Editorial: Corporate Immigration

01 August 2008

In this context corporate immigration lawyers are essential to the cross-border movement of workers, ensuring that companies are not caught on the wrong side of the law. From structuring and implementing immigration strategies to facilitating the transfer of specific employees, these professionals need to be well-versed in legislative variations from one region to another, and able to aid clients prepare for any eventuality in the global employment market. In all, we identify 323 leading corporate immigration lawyers, from 27 jurisdictions.

Winner of Who's Who Legal's Corporate Immigration law firm of the year award in 2008, Fragomen Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy LLP fields 13 practitioners in this publication, three more than in the previous edition. With an unparalleled bench strength and international spread among immigration firms, it offers a network of around 250 attorneys located over 30 offices worldwide. A ‘one-stop-shop' for many blue-chip companies and high net-worth individuals, the firm's compliance and litigation work was especially recommended by competitors. Chairman of Fragomen's executive committee and head of the national foreign visa practice, Austin Fragomen leads the charge for the firm, and appears in our round-up of the practice area's most highly regarded individuals. A "leader of the immigration bar", Fragomen served as staff counsel to the US house of representatives subcommittee on immigration, citizenship and international law. His colleagues, Michael Patrick ("one of the top practitioners in the country") and Ellen Yost join him at the New York office. In New Jersey, Lance Kaplan is managing director of Fragomen Global Immigration Services LLC, an affiliate company which advises clients on international employee movement, and new international hires. In Irvine, California, David Hirson co-manages the office and the firm's consular practice, which works on US immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications filed at US consulates and embassies around the world. Practising in Santa Clara, Cynthia Lange was described as "a big deal in the practice area" by peers. Chicago's Michael Turansick is "highly rated". The managing partner of the Troy office in Michigan, Scott Cooper, rounds off the firm's unparalleled US showing. It is outside the US, however, that Fragomen's presence has shown marked growth. Robert Walsh, who joined the firm from Sparke Helmore, appeared in our last edition and is the managing partner of Fragomen Global in Australia. He has a "well regarded" compliance and litigation practice, and his temporary residence visa work was highlighted by contributors. In the London office, which opened in 2003, founder Alex Paterson retains management responsibility, and also oversees the UK immigration practice and the London EMEA coordination centre. The "excellent and very public-spirited" Owen Davies joins her at the office. He is senior manager of the UK inbound immigration team. Mark Buchanan is based in Singapore and is the Asia regional director. Elected partner in February 2008, he is considered "a valued member of the Singapore immigration bar".

CALIFORNIA

US practitioners dominate this book: 222 of the nominees practise there. California is home to 38. Two specialist firms were highly nominated in the California research: Los Angeles immigration specialist Wolfsdorf Immigration Law Group increases its contingent to four lawyers in this edition. American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) president elect Bernard Wolfsdorf "knows his stuff back to front", according to competitors. He is "top in dealing with US consulates". Wolfsdorf is well known for his consular law expertise and is the second California attorney to appear in our ranking of highest-nominated practitioners. Also "excellent" for consular matters, Avi Friedman impressed, as did Tien-Li Loke Walsh, who is "fabulous for visa work", and Rita Kushner Sostrin, who specialises in the immigration of academics and international medical graduates. Jackson & Hertogs LLP is "a very active California boutique", which enjoys an "excellent reputation" for technology-sector work. Norman Plotkin and managing partner Ilana Drummond were both highly recommended as "visible and dynamic" and noted for their involvement with AILA. They are joined by senior associates Atessa Chehrazi, Grace Hoppin and Daniel Horne.

Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP finds three of its San Francisco lawyers in our publication. Warren Leiden was the most highly nominated of this "great firm's" practitioners, and appears in our list of elite lawyers. Recommended for his expertise on permanent residence issues, he divides his practice between San Francisco and Washington, DC. He is the current director of AILA, and was recommended as the "best immigration lawyer in California" by one impressed interviewee. Respondents to the survey also had "very high opinions" of co-founders David Berry and Jeff Appleman. Berry is "a leading light" in the arena of US and global non-immigrant business visas, and Appleman is a "stand-out" litigator. Dallas partner Steven Ladik manages the office and is highly regarded for his coordination of complex matters for multinational companies. Additionally, he is an expert in representing professional sportsmen and women in immigration matters. Interviewees praised him as "an exceptional lawyer and a true leader of the Bar". Shawn Orme, appearing in this listing for the first time, completes the picture at the firm. He is managing partner of the Houston office and is also well-versed in complex international immigration matters. Martin Lawler of Lawler and Lawler is one of the highest-nominated practitioners in the book and appears along colleague Hope Frye, who was also highly recommended by competitors. The Pearl Law Group received praise for its representation of Silicon Valley and Bay Area clients. Founder Julie Pearl's "creative solutions" are noted; her colleague Christy Nguyen gains plaudits for her work for clients that initially fail to obtain HB-1 visas. The "seasoned" Edward Litwin is praised as "a Department of Labour specialist", who "stands out" in the California research. Josie Gonzalez of Gonzalez & Harris PC also has a high profile. "Very much a star", she is deemed "the national expert on employer compliance and worksite enforcement" by one peer. Another praised her as "a great speaker, probing and articulate". Carl Shusterman, who practises at his own firm in Los Angeles, got "high marks" from his competitors, especially for his work in the medical sector.

NEW YORK

Three lawyers from full-service firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP's eight-lawyer immigration practice appear on the following pages. An impressed peer rates the firm as "one of the pre-eminent New York practices". Practice leader Theodore Ruthizer is "truly great, without being egocentric, one of the best in the field". He is joined by Naomi Schorr, who is noted for her academic work in the field, and Mark Koestler, whose representation of advertising and PR firms as well as theatre and film clients received praise. The firm's client roster includes Citigroup, Banco Santander, HBO and advertising firm Grey Global, and it also has a niche practice representing theatre production companies.

Barst & Mukamal also provides three practitioners for the following pages. This large boutique firm represents clients ranging from retailers to hoteliers, modelling agencies and entertainment industry clients, dealing with compliance issues and visa and citizenship applications. Interviewees described a firm which is "strong across the board", and obtains "consistently good results". Deborah Notkin was highly recommended and has served as AILA's national president. Her PERM work received special mention and one source remarked that she is "remarkably hardworking and solutions-orientated". Martin Rothstein is "a star" in the New York immigration community and was noted among other things for his experience working with executives excludable because of issues such as drug or alcohol offences, or immigration infraction. Steven Mukamal is of counsel at this "hugely impressive" firm and completes its listing.

Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP's clients traditionally hail from the entertainment industry and the arts but its lawyers also handle medical and financial service industry immigration matters. Stanley Mailman is of counsel to the firm, considered "a giant in the field, and fiercely intelligent", according to one impressed source. He focuses on representing institutional clients seeking to authorise the employment of foreign nationals. Theodore Chiappari also received consistent praise, especially for his expertise in the tax aspects of international personnel transfer. He is also known for his representation of clients looking to obtain temporary work permits or permanent residence for foreign employees. Kenneth Schultz rounds off the firm's showing, and received compliments for his "responsiveness and hardworking approach".

Miller Mayer LLP fields two well-regarded lawyers. Stephen Yale-Loer attracted a slew of votes from peers who recognised his academic prowess as well as his legal practice. A "legend in the field", he is co-author of the multi-volume treatise, Immigration Law and Procedure, and teaches Immigration and Asylum Law at Cornell Law School. This year, he is joined by colleague Carolyn Lee, whose practice focuses on EB-5 investors, academics and foreign medical graduates. At Wormser Kiely Galef & Jacobs LLP, Donald Wolfson manages the immigration group, which represents clients such as investors, athletes, law firms and manufacturing companies, to name but a few. Colleague Annie Wang also did well in the research.

Angelo Paparelli of Paparelli & Partners LLP is the most highly nominated practitioner overall. Interviewees "think the world of" this "very fine lawyer", who divides his time between the firm's offices in New York and California. A "stand-out" practitioner, he is "one of the leading lights" and his work in relation to corporate restructuring received accolades. A columnist in the New York Legal Journal, he is well known in the media for his contributions to the literature on corporate immigration. His colleague Yoshiko Robertson in Irvine oversees the firm's Japan operations. Founder of his own firm Cyrus Mehta is "very bright" and praised for his "cutting-edge thinking". His clients include financial, biotech and IT companies, and his pro-bono work is also well renowned. Robert Juceam of Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP is highly esteemed. This "heavyweight litigator" is "immensely respected in the field".

