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Dallas, Sept. 3, 2020 –BAL has earned the #1 spot on the 2020 Diversity Snapshot by Law360, leading the legal industry on diversity and inclusion in yet another national ranking.
BAL tops all other law firms of its size, scoring 98.85 out of 100 in Law360’s influential annual analysis of law firm diversity.
“We are honored to be an example of diversity at a moment when the nation is debating and confronting racial justice issues,” said Frieda Garcia, a BAL Partner. “As a firm, we have always found strength in the team building that comes when individuals from diverse walks of life work together and are empowered to contribute at all levels of the organization.”
At BAL, attorneys of color make up 44.6% of the firm’s attorneys, 28.6% of its equity partners and 50% of its executive committee.
“Diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity, empowerment are so embedded in our culture, they have become a part of our firm’s genetic makeup. These qualities are fundamental tenets of who we are, and what we continually aspire to be,” said BAL Partner Rob Caballero.
For three consecutive years, Law360 has named BAL as one of the nation’s Best US Law Firms for Women and Minority Attorneys in its annual Diversity Snapshot. BAL continues to earn the highest recognition in national legal rankings on racial diversity and gender equality, holding the title of most diverse law firm in the country and the #1 spot on The American Lawyer’s 2020 Diversity Scorecard, the industry’s preeminent ranking of racial diversity in the legal field, as well as the #1 Law Firm for Women by the National Law Journal for two years running.
“We are extremely proud of our numerous #1 D&I rankings but we refuse to become complacent,” said BAL Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge. “As part of our response to the Black Lives Matter movement, we have bolstered our efforts with more than 40 new D&I initiatives to ensure our firm not only reflects the diversity of our communities but makes a positive difference in people’s lives.”
About Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
BAL is one of the world’s most recognized leaders in corporate immigration law, and the Best Lawyers® “Law Firm of the Year” in U.S. Immigration Law (2019), the Most Diverse Law Firm in America (2020) and the Best Law Firm for Women (2019 and 2020). BAL’s Cobalt® digital immigration services platform earned a 2020 CIO 100 Award and won the 2020 CODiE Award for Best Legal Tech Product. The firm is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable clients to be more successful. Established in 1980, the firm provides immigration expertise, top-notch information security and leading technological innovation. The firm’s strategic alliance with Deloitte UK created the world’s first global immigration service delivery model of its kind. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal. Please see our website for details: https://www.bal.com.
Thirteen BAL attorneys have been honored as 2021 “Best Lawyers in America” and five BAL attorneys have been named “Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers®.
The BAL attorneys named as Best Lawyers in America represent all aspects of corporate immigration and every state in which BAL has an office:
Five up-and-coming BAL attorneys across the country are also named “Ones to Watch” in 2021:
Best Lawyers® is the only purely peer review guide to the legal profession. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based on a 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.
BAL, one of the world’s most recognized corporate immigration law firms, is the Best Lawyers® “Law Firm of the Year” in U.S. Immigration Law for 2019, the Most Diverse Law Firm in America (2020) and the Best Law Firm for Women (2019 and 2020). BAL’s Cobalt® digital immigration services platform won the 2020 CODiE Award for Best Legal Tech Product and the prestigious CIO100 award for Innovation Use of Intelligent Automation in Immigration Services. BAL is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable clients to be more successful. Established in 1980, BAL has consistently provided immigration expertise, top-notch information security and leading technology innovation. The firm entered into a strategic alliance with Deloitte UK to create the world’s first global immigration service delivery model. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal. See website for details: https://www.bal.com/.
Dallas, June 23, 2020 – For the second year in a row, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the leader in immigration law, has earned the top spot as the #1 Law Firm for Women by the National Law Journal.
The No. 1 ranking on the annual Women in the Law Scorecard secures BAL’s position at the forefront of the legal industry in hiring and promoting female attorneys. The honor is doubly significant as it comes on the heels of BAL earning the title of the most racially diverse law firm by The American Lawyer, making BAL the #1 law firm in the country for both racial and gender diversity.
“We are thrilled to lead the legal industry as the destination for female talent,” said BAL Partner Carla Tarazi. “BAL is a special place where women can shape their career paths and receive the support to excel and follow their dreams.”
