BUSINESS IMMIGRATION PRACTICE GROUP
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
AN OVERVIEW For our many multinational clients, nothing can be more important than having their greatest asset – human capital – authorized to work in the U.S. when needed. Business immigration law is not, however, commodity-level work. It is, in fact, highly technical and requires sophisticated counsel. Honigman’s Business Immigration practice group is a premier provider of business immigration services. We have a highly sophisticated and effective business immigration practice that provides far greater value than low-cost service providers. Through a dedicated team of highly experienced Business Immigration lawyers and paralegals, each of whom practices exclusively in the area of business immigration law, Honigman provides unparalleled counsel to businesses operating on a global stage. We distinguish ourselves by getting it right the first time and providing the highest quality service available. That is our value proposition to our clients.
Our Services Our Business Immigration attorneys have substantial experience meeting the specific immigration needs of national and international companies in the following areas: •
Counseling employers on immigration laws and regulations
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Form I-9 compliance, internal and ICE audits, training, policies, and electronic vendors
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E-Verify participation and compliance
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First employment-based preference immigrant petitions for multinational managers/ executives, outstanding researchers and extraordinary ability aliens
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PERM Labor Certification (with a significantly high approval rate)
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Immigrant petitions based on second and third employment-based preferences
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Adjustment of status, consulate visa processing and commuter green card counseling
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Reentry permits, advance parole and employment authorization
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Intracompany transferee L-1A and L-1B individual and blanket petitions
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H-1B and E-3 petitions and Labor Condition Application compliance
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
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E-1 Treaty Trader and E-2 Treaty Investor petitions and consulate registration
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O-1 visas for aliens of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts and business petitions
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J-1 foreign residence requirement waivers
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TN status under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Honigman’s Business Immigration attorneys utilize the services of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to keep abreast of the rapidly changing area of immigration law, changes which often have a significant impact on how our clients operate their businesses. Our Business Immigration practice group members work as a team to ensure that client questions are addressed and work is completed in a timely and efficient manner. We are committed to providing world-class, timely, cost-effective, value-added services to our clients and being responsive to their needs. Our attorneys understand that clients require answers to their questions as soon as possible and make themselves available to answer those questions, whenever they might arise. Specifically, they answer their own telephones and respond to emails and voicemails as quickly as possible, including during evenings, weekends and holidays. Honigman also utilizes the latest technology options available to provide world-class immigration legal services. Honigman’s Business Immigration attorneys utilize AILA InfoNet and other media publications, webinars, and conferences to remain informed about changes in business immigration law practices and procedures. The firm subscribes to AILALink, which allows our immigration practice group members to perform research on multiple reference publications through one convenient source. Our attorneys and paralegals use the immigration case management system INSZoom to draft and store all immigration forms.
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
Representative Business Immigration Clients •
A Fortune-500 public agricultural/biotechnology company based in St. Louis, Missouri, with more than 20,000 employees working at 350 facilities in 69 countries
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A French-owned global automotive original equipment manufacturer headquartered in Troy, Michigan, with approximately 3,600 employees in the U.S.
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The nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender based in Detroit, Michigan, with approximately 10,000 employees
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A Japanese-owned robotics industry leader headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, with approximately 1,200 employees in the U.S.
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The U.S. subsidiaries of one of the world’s largest and most recognized global German-owned suppliers of technologically advanced products with more than 13,000 employees in the U.S.
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A Japanese-owned U.S. subsidiary of a truck and bus manufacturer with multiple facilities in the U.S.
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A U.S.-based leading global provider of innovative business and technology solutions with operations in the United Kingdom and India
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The U.S. subsidiary of one of the world’s leading Japanese designers and manufacturers of automotive electronics
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One of the world’s largest suppliers of high-technology electronic components and systems, headquartered in Michigan with operations around the world, including in Japan, Germany, Ukraine, Canada, Mexico and China
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A leading telecommunications innovator headquartered in Virginia with more than 600 employees in the U.S.
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The fourth largest fixed satellite services provider in the world, based in Canada with operations around the world
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One of the world’s largest food, sports and hospitality enterprises with over 22,000 employees
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An industry-leading global information-content solutions and technology company with operations in 15 countries
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
Our Team Carol A. Friend is the chair of Honigman’s Business Immigration practice group and has represented large international companies in U.S. business immigration matters for more than 20 years. She earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Carol focuses her practice solely in the area of business immigration at Honigman and
require authorization for employees to work in the U.S. She successfully files immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions and manages the PERM labor certification process on behalf of a wide range of clients in many industries. Meghan is well versed in the temporary transfer of employees under NAFTA. She is a member of AILA and currently serves on the Executive Board for AILA’s Michigan Chapter. Michigan Super Lawyers named her as a “Rising Star” in Immigration, and she has been
represents public and private companies in a wide variety of industries and in all aspects of nonimmigrant and immigrant business immigration law. She assists clients through the permanent residence process using novel approaches to immigration law to expedite the process. In addition, Carol has significant experience in the temporary transfer of employees to the U.S. and abroad under NAFTA. Her experience in immigration law is extensive and encompasses a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, biotechnology, health care, automotive, suppliers, robotics, engineering and information technology. She has been named to many top lawyers lists, including The Best Lawyers in America, DBusiness and Michigan Super Lawyers. She is MartindaleHubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated, and she is a member of AILA. Carol can be reached at 313.465.7374 or cfriend@honigman.com.
recognized by The Best Lawyers in America and DBusiness as a Top Lawyer in Immigration. Meghan can be reached at 313.465.7406 or mcovino@honigman.com.
