New Immigration Initiatives Impacting Employers: Focus on Worksite Enforcement, Strict Penalties, Compliance Strategies

Ms. Hawk navigates complex immigration law matters, providing strategic counsel to multinational corporations and individuals across diverse sectors. With decades of experience, she secures visas and permanent residency for key personnel ranging from corporate leadership to distinguished researchers and artists. Ms. Hawk brings a profound understanding of how current and emerging immigration legislation can translate into pragmatic, effective solutions for clients. Her ability to develop and implement tailored immigration policies helps companies maintain compliance while attracting and retaining top talent. Ms. Hawk oversees the preparation of various employment-based petitions, ranging from B business visitor and E-2 investor visas to intricate EB-1 Outstanding Researcher and Extraordinary Ability cases. Her proficiency extends to I-9 and E-verify compliance, where she guides clients through audits, investigations, and policy development, mitigating potential legal risks. Ms. Hawk is a frequent speaker at major events on business immigration issues.

Ms. Kalmykov has close to two decades of experience in business immigration matters. As Co-Chair of the Global Immigration & Compliance Practice, she works with employers of all sizes across a variety of industries in understanding and complying with the immigration laws relating to the hiring and retention of foreign talent. Specifically, her practice focuses on supporting clients and advising them on temporary and permanent residency immigration options for multi-national executive, business, scientific, and information technology personnel. In addition, Ms. Kalmykov practice provides support to companies in the global transfer of personnel. She is often called upon to assist in developing immigration options and strategies in the most unique circumstances and to respond to complex Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) or to appeal denied cases. Likewise, she has also been instrumental in developing employer compliance programs for DOL related filings including H-1Bs and PERMs, as well as for I-9 employment eligibility verification. To this end, Ms. Kalmykov develops and conducts nationwide I-9 compliance trainings and policy manuals for human resources personnel, advises on best practices for E-Verify employers, provides guidance on avoiding immigration-related unfair employment practices claims and has defended and minimized penalties in immigration-related government audits. She regularly works with professionals from the firm’s labor, employment, tax and benefits groups, to provide strategic planning on immigration issues within a cross-border framework. Ms. Kalmykov also has deep experience working on all aspects of the EB-5 immigrant investor program.