurance providers with employment and green card sponsorships.
  • Day-to-day counseling, policy development and training of HR staff.
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Experience

  • Representation of large, regional hospital chains in visa matters, green card sponsorships and J-1 physician waivers.
  • Leading-edge work with cap-exempt H-1B visa petitions for hospitals, nonprofit healthcare organizations and for-profit physician practices.
  • Representation of global and regional manufacturers, information technology (IT) firms, financial services companies, health plans and insurance providers with employment and green card sponsorships.
  • Day-to-day counseling, policy development and training of HR staff.
  • Representation in visa and green card matters of professional athletes, managers and support professionals from IndyCar, NASCAR, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, professional and Olympic sailing, and Supercross and motocross racing.
  • National interest waiver (NIW) green card approvals for physician researchers.
  • Representation of a national retailer and an international pharmaceutical distributor in State Department compliance investigations.
  • Provided dozens of training sessions on I-9 compliance and E-Verify.
  • Representation of a variety of employers in I-9 audits and work site enforcement actions.
  • Appeals and litigation – a track record of successful federal court and administrative appeal challenges to U.S.
Industry Strengths
  • Healthcare
  • Sports and entertainment
  • Retail and hospitality
  • IT and management consulting
  • Insurance
  • Global manufacturing

Recognition

  • Chambers USA
    • Labor & Employment ‒ California (2017 to 2020)
    • Labor & Employment ‒ Florida (2007 to 2020)
    • Labor & Employment ‒ Ohio (2007 to 2020)
    • Labor & Employment ‒ Texas (2014 to 2020)
    • Labor & Employment ‒ Washington, D.C. (2017 to 2019)
  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Labor and Employment – Labor-Management Relations (2015 to 2019)
    • Labor and employment – Immigration (2017 to 2019)
    • Labor and employment – Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2015 to 2019)
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms"
    • Employment Law – Management: National (2011 to 2020); Cincinnati (2016 to 2020); Cleveland (2011 to 2020); Columbus (2011 to 2020); Denver (2012 to 2020); Houston (2011 to 2020); Los Angeles (2013 to 2020); Orlando (2011 to 2020); Washington, D.C. (2014 to 2020)
    • Labor Law – Management: National (2012 to 2020); Cincinnati (2020); Cleveland (2011 to 2020); Columbus (2011 to 2020); Denver (2012 to 2018); Houston (2011 to 2020); Los Angeles (2017 to 2020); Orlando (2011 to 2020); Washington, D.C. (2017 to 2020)
    • Litigation – Labor & Employment: National (2012 to 2020); Atlanta (2019 and 2020); Cincinnati (2020); Cleveland (2012 to 2020); Columbus (2015 to 2020); Denver (2012 to 2018); Houston (2014 to 2020); New York (2019 and 2020); Orlando (2012 to 2020); Washington, D.C. (2015 to 2020)
  • Recognized as one of the top law firms for client service, BakerHostetler was named to the 2020 BTI Client Service 30 for the sixth consecutive year.

News

Publications

Key Contacts