Meghan N. Covino is a partner in the Business Immigration practice group. Meghan earned her J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law. During law school, she was named a Paul J. Liacos Scholar and received a Dean’s Award for her academic performance. She also served as an intern with the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review, Boston Immigration Court. Meghan concentrates her practice exclusively on employment based immigration issues for national and international companies that
Sarah Robison Iyer is a senior associate in the Business Immigration practice group and earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School. During law school, she was named a Law School Public Service Program Honoree. She also served as a judicial extern for Judge Susan N. Burke in the State of Minnesota District Court, 4th Judicial District. Sarah focuses her practice on assisting domestic and multinational clients with employmentbased immigration matters. She represents companies in obtaining authorization for employees to work temporarily and permanently in the U.S. Sarah manages the PERM labor certification process and is well versed in handling immigrant (EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3) and nonimmigrant (B-1, H, L, E, O, P and TN) visa applications for a diverse range of industries, including automotive, engineering, financial services, academic and information technology. She also advises clients on immigration challenges relating to corporate restructuring, including mergers and acquisitions. She is a member of AILA and has served on various committees for AILA’s Chicago and Minnesota chapters. Sarah can be reached at 312.701.9375 or siyer@honigman.com.
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
Sydney Koch is an associate in the Business Immigration practice group and earned her J.D. at the University of Tennessee College of Law where she was a research editor for the Tennessee Law Review. Sydney focuses her practice in the area of employment-based immigration and aids the firm’s clients, both domestic and multinational, with employment-based immigration matters. She assists companies in obtaining authorization for employees to work temporarily and permanently in the U.S. Sydney handles immigrant (EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3) and nonimmigrant (B-1, H, L, E, O and TN) visa applications and assists with the PERM labor certification process. She advises clients on Labor Condition Application (LCA), Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance matters, providing training, and internal audit assistance. Sydney works with clients in a diverse range of industries, including automotive, engineering, financial services, academic and information technology. She is a member of AILA and the Council for Global Immigration. Sydney can be reached at 313.465.7532 or skoch@honigman.com.
Jillian K. Khrushchev is an associate in the Business Immigration practice group and earned her J.D. at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where she was a student attorney with the UDM Law Immigration Clinic. Jillian focuses her practice on business immigration matters, assisting clients in issues and strategies related to nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, worksite compliance, and Form I-9 audits. She advises domestic and multinational clients and handles a wide range of immigrant (EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3) and nonimmigrant (H, L and TN) visa cases with an emphasis on H-1B petitions and responses to Requests for Evidence. Jillian also assists with the PERM labor certification process. She is a member of AILA. Jillian can be reached at 313.465.7384 or jkhrushchev@honigman.com.
Karen Petros is a paralegal and has more than 20 years of experience in immigration issues with both in-house attorneys and law firms. She assists Honigman’s immigration attorneys in obtaining temporary nonimmigrant visas and permanent employment based immigrant visas for national and international companies in a wide variety of industries. Karen also researches, summarizes, and reviews rulings, cases, and regulations regarding immigration-related issues. She earned a B.S. from Madonna University in Paralegal Studies and an A.A.S. from Macomb Community College in Legal Assistant Studies. Karen can be reached at 313.465.7252 or kpetros@honigman.com.
Tianna M. Mayner is a paralegal and has more than 15 years of experience in the legal industry. She assists in providing immigration services to national and international companies in a wide range of industries. Tianna has significant experience in the PERM labor certification process, as well as in employmentbased temporary nonimmigrant and permanent immigrant visas. She is highly proficient at identifying and streamlining technologies that can make the immigration process more efficient for Honigman’s clients. She earned an M.A. from the University of Detroit Mercy and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Oakland University. Tianna can be reached at 313.465.7242 or tmayner@honigman.com.
Lucy J. Hirina is a paralegal and assists Honigman’s immigration attorneys in obtaining employmentbased permanent immigrant visas and temporary nonimmigrant visas for national and international companies in a wide variety of industries. Prior to joining Honigman, she worked as a Global Immigration Consultant for Brookfield Global Relocation Services. Lucy earned a B.S. from Wayne State University and an APA Paralegal Certificate from Long Island University. She also studied in an intensive Spanish immersion program at the University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lucy can be reached at 313.465.7246 or lhirina@honigman.com.
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
Firm Accolades
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U.S. News - Best Lawyers' "Best Law Firms" 2017
Chambers USA top-ranked practice groups in 2017
Midwest law firms in corporate deal count— Mergermarket 2016
119
Lawyers named Super Lawyers or Rising Stars by Super Lawyers
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Law firms in the US for IP patent work—BTI Consulting
110
Best Lawyers—Best Lawyers in America 2018
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About Honigman Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP is a general business law firm that serves clients in North and South America, Europe, Asia and other business centers around the world. Honigman’s attorneys practice in more than 60 legal areas and represent clients in a wide variety of industries. Headquartered in Detroit, the firm has offices in Chicago, Illinois, as well as Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing, Michigan.
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION CAROL A. FRIEND 313.465.7374 | cfriend@honigman.com