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RICHARDSON, Texas – March 21, 2018 – Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), a global law firm that meets the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world, has moved its two Dallas and Richardson offices to an expanded location at 2400 N. Glenville in Richardson, Texas. This new office, located on three floors, will become a Center of Excellence for BAL’s future growth plans.
“Establishing a COE in Richardson is an integral part of BAL’s dynamic, exciting growth strategy,” said BAL’s firm wide Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge. “By combining our North Texas offices and expanding our operations presence here, we are establishing one strong, centrally located hub that gives our professionals the ability to continue supporting the business operations of leading companies around the globe for years to come, while delivering a high level of service.”
The office now houses about 225 BAL attorneys, paralegals and staff and is the firm’s largest worldwide. The COE is anticipated to reach 320 on-site employees within a year.
Kortney Gibson serves as managing partner of the new location. “In many ways, Richardson is optimal for BAL’s North Texas office and COE,” said Gibson. “The city has a longstanding high-tech and international business focus, and many of our clients are multinational industry leaders in the tech sector or innovative adopters of technology. We consider ourselves a progressive, tech-savvy firm that operates differently from traditional law firms, and we designed our new office with a fresh, thematic focus on our mission and clients to appeal to the talented next generation of professionals. Richardson’s proximity to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport with its significant global connectivity, and this well-situated facility’s recent renovation, were also important factors in our decision.”
BAL has locations in key international markets including: Dubai, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Maputo (Mozambique), Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney, and in major U.S. financial and commercial centers Dallas/Richardson, Austin, Boston, Houston, McLean (Virginia), San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
BAL offers a data-driven, globally seamless approach to its work, to maximize its practice and deliver greater efficiencies, resulting in a better client experience. Among the firm’s key points of differentiation are technology and development, artificial intelligence, automation and machine learning, and a consistent focus on cybersecurity knowledge and best practices. The firm also offers a robust knowledge management team; an unrelenting commitment to customer service; a delivery model and internal structure uncommon in the industry; and strong consultative and strategic advisory services at a programmatic level.
Media Contact: Emily Albrecht Senior Director — Marketing & Communications ealbrecht@bal.com 469-559-0174
BAL again is ranked as a top firm in the Global-wide category in the newly released Chambers Global Guide, an annual ranking of the best international law firms based on independent research and interviews with lawyers and clients worldwide.
Chambers recognizes BAL as an “acclaimed group of immigration specialists which evokes praise for its deep experience in corporate global mobility. The firm offers a broad spectrum of services from application support and immigration programme management to strategic advice on compliance and government relations. An impressive client base benefits from its ever-expanding global footprint, notably with the opening of a first office in the Middle East and a second office in Africa.”
Sources stated they value the firm’s client-centric approach, highlighting its “global online platform and customised reporting” as “one of its strongest points.” They enthuse that “their availability and customer service is top-notch” and “there is an open line of communication – they take on board suggestions and give it all the necessary weight.”
Notable practitioners listed for BAL include Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge, Founding Partner David Berry, Europe Managing Director Emily King, Asia Managing Director Christina Karl, and MENA Managing Director Hadi Allawi.
About Chambers Global Since 1990, Chambers has published an annual guide ranking the world’s best lawyers based on technical expertise, business acumen, prompt delivery, and value for money. A team of over 140 researchers conducts thousands of interviews worldwide to produce the rankings. Lawyers cannot buy their way into Chamber’s rankings; as a result, its annual directories are considered among the most accurate and reliable.
Cobalt® provides global businesses with a premier destination for strategic end-to-end case management
SAN FRANCISCO, February 6, 2018 – Today Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) LLP, one of the world’s largest immigration law firms, launched its next-generation Cobalt® digital immigration services platform. The new Cobalt features the industry’s first mobile immigration application, enabling anytime, anywhere case management across Android and iOS devices. In addition, the secure, cloud-based platform is ISO/IEC 27001 certified, features an intuitive, user-friendly interface and delivers a faster application speed that will accelerate the global immigration process for BAL’s portfolio of corporate clients.