Women not only constitute more than half of BAL’s attorneys, they are heavily represented in leadership positions. Nearly two-thirds of BAL partners and more than a third of its owners are women, ensuring that women are at the table for all levels of decision-making. The firm has expanded policies to encourage a healthy work-life balance such as remote working and flexible schedules, which help in overall retention of lawyers and may be particularly attractive to women who are juggling careers and family priorities.
Above all, BAL has successfully created a vibrant culture of inclusion that breeds a strong sense of a collective mission combined with a bold and innovative spirit, a unique environment that encourages teamwork while inspiring individual outside-the-box thinking.
“Inclusion isn’t only about hitting numbers or reaching targets. Inclusivity, diversity and empowerment are ingrained in our culture and make us stronger—and unstoppable—in how we approach our work, collaborate with each other, and serve our clients,” said Kortney Gibson, a BAL Partner who manages the firm’s 600-employee Center of Excellence in Dallas.
“We are a trailblazing law firm in so many ways, and this distinction has special resonance,” said Petra Tang, a Partner in the firm’s San Francisco office. “As the firm has grown, I have seen countless women thrive and advance into leadership positions. BAL is the platinum standard and a model for the legal industry.”
Dallas, June 11, 2020 – Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL) has earned the top “Tier 1 ranking” among all immigration law firms in the country per The Legal 500. “BAL is widely considered to be at the top of the immigration legal market,” declared The Legal 500, which analyzes and ranks law firms worldwide.
“We are honored to be at the top of The Legal 500 once again, especially as this ranking reflects reviews from clients on the quality of our service,” said BAL Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge. “BAL is on a mission to power human achievement by providing an experience that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. These recognitions show our amazing people are truly making a difference in the world.”
The Legal 500 praises BAL’s key strengths, including “a very consultative approach,” “risk analysis on a variety of options,” and “presenting [a] recommended ‘best’ approach.” One client testimonial summed up BAL’s legal services: “This is an excellent team.”
Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge, named to the Legal Hall of Fame, is lauded for “making everything work” and creating an “attitude that is infectious within the organization.” Founding Partner David Berry is also honored in the Legal Hall of Fame.
In the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, BAL Partner Lynden Melmed, who oversees the firm’s Government Strategies team, is named a Leading Lawyer and cited as the “go-to name for complex and often sensitive immigration advisory matters.” The rankings also recognize Senior Partner Frieda Garcia in San Francisco for her work on global immigration initiatives, and singles out Partner Rob Caballero, who manages the firm’s Houston office, for providing comprehensive advisory and immigration strategies services. Partner Kortney Gibson, who oversees BAL’s Center of Excellence in Dallas, is named a Next Generation Partner and noted for her expertise in H-1B specialty occupation and O-1 extraordinary ability visas. New York Partner Robert Groban is called out for his work with businesses in the financial, health and life sciences, and tech industries.
The Legal 500 also recognizes two BAL Senior Associates for their talents. Dallas-based Matthew Gross is distinguished for his I-9 and E-Verify compliance expertise and for being “a trusted advisor” and a “partner” not a “vendor,” and San Francisco-based Tiffany Martinez is named a Rising Star to watch in the immigration field.
About The Legal 500
For 33 years, The Legal 500 has analyzed the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive annual research program providing the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions. The rankings are based on a series of criteria, including feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, but simply put, we highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel.
‘Culture of Collaboration’ Propels BAL to #1 on AmLaw’s Diversity Ranking
Dallas, May 29, 2020 – Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL) has earned the title of the most diverse law firm in the country. The powerhouse in immigration law landed the #1 spot on The American Lawyer’s 2020 Diversity Scorecard, the industry’s preeminent ranking of racial diversity in the legal field.
“Among our many accolades, it is especially rewarding to lead the legal industry in diversity,” said BAL Senior Partner Frieda Garcia, who manages the firm’s West Coast operations. “As a global immigration firm, we represent clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures worldwide. We are extremely proud that our firm reflects that diversity which strengthens our connections to our clients and our communities.”
Half of BAL’s 169 attorneys identify as people of color, and diversity is integral to the firm’s leadership—23% of BAL partners are racial minorities.
What is the key to BAL’s success?