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington, DC, is home to a substantial immigration Bar; we list 19 lawyers there. Boutique firm Maggio & Kattar PC is "a one-stop shop for the most complex of cases", according to a competitor. Jim Alexander and John Najajzer are managing partners of this "stand-out" practice, joined by colleague Elizabeth Quinn, whose clients include entertainers, human rights workers and hospitality and biotechnology companies.

Duane Morris LLP's practice is "top tier" and is home to two "extremely respected" lawyers. With over 25 years' experience, Denyse Sabagh is a "brilliant lawyer" who heads the firm's immigration practice group. She works with companies to develop immigration strategies and is recognised for her work on deportation cases. Her colleague, Roberta Freedman, also "stands out" . She has led joint projects between the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) and the private sector. Trow & Rahal PC, a "very good, very creative firm", is represented by its founders, Stephen Trow and Linda Rahal, who serve start-ups and multinationals, and individuals, including athletes and entertainers.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP has a prestigious reputation for labour and employment work; its corporate immigration practice is also highly regarded. Eleanor Pelta is "outstanding". She is joined by two California colleagues: Lance Director Nagel and James Vázquez-Azpiri in our listing. "Stand-out" practitioner Jan Pederson, who practises at her own firm, is also widely recommended, especially for her consular work and advocacy of J-1 doctors' rights - she is the publisher J-1 Physician News. Palma Yanni received a large number of endorsements and was praised for her work on physician and researcher cases.

VIRGINIA

Greenberg Traurig LLP "stands out" in the research, a contingent of four partners appear on these pages. Three of these are based in Virginia: Laura Foote Reiff is "a dynamo", especially praised for her energetic work on legislative reform. Martha Schoonover and Dawn Lurie were also applauded for their "fantastic work". Oscar Levin, who practises in Florida, completes the picture for Greenberg Traurig. North Carolina's John Pinnix of Allen & Pinnix PA is "an obvious choice on any list", and his colleague Lynn Calder also received hearty endorsements.

ILLINOIS

Illinois firm Zulkie Partners LLC is "the go-to firm in the state" for one source, and others agreed that it is a "top-flight operation", with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to foreign multinationals and privately owned firms. Paul Zulkie is one of the highest-nominated practitioners in the edition, admired for his experience and "exhaustive knowledge of the practice area". He is the current president of the board of directors of the American Immigration Law Foundation and the author of the treatise Immigration Compliance in Employment and Business. The "excellent" Susan MacLean joins him for the first time on these pages, thanks to consistent praise for her business immigration practice. "Stand-out" firm Masuda Funai Eifert & Mitchell Ltd also fields more than one partner in the research. Bryan Funai is "one of the go-to experts on Asia matters", and was especially highly recommended for his expertise in Japan-related immigration. Robert White is also well regarded. He focuses on defending companies during Labour Condition Application and Form I-9 audits by the US authorities. Margaret McCormick at Minsky McCormick & Hallagan PC is "top drawer"; peers state that she is "very active and hugely experienced".

FLORIDA AND GEORGIA

"Top of the line" Ira Kurzban of Kurzban Kurzban Weinger and Tetzlei PA is the most nominated lawyer in Florida, and among the most nominated overall. His textbook, Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook is "the leading textbook" according to some: "I break into cold sweats when I can't find it," confides one source. Kurzban is a "legendary" litigator and has "an incredible courtroom presence". At Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, Tammy Fox-Isicoff is one peer's "lawyer of choice in Florida", where she is valued for her "creative solutions". In Georgia four Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP lawyers make the grade. "One of the top lawyers in the US", the chair of the firm's national immigration practice, Daryl Buffenstein, attracted a raft of positive comments. Competitors described him as "one of the smartest guys around". He has been instrumental in the production of a variety of legislation, such as the Immigration Act of 1990 and the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act. The "phenomenal" team that accompanies him includes, Karen Koenig Winarsky, Deborah Marlowe and Kyle Sherman. The firm's contingent is further boosted by the inclusion of DC attorney Bo Cooper, who is a former general counsel of the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service. Dale Schwartz, head of Dale M Schwartz & Associates LLP, is another of the state's high flyers, and he attracted praise for his defence of removal and deportation cases. Romy Kapoor at Kapoor & Associates founded the firm in 1998. He has an "excellent" reputation in the field and was described as "an active practitioner who is passionate about immigration law". Robert Banta of Banta Immigration Law Ltd also received praise for his "subtle yet effective approach". The "fabulous" Charles Kuck, who is the current president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the "highly respected" Jay Solomon were also recommended by a wide array of contributors to our survey.