“In an increasingly complex global economy, an effective immigration strategy is a competitive necessity for every company that does business internationally,” said Jeremy Fudge, BAL Managing Partner. “With Cobalt, today’s global mobility leaders can transform their global immigration processes to meet the challenges and opportunities of a digital age while giving their employees a more streamlined, differentiated experience.”
With its breakthrough app, user-friendly interface and top-notch information security, Cobalt makes it easier for BAL’s corporate clients to do their jobs, run their businesses and give their employees a great experience. Specific benefits include:
“For years, we’ve been at the immigration forefront, driving technologies that keep our clients ahead in a fast-changing world. It’s ingrained in our company’s culture to apply a technology and innovation lens to everything we do – and at every level – with an eye toward what’s next. With a product roadmap that embraces the latest, including Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and automation, this release is part of our agenda to bring clients inventive technology solutions designed to advance global immigration,” commented Fudge.
Also today, BAL released a new vision paper on the role of innovation in an increasingly complex global immigration environment. The paper outlines actions that today’s business and legal experts can take to stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape. The full paper, “Innovation in Global Immigration Law: Where Expertise, Technology and the Human Experience Meet,” is available for download here.
About BAL BAL is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and clients more successful. Established in 1980, the firm provides comprehensive services from 18 offices across six continents. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal. Non-U.S. offices are operated by affiliated entities in those countries.
We are pleased to announce that L. Ruth Clark has been named a partner at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Ms. Clark joined BAL in 2010 and practices from the Houston office, where she concentrates on all U.S. employment-based corporate immigration matters, with a specialization in I-9 and compliance legal services. She currently oversees some of BAL’s most high-profile clients and is a key leader in support of the firm’s compliance practice. Ms. Clark is a subject matter expert in her field and is a frequent speaker at local and national continuing legal education courses, in addition to industry-related seminars and conferences.
Ms. Clark is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Houston Law Center and her Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Texas. She is admitted to the State Bar of Texas.
We are pleased to announce that Stephanie Wolf has been named a partner at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Ms. Wolf joined BAL in 2007 and concentrates on U.S. business immigration matters. She counsels clients with respect to key changes in immigration law and she has helped clients re-strategize their immigration programs as government scrutiny and enforcement have increased. She regularly advises clients on petitions for O-1 individuals of Extraordinary Ability, L-1 Multinational Managers and Specialized Knowledge intracompany transfers, H-1B Specialty Occupation and TN workers. She also provides strategic guidance on STEM OPT requirements, E-Verify and I-9 compliance, and the immigration implications of mergers and acquisitions, and has presented at industry-related seminars on a variety of business immigration and compliance topics. Ms. Wolf is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served on the USCIS California Service Center Liaison Committee.
She earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of San Francisco School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Vermont.
Firm to move 300 local employees to larger location
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – December 11, 2017 – Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), a leading global corporate immigration law firm with offices around the world, has moved to a new and expanded location at 555 Mission Street. BAL was established in San Francisco in 1980 and has strong ties to the technology industry.
The office will house about 300 BAL attorneys, paralegals and staff from the firm’s current Financial District location. The office is one of the firm’s largest worldwide.
“San Francisco remains an optimal location for BAL and is a key component of our dynamic growth strategy,” said Carol Mays, BAL’s COO. “Many of our clients in the Bay Area are multinational industry leaders in the tech sector. Expanding our presence enables us to continue supporting the business operations of leading companies around the globe for years to come, while delivering the highest level of service.”
BAL has locations in key international markets Dubai, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Maputo (Mozambique), Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney, and in major U.S. financial and commercial centers Dallas/Richardson, Austin, Boston, Houston, McLean (Virginia), San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Washington, D.C.
BAL offers a data-driven, globally seamless approach to its work, in order to maximize its practice and deliver greater efficiencies, resulting in a better client experience. Among the firm’s key points of differentiation are leadership in technology, artificial intelligence, automation and machine learning, and a consistent focus on cybersecurity knowledge and best practices. The firm also offers an industry-leading knowledge management team and services; an unrelenting commitment to customer service; a service delivery model and internal structure that are unique in the industry; and strong consultative and strategic advisory services at a programmatic level.