“We cultivate a collaborative workplace at every level of the firm,” said Jeremy Fudge, BAL’s Managing Partner. “Our strength is our diversity, because different viewpoints, fresh ideas, new ways of communicating, unique approaches to problem-solving, are continually injected into the collaborative process. Our teams thrive, we are stronger as a firm, and we are better able to serve our clients.”
This culture of collaboration is instrumental to the firm’s success in creating and nurturing a diverse law firm and serves as a model for the many law firms that struggle to recruit and retain minority attorneys. BAL’s diversity not only earns the firm consistent recognition and awards, it empowers BAL’s mission to make a positive difference on a global scale, one client at a time.
“Our attorneys are the best and the brightest in the immigration field, serving the best and the brightest individuals from every corner of the globe,” said Rob Caballero, Managing Partner of BAL’s Houston and Austin operations. “Through our diversity, we are powering human achievement around the world.”
DALLAS, May 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the leader in immigration law, won the annual SIIA CODiE Award for Best Legal Solution of 2020. The prestigious CODiE Awards recognize companies producing the most innovative businesses technology products across industries, and around the world. BAL won the award for Cobalt®, its industry-leading digital immigration platform.
Cobalt® allows companies to manage and track their immigration cases for their employees across the globe within a single integrated system that provides seamless case tracking, insight, analytics, reporting, status updates and more.
“Cobalt® continues to deliver on its promise and earn accolades from the market and prestigious technology industry publications. BAL is the first immigration law firm to win this award, making it even more notable. While other companies and firms have tried and failed to create similar systems, we successfully built Cobalt® ourselves. The result is one of the industry’s most advanced platforms, customized to meet the needs of our clients and their employees now and in the future,” said BAL’s Managing Partner, Jeremy Fudge.
“It is a huge honor to be recognized by our peers,” said Chanille Juneau, the firm’s Head of Products. “We continue to strive to create products that not only support our legal teams but give our clients the best experience possible. The best software is created when innovative technologists collaborate with subject matter experts. BAL is fortunate enough to have both in-house, allowing our Products team to work alongside immigration law experts on a daily basis to build industry-leading software.”
SIIA President Jeff Joseph congratulated the winners: “The products and services we honor today connect us to colleagues and customers, ensure business practices move forward, provide new insights from data, and create new jobs and market opportunities. They represent the best of high-impact, outcome-focused innovation.”
The CODiE Awards are the industry’s only peer-reviewed awards program. Entries are reviewed and scored by software and business technology experts before members of the Software & Information Industry Association members vote for the finalists. Scores from both rounds are tabulated to select the winners.
About the SIIA CODiE Awards The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries. Forty-three awards were given this year for products and services deployed specifically for B2B software, information and media companies, including the Best Overall Business Technology Product, awarded to the product with the highest scores of both rounds of judging. More information about the Awards is available at: siia.net/CODiE.
Details about the winning products can be found at https://www.siia.net/codie/2020-Winners
For the twelfth year in a row, BAL has been ranked as a “Band 1” firm in the Nationwide, California and Texas categories in the newly released Chambers USA 2020 Guide, an annual ranking of the best law firms based on independent research and interviews with lawyers and clients worldwide.
Chambers calls BAL, “A Powerful force in corporate immigration with the capacity to handle a range of highly complex matters, with substantial consular, auditing and compliance experience. The firm regularly advises multinational companies on their immigration programs and global mobility strategies, in addition to providing representation in investigations concerning allegations of visa abuses. They are particularly adept at assisting clients in the energy and technology sectors.” Interviewees remark that, “The team’s strengths are the speed of preparing and filing cases, thoroughness of legal advice and easy access to in-house subject matter experts.” One client says, “They are outstanding advisers who provide practical advice, telling us the law, the risks and common practice.” “The firm stands out due to its very experienced attorneys, use of technology and proactiveness in working through complex cases,” another impressed client reveals.
Managing partner Jeremy Fudge represents Fortune 500 clients in a host of immigration matters. Sources say he “sees the big picture” and is “a very good manager.” Lynden Melmed regularly handles federal government immigration investigations and internal audits on behalf of clients. Peers report: “He is excellent when it comes to special lobbying projects. “David Berry advises on business immigration matters and often works on behalf of those in the technology industry. Interviewees state: “He is very smart, very methodical and likes