TEXAS

Quan Burdette & Perez PC is the state's best represented firm, with a contingent of three lawyers on our list. Gordon Quan is the firm's "very impressive" managing partner, renowned for his input on legislation. Fellow name partner Rebecca Burdette is also highly regarded, and their colleague Judy Lee is praised as "sharp and effective".

Texas is also home to a number of highly nominated individuals, including immediate past president of AILA, Kathleen Campbell Walker of Brown McCarroll LLP, who is included in our round-up of most recommended practitioners. Her work, which encompasses consular processing, security checks and admission issues, among other things, was described as "exceptional" and she is "very much in demand for her cross-border work". At Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Martin, Peter Williamson is a "highly dedicated professional" with a broad-based practice, which includes particular experience in appeals matters and removal cases. Tindall & Foster PC's founding partner Charles Foster is a "fantastic lawyer", who is considered a "senior statesman" of the Texas Bar.

WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State is home to 11 nominees, two of whom practise at MacDonald Hoague & Bayless PSC. Interviewees "think the world of" Ester Greenfield, who is the most highly nominated lawyer in the state. Colleague Robert Free also collected a large volume of recommendations, and both lawyers were recommended for their work in the IT sector. Cowan Miller & Lederman's three named partners, Pamela Cowan, Kevin Lederman and Steven Miller all make the cut in this edition. The "highly knowledgeable" Joel Paget of Ryan Swanson & Cleveland PLLC appears alongside Janet Holste Cheetham, who is considered "formidable" by interviewees. Chang & Boos has a "great reputation" for representing clients in the healthcare and engineering sectors, Greg Boos is a "fantastic lawyer", with "deep knowledge" of the practice area. Over the border, Canada colleague Henry Chang practises US law and is considered "very experienced".

OTHER US STATES

A number of attorneys from other states fared exceptionally well in the research. Ronald Klasko of Klasko Ruton Stock & Seltzer is one of the practice area's standout professionals, and his contribution to the firm's standing as "a giant of university, hospital and pharmaceutical immigration" is well recognised. Partner Richard Rulon is "a whiz for pharma and biotech work", according to peers. William Stock rounds up the firm's nominations and also received praise for his pharmaceutical industry practice. Minnesota law firm Myers Thompson PA is home to Sam Myers, "the dean of business immigration in Minnesota", according to sources. Elizabeth Ann Thompson of the same firm also received many endorsements. The second Minnesota-based lawyer to appear in the round-up of most highly nominated individuals is Scott Borene, "one of the kingpins in Minnesota". Massachusetts practitioner Francis Chin is "cerebral, smart and highly regarded", according to sources, and Tennessee's Gregory Siskind flies the flag for Siskind Susser, where he is considered "a must for the list". A "highly intelligent" practitioner, he is renowned for his representation of foreign medical graduates. Lynn Susser joins him at the firm and is considered "extremely competent".

CANADA

Green and Spiegel fields a quartet of "respected, capable" attorneys in the edition, all related. Evan Green leads the nominations - one interviewee said, "he's fantastic. I really trust his work product." He regularly works on consular processing matters at the American consulate in Toronto and also deals with NAFTA applications at ports of entry. Stephen Green deals exclusively with Canadian immigration law, and received an enthusiastic response. Mendel Green also distinguished himself, and is joined for the first time in this book by Shoshana Green. "Fabulous boutique" Guberman Garson Bush also fares well in the research. Joel Guberman is "a leading light" in the Canada immigration community and appears among the most highly nominated lawyers worldwide. Managing partner David Garson also received a large amount of endorsements, and Heather Segal debuts this year, completing the contingent for the firm. The "wonderful, committed" Sergio Ruben Karas, who heads up his own firm, is featured prominently, as is Kenneth Zaifman, who is considered "a dean of the Bar" by peers.

