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President Biden announces a policy to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.
The administration moves toward streamlined work visa processes for some DACA beneficiaries.
And we sit down with the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s new president-elect, BAL’s Jeff Joseph, to survey the immigration landscape and discuss AILA’s focus on becoming more inclusive.
Get this news and more in the latest episode of BAL’s podcast, the BAL Immigration Report, available on Apple, Spotify and the BAL news site.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.
Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
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A proposed H-1B regulation is under White House Review. The October Visa Bulletin shows advancement in key employment-based categories. And analysis from the head of BAL’s Government Strategies team on why comprehensive immigration reform has proved so challenging.
Get this news and more in the new episode of BAL’s podcast, the BAL Immigration Report, available on Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts or on the BAL news site.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group.
Copyright ©2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
A federal judge rules against Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The State Department announces it has issued all available Diversity Visas. And we sit down with Frieda Garcia, BAL’s new managing partner.
SAN FRANCISCO and DALLAS, September 13, 2023 — BAL, the global corporate immigration law firm helping businesses and individuals navigate complex immigration issues, announces today the appointment of Frieda Garcia as Managing Partner. Frieda is the first woman and Latina to serve in this role and the third managing partner in BAL’s 43-year history. In her new role, Frieda oversees all aspects of the firm’s legal operations and ensures that teams across the firm’s 13 offices are working together seamlessly to deliver best-in-class immigration services while building on the firm’s oneBAL culture. She continues to lead efforts to attract new clients and deliver exceptional service to the firm’s clients.
“This achievement is a significant personal and professional milestone for me. I knew early on that the foundation of the open-door policy set by BAL’s s founding partners would allow me to grow and shine as long as I kept asking questions, raising my hand to help manage complex issues and finding creative ways to enhance our firm’s culture,” said Frieda. “My journey to reach this position has been defined by cultivating meaningful relationships, hard work and sacrifice, as well as unique challenges that working mothers face while building their careers. With my position, I hope to inspire and pave the way for others like me to continue BAL’s legacy of powering human achievement.”
“For over two decades, Frieda has been a distinguished leader and mentor at BAL, and she has truly exemplified our commitment to pursue the exceptional,” said Jeremy Fudge, CEO at BAL. “Frieda’s strong character, incredible legal acumen, steady presence and grace will enable BAL to continue to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Additionally, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, BAL is putting a spotlight on Frieda’s 22-year career at the firm. Her integrity and energy became vital to its growth and culture, and she has been instrumental in spearheading the firm’s most prominent immigration programs in the technology, finance and travel service industries. Since she started at BAL in 2001, BAL has grown from two offices to 13, a testament to her contributions to the firm’s growth and success.
Frieda’s life and career have been profoundly shaped by her family’s personal immigration journey. She was born in the U.S., but at a very young age, moved back to El Salvador with her parents. After losing her mother to cancer at the age of four and spending several years in a war-torn country, Frieda’s father obtained a work visa and moved the family back to the U.S. when she was eight. Driven by her experiences, Frieda pursued higher education at the University of California, Davis, and the University of San Francisco School of Law. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for immigration law, and she began her career assisting asylum applicants and defending deportation cases.
Among her many awards and honors, Frieda has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2016. Last year, she won a Corporate Counsel’s 2022 Women, Influence & Power in Law Award for Thought Leadership. Frieda and her two daughters are members of the National Charity League, a group of mothers and daughters committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. Their hands-on philanthropic engagement spans 200 hours per year, and in recognition of their dedication and time, her daughters have both earned The President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Frieda’s appointment is a significant achievement for Latinas in the legal field, showcasing BAL’s unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within the industry. The NALP reports Black and Hispanic women are the most underrepresented in partner ranks, and in 2022, Latina women accounted for less than 1% of all law partners. BAL takes immense pride in its commitment to diversity and understands that it’s a key strength that enables the firm to deliver exceptional service to clients. Recognized as the most diverse law firm, people of color at BAL represent 63% of employees and 54% of attorneys. Notably, 62% of BAL’s equity partners are people of color.
About BAL
Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 185 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization. At BAL, we pursue the exceptional. To learn more, visit bal.com.
Media Contact: Emily Albrecht Senior Director — Marketing & Communications ealbrecht@bal.com 469-559-0174
DALLAS (Aug. 17, 2023) — Nearly four dozen BAL attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers®, shattering the firm’s previous record. A notable 20 attorneys were named “The Best Lawyers in America” for immigration and 27 were named “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.”
