Sep 2017 – Feb 2019 · 1 yr 5 mos · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Open and grow the new Pittsburgh office of the national law firm. Lead immigration practice of associate, paralegals and administrative professionals. Advise corporate entities regarding the immigration impact of corporate reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Draft Immigration Policies and Manuals for Corporate Recruiters/HR Managers. Assist start-up and foreign companies with the establishment of U.S. operations, corporate entity formation and recruitment of talent. Counsel hospitals, medical research organizations and academia regarding visas, Section 212 (e) J-1 waivers and permanent residence for medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and researchers. Provide in-house training for personnel, human resources, benefits and compensation managers, including the development of training programs. Manage outside global immigration counsel and devise global relocation and immigration strategies. Ensure immigration compliance for U.S. citizens working abroad. Secure business visitors & work visas to Russia, India, Brazil and China. Counsel HR and Legal Departments in the aftermath of the DOL audits and ICE raids. Advise HR professionals regarding proper responses to "no match" letters. Counsel U.S. permanent residents throughout and during their temporary assignments abroad, international relocation, complex family issues and citizenship process. Represent artists, entertainers, art management professionals and visual artists in connections with the U.S. tours, exhibits, and permanent residence. Pursue temporary and permanent residence on behalf of tenure-track and research faculty members, researchers and academic support personnel. Counsel foreign student advisors on best practices of addressing immigration needs of foreign students and scholars. Assist offices of international students and scholars with complex immigration law issues. Conduct LCA and I-9 employment-eligibility audits and I-9 training.

Apr 2010 – Aug 2017 · 7 yrs 4 mos · Greater Pittsburgh Area

• Lead immigration group of paralegals and administrative professionals. Advise corporate entities regarding the immigration impact of corporate reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Draft Immigration Policies and Manuals for Corporate Recruiters/HR Managers. Assist start-up and foreign companies with the establishment of U.S. operations, corporate entity formation and recruitment of talent. Counsel hospitals, medical research organizations and academia regarding visas, Section 212 (e) J-1 waivers and permanent residence for medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and researchers. Provide in-house training for personnel, human resources, benefits and compensation managers, including the development of training programs. Manage outside global immigration counsel and devise global relocation and immigration strategies. Ensure immigration compliance for U.S. citizens working abroad. Secure business visitors & work visas to Russia, India, Brazil and China. Counsel HR and Legal Departments in the aftermath of the DOL audits and ICE raids. Advise HR professionals regarding proper responses to "no match" letters. Counsel U.S. permanent residents throughout and during their temporary assignments abroad, international relocation, complex family issues and citizenship process. Represent artists, entertainers, art management professionals and visual artists in connections with the U.S. tours, exhibits, and permanent residence. Pursue temporary and permanent residence on behalf of tenure-track and research faculty members, researchers and academic support personnel. Counsel foreign student advisors on best practices of addressing immigration needs of foreign students and scholars. Assist offices of international students and scholars with complex immigration law issues.
• Conduct LCA and I-9 employment-eligibility audits and I-9 training.

Sep 2006 – Apr 2010 · 3 yrs 7 mos · Greater Pittsburgh Area

• Advised corporate and high net worth individual clients on all aspects of immigration law and compliance. Devised business immigration strategies for companies. Advised corporate entities regarding the immigration impact of corporate reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Drafted Immigration Manuals for Corporate Recruiters/HR Managers. Carried out training for corporate recruiters and placement agents. Assist start-up and foreign companies with the establishment of U.S. operations, corporate entity formation and recruitment of talent. Counseled hospitals, medical research organizations and academia regarding visas, Section 212 (e) J-1 waivers and permanent residence for medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and researchers. Provided in-house training for personnel, human resources, benefits and compensation managers, including the development of training programs.Conducted LCA and I-9 employment-eligibility audits and I-9 training. Counseled HR and legal departments in the aftermath of the DOL audits and ICE raids. Advised HR professionals regarding proper responses to "no match" letters. Counseled U.S. permanent residents throughout and during their temporary assignments abroad, international relocation, complex family issues and citizenship process. Obtained approvals on Waivers of Inadmissibility for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visa purposes through the USCIS, as well as U.S. Consulates. Represented artists, entertainers, art management professionals and visual artists in connections with the U.S. tours, exhibits, and permanent residence. Pursued temporary and permanent residence on behalf of tenure-track and research faculty members, researchers and academic support personnel. Counseled foreign student advisors on best practices of addressing immigration needs of foreign students and scholars. Assisted offices of international students and scholars with complex immigration law issues.

Jan 1999 – Sep 2006 · 7 yrs 8 mos · Greater Pittsburgh Area · On-site

• Secured temporary work visas and permanent residence for foreign national employees of multinational corporations. Managed immigration strategy and case load for large multinational corporations. Advised human resources professionals on all aspects of business immigration and employment of foreign nationals.Represented employers and individuals with the legacy INS (USCIS), USCBP, Department of State, and Department of Labor. Handled day-to-day business immigration needs of multinational, Fortune 500 and large privately held companies at their multiple locations throughout the country. Devised immigration policies and strategies for companies and their employees, including during reorganizations, acquisitions, and divestitures.
• Conducted LCA and employment-eligibility audits throughout the country. Organized and carried out individual and group training sessions, seminars, and presentation for HR professionals and employees regarding the immigration process in the U.S.
• Presented at the Firm’s annual seminars, as well as CLE seminars for accountants and HR.

Jun 1998 – Aug 1998 · 2 mos · Greater Pittsburgh Area

• Carried out due diligence for a rolling IPO; researched SEC/securities and employment law issues.

May 1997 – Aug 1997 · 3 mos · Greater Pittsburgh Area · On-site

• Carried out research and drafted legal memoranda

Apr 1994 – Jun 1995 · 1 yr 2 mos

• Started as a sales associate on the sales floor and was promoted to an HR Assistant. Scheduled floaters and coverege for the departments, administered various benefits, pay roll and personnel matters in support of HR Manager.

Jul 1993 – Feb 1994 · 7 mos · Greater Pittsburgh Area

• Carried out bookkeeping and clerical tasks. Organized the first Russian-speaking group and devised programs for the new Russian speaking community. Worked closely with members and groups' leaders. Attended Hadassah's leadership conference in Chicago (Fall 1993).

Nov 1991 – May 1993 · 1 yr 6 mos · Odessa, Ukraine

• Distributed humanitarian aide to orphanages, elderly and Jewish communities throughout Southern Ukraine and Moldova. Supervised subordinate personnel. Worked closely with community leaders and international organizations to ensure the implementation of the organization's goals. Assisted with the temporary resettlement of refugees during a civil war conflict in the Russian-speaking part of Moldova (Summer 1992). Attended Jack Buncher Leadership Training Program in Israel (November 1992).