UNITED KINGDOM

The number of UK-based practitioners has increased to 29 this year, making it the best-represented country outside the US. At the helm of her own firm, Laura Devine Solicitors, Laura Devine is the highest-nominated practitioner in the country. Strongly endorsed by interviewees worldwide, she is considered "wonderful, a consummate professional with a great team behind her". Two of these practitioners appear in the listing: Anastasia Tonello, the "intelligent and effective" head of the US practice, and Sophie Barrett Brown, who specialises in business person, skilled migrant programme, innovator and investment applications. Kingsley Napley fields another lawyer in our list of most highly nominated practitioners: Hilary Belchak, who heads the firm's "well-established and respected" group. She specialises on issues involving work permits, sole representative applications, highly skilled migrant applications and investors. She also advises many financial services start-ups. She is joined by the "excellent" Nicolas Rollason and Sally Adams. Magrath LLP also provides a trio of lawyers for this publication. This "wonderful firm" deals with both UK and US immigration and is especially well known for its representation of financial institutions, as well as clients from a host of other sectors, in international transfers. Chris Magrath heads up the immigration team and was described as "superb - a doyen of immigration law". His "highly respected colleagues", Sharmila Mehta and Ben Sheldrick, join him in the ranking.

The "highly experienced" Karen Sturtivant received a large number of endorsements for her UK-focused practice, and Graeme Kirk is another highly rated individual. Peers praised his "old-fashioned integrity" and his "superb knowledge of UK-based work". Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP boasts the inclusion of the "stalwart" Philip Trott, who was praised for his "vast experience and intelligence". PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP's "superstar" Julia Onslow-Cole is the firm's UK head of global immigration. She continues to generate enormous respect among competitors, who describe her as "pre-eminent". Marian Dixon at Ollerenshaw is "creative". "I use her all the time, clients love her," said one interviewee. At Reed Smith, Peter Alfandary "leads the field" in France-related matters, according to one source. He is head of the firm's French business practice and also deals with clients worldwide who are relocating to the UK. Caron Pope left Reed Smith in 2007 to join the group at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP. An "intelligent practitioner", who "thinks outside the box", she specialises in UK business immigration and British nationality law.

A number of US attorneys practise in the UK: Hodkinson Law Group is a firm of US attorneys, exclusively practising US immigration and nationality law, and is considered the "premier US immigration firm in London" by contributors. Partner Nita Upadhye joins the "stellar" Kehrela Hodkinson, and both lawyers were recommended for their consular work. Another firm with a respected US practice is Gudeon McFadden. Edward Gudeon is described as "terrific", appearing alongside the "excellent" Susan Willis McFadden. Richard Goldstein is an "excellent, very effective" practitioner with offices in New York and London. He concludes this round-up of London's leading practitioners.

OTHER LEADERS

Joan Squires-Lind remains the "go-to practitioner" for immigration law in France, and receives a raft of votes from impressed peers, who admire her "skill and nous", and admire her consulate work representing companies from a wide range of industries as well as individuals such as athletes and entertainers. The "responsive and sophisticated" Stephane Coulaux of Coulaux Maricot Georganta also performed extremely well in the French research. Italy's Marco Mazzeschi, a "heavyweight" practitioner who is praised as being "wonderfully responsive to questions and a pleasure to work with". He practises immigration law at his own firm, and works with Fortune 500 companies as well as on building and defence projects.

The Netherlands' top-performing immigration firm is Everaert Advocaten, where "king of Netherlands immigration law" Ted Badoux co-founded the firm. The "excellent" Jelle Kroes also appears. In Switzerland, Vischer's managing partner Urs Haegi is considered "very knowledgeable", and German practitioner Gunther Mävers of Mütze Korsch Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is "excellent", and especially well regarded for his representation of IT companies. In Spain, Fernando Scornik Gerstein Abogados is considered by one interviewee to be "the pre-eminent immigration firm in Spain". Georgina Scornik Centurión joins Fernando Scornik Gerstein on these pages.

Liam Schwartz, the only immigration practitioner listed in Israel, is one of the most highly nominated practitioners worldwide. A "brilliant" and "very established" practitioner, one peer recommends him as "the person for US immigration through Israel". The "responsive and helpful" Timur Beslangurov of Fragomen co-counsel firm VISTA Foreign Business Support in Russia, noted for his work in the construction, oil and gas, banking and finance and consumer industries.

"Formidable" Hong Kong lawyer Eugene Chow specialises in both Hong Kong and mainland China immigration, as well as entrance into the US. In Japan, Yoshio Shimoda of ILS Shimoda Office is also an established figure, known to lawyers worldwide. In India, Malhotra & Malhotra Associates provides our list with two practitioners, Anil Malhotra and Ranjit Malhotra. According to one interviewee, "they are excellent and know their stuff". Founder of Enrique Arellano Rincón Abogados SC, Enrique Arellano, tops the nominations in Mexico. In Argentina, Pablo Käufer Barbe features prominently, where he is recommended as a "knowledgeable and trusted" figure.

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