“To be featured in this prestigious publication means our attorneys’ expertise in service to clients stands out among their peers in their own practice area and geographic location,” said Managing Partner Frieda Garcia. “Recognition of so many of our attorneys as ‘Ones to Watch’ speaks to the success of our commitment to recruit and nurture the best and brightest of rising legal talent.”
The attorneys will be featured in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, the only purely peer-review guide to the legal profession.
“This honor reflects not only our attorneys’ individual excellence but also BAL’s firmwide commitment to pursue the exceptional,” said CEO Jeremy Fudge.
The following BAL attorneys were recognized as “Best Lawyers”:
These up-and-coming senior associates were recognized as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” in immigration law for 2024:
About BAL Established in 1980, Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services, and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 185 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence, and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights, and resources from across the entire organization. At BAL, we pursue the exceptional. To learn more, visit bal.com.
DALLAS (Aug. 4, 2023) — Leading immigration firm BAL once again took the top spot in Law360’s latest Diversity Snapshot for its size category. The recognition marked the fourth consecutive year the firm scored #1 in overall diversity in the elite publication’s annual survey.
“Diversity is a foundational principle at BAL,” said Nicole Dawson, Chief People and Culture Officer. “Our top ranking demonstrates the success of our DE&I initiatives. The results speak for themselves, and we appreciate this national recognition of our efforts.”
Law360 called out BAL’s high scores as one of few diversity “success stories” discovered through its survey of 283 firms. BAL scored 24.7 points above the benchmark, the third highest score of all firms in all size categories.
BAL ranked the highest in diversity among equity partners, associates and other attorneys among firms of the same size. The majority of BAL’s associates, 55.1%, are attorneys of color. Attorneys of color also make up 24% of all partners, 50% of equity partners and 59.3% of all other BAL lawyers.
“As an immigration law firm, we recognize the strength people from varied backgrounds and experiences, from all around the world, provide,” said CEO Jeremy Fudge. “We deliberately seek and promote the best talent and give them equal opportunities to make a difference. This top ranking reflects our authentic culture of empowerment where every individual is valued and contributes in meaningful ways.”
BAL leads the legal industry in its commitment to diversity, achieving national recognition multiple years in a row. In 2023 alone, in addition to the Law360 report, the firm ranked #4 out of 226 firms in The American Lawyer’s 2023 Diversity Scorecard, #1 in the National Law Journal’s 2023 Women in Law Scorecard, and received the nonprofit Lawyers of Color Aspire Diversity Award.
About BAL Established in 1980, Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 185 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization. At BAL, we pursue the exceptional.
DALLAS (May 16, 2023) — BAL continues to lead the pack in immigration law, with 14 BAL attorneys named to Lawdragon’s 2023 list of 100 leading immigration lawyers.
The prestigious publication said it selected the honorees through a process that combines journalistic research, robust submissions and vetting by peers. BAL led the way with more attorneys than any other corporate immigration firm. Those recognized were:
Additionally, Jeff Appleman and David Berry, BAL partners emeriti, were listed in the guide as members of the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
While Lawdragon has included immigration attorneys in the past on its list of Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers, this was the first year it published a guide exclusively dedicated to immigration law. The 2023 Lawdragon Leading Immigration Lawyers guide is available here.
About BAL Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 185 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization.
BAL Senior Associate Stephen Parker is speaking this week at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Texas Chapter Spring Conference on the topics of PERM prevailing wage and pay transparency. We recently sat down with Stephen, who practices at the firm’s Dallas headquarters, for a conversation about trending issues in immigration and his approach to the profession.
I’m now seeing PWDs back that were requested in September 2022 — so that’s about 6-7 months! It’s actually improved a bit recently, but when PWDs get to be more than just six months, the overall process becomes difficult to manage.
It’s due in part to the increased demand for PWDs and volume of requests. One possible reason for significant delays last year is that the DOL Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes were put into use in July 2022, an update that was previously delayed due to COVID-19. It might have been taking DOL analysts more time to process PWDs using the new coding system.
There is no way to speed up a PWD. The DOL accepts PWDs and issues them in the order received — first in, first out, without a possibility for expedited requests.
There’s not really a good way to predict upcoming processing times. DOL suffers from a lack of staff and budget issues. They’re at the mercy of bureaucratic funding, so if there’s a government shutdown due to a budget fight, things are going to get much worse.