November 6 – U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers has once again ranked Berry Appleman & Leiden as a Tier 1 “Best Law Firm.” BAL is also ranked as a “Best Law Firm” in the metropolitan areas of Boston, Mass., Houston, Texas, San Francisco, Calif., Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C.
The U.S. News – Best Lawyers rankings of the “Best Law Firms” are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area and metro region, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is currently recognized in Best Lawyers in that particular practice and metro area. Clients are asked to provide feedback on firm practice groups, addressing expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility and whether they would refer another client to the firm.
This September, the publication named eight Berry Appleman & Leiden attorneys as the “Best Lawyers in America.” They are:
September 14, 2017 – Best Lawyers recognized eight Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP lawyers as “The Best Lawyers in America” for 2018. The BAL attorneys listed by Best Lawyers are:
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based on a peer review process designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
For 2017, U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers ranked BAL as a “Best Law Firm” nationally as well as in the metropolitan areas of Houston, Texas, and San Francisco, Calif. Firms included on the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking as a “Best Law Firm”, a law firm must have at least one lawyer listed on “The Best Lawyers in America” list for that particular location and specialty.
Copyright © 2017 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.
August 29, 2017 – Law360 named Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) one of the best firms for both women and minority attorneys. The ranking distinguishes firms that consistently demonstrate above-average hiring and promoting of both women and minorities. BAL is one of the eight firms with 20-149 lawyers recognized by Law360, highlighting BAL’s consistent rankings on Law360’s annual Diversity Snapshot and Glass Ceiling Report.
In 2017, Law360 ranked BAL third in its peer group for the Best Law Firms for Female Attorneys in the 2017 Glass Ceiling Report and second in its peer group for the Best Law Firms for Minority Attorneys in the 2017 Diversity Snapshot. When looking at firm leadership, specifically, Law360 recognized BAL as a 2017 Ceiling Smasher with 43.9 percent of BAL’s equity partners identifying as female. Minority equity partners make up 28.6 percent of BAL’s leadership and BAL ranks sixth for the Best Law Firms for Minority Partners on Law360.
As Law360 reports, few firms maintain above-average diversity at all levels when looking at race, ethnicity and gender, often excelling in one aspect of diversity while lagging on another. BAL consistently ranks high for diversity representation at all levels – from associates to equity partners.
“We are proud to be recognized for our racial, ethnic and gender diversity in the workplace,” said Carla Tarazi, one of the firm’s equity partners. “BAL believes that encouraging those from different backgrounds and perspectives to succeed creates a stronger and more effective firm and, ultimately, it encourages everyone in our firm to succeed as individuals and as part of a team.”
Law 360 surveyed more than 300 U.S. firms, or vereins with a U.S. component, about their overall and minority headcount numbers as of Dec. 31, 2016. Only U.S.-based attorneys were included in the survey, and firms must have at least 20 U.S.-based attorneys to participate.
For the second consecutive year, Law360 has named BAL as one of the nation’s Best US Law Firms for Minority Attorneys in its annual Diversity Snapshot.
According to Law360, BAL is one of the top 21 firms making headway and enjoying the benefits of a more diverse attorney workforce. At BAL, minority attorneys make up at least 40 percent of non-partners and at least 26 percent of partners. By contrast, Law360’s 2017 Diversity Snapshot shows that racial and ethnic minorities make up just over 15 percent of the attorneys employed by U.S. law firms, a number that inched up incrementally over the previous year. Among the more than 300 law firms surveyed, minorities make up about 20 percent of non-partners and almost 9 percent of partners.
Law360 surveyed more than 300 US firms, or vereins with a U.S. component, about their overall and minority headcount numbers as of Dec. 31, 2016. Only U.S.-based attorneys were included in the survey, and firms had to have at least 20 U.S.-based attorneys to participate.