There are real issues with significantly delayed processing times, like clients’ employees having to leave the U.S. because their green card case is not far enough along or their children aging out of the process.
I’m passionate about getting clients through a very complicated process. That’s what drives me. I’m especially inspired by the stories of the employees of our clients — where they’re from, and their boldness, tenacity, courage and willingness to go through this process because they really want to live in America.
Before coming to BAL I was stressed, dealing with less robust off-the-shelf software solutions that didn’t manage cases. Here at BAL, because of our Cobalt® technology, we’re able to manage a high volume of cases effectively through detailed case management and reporting technology.
I attended a small liberal arts college in Los Angeles, and I got to be friends with a lot of foreign students from all over the world. I loved their stories and getting to know them. After serving in AmeriCorps, I developed an interest in community and law and policy. I decided to become a paralegal first, and it was just by coincidence that the first job I applied to was an immigration firm.
I enjoy the win-win of helping somebody come to the U.S., helping an employer fill a job vacancy — and helping America to grow and become more diverse, interesting and talented.
Stephen Parker is a Senior Associate in the Dallas office of BAL, where he represents multinational corporations in immigration matters, including PERM labor certification, EB immigrant petitions and Adjustment of Status (AOS). He has a background in corporate immigration for the software industry and is an in-demand speaker at AILA conferences, CLEs and university events. Dedicated to pursuing the exceptional in immigration, Stephen assists his clients with retaining top global talent and also provides free legal assistance at citizenship workshops and through BAL’s pro bono committee.
DALLAS (Jan. 26, 2023) — Pacesetting global immigration firm BAL was lauded last night by the mayor of the city of Richardson, Texas, in the annual State of the City address. The environmentally minded law firm set a record by providing the largest group of volunteers to partake in the city’s Community and Corporate Environmental Cleanup program.
Applauding BAL for its “tremendous showing of community spirit,” three-term Mayor Paul Voelker, who has overseen the cleanup since 2017, invited BAL Partner Kortney Gibson to attend his address in person and stand for official recognition by the audience.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the mayor and the city for our volunteer work,” said Kortney, who manages BAL’s local operations and Center of Excellence. “We pride ourselves on extending our time and efforts and compassion into initiatives that support the environment and our local community.”
In July, 500 BAL team members from the firm’s Richardson headquarters gathered at the nearby Spring Creek Nature Area preserve to clean up sections of heavily wooded terrain. The earth-conscious BAL team was the largest cadre of volunteers to partner with the city’s Environmental Cleanup program outside of the city’s annual Trash Bash initiative. The city facilitates the cleanup initiative to maintain the popular 100-acre nature destination, which is nestled within a thriving urban environment.
BAL Partner Stephanie Pimentel coordinated the volunteer effort as part of the annual firm-wide volunteer “Service Day,” in which teams from BAL’s 14 offices around the country volunteer for a project of their choosing to help their local communities.
“Coordinating the Service Day was one of the highlights of my year,” said Stephanie, who also attended the mayor’s address. “Joining with 500 colleagues to beautify the nature area and preserve our local environment was an inspiring reminder that the work BAL does to make a positive difference in people’s lives doesn’t stop with our clients and teams, but extends beyond the front door to the communities we are a part of.”
About BAL BAL, the world’s leading corporate immigration law firm, is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable businesses to be more successful. Established in 1980, BAL has consistently provided immigration expertise, people-centered client services and leading technology innovation. In 2018, BAL entered into a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance with Deloitte U.K. to create the world’s first global immigration service delivery model. BAL’s proprietary Cobalt® digital immigration services platform won the 2020 CODiE Award for Best Legal Tech Product, the prestigious CIO100 award for Innovative Use of Intelligent Automation in Immigration Services and Legalweek‘s Most Innovative Law Firm Operations Team of 2021. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.
BAL has ranked #1 on multiple industry rankings for diversity, equity and inclusion, including the #1 Law Firm for Women by the National Law Journal four years in a row (2019-2022), #1 on the Diversity Scorecard by The American Lawyer (2020 and 2021), and #1 on Law360’s Diversity Snapshot for three years running (2020-2022). BAL won in seven of Comparably’s Best Company categories, including Diversity, Women, Career Growth, and Perks & Benefits. The Dallas Business Journal named BAL one of only a handful of the 2022 Best Places to Work based exclusively on employee feedback. US News & World Report–Best Lawyers named BAL the 2023 Immigration Law Firm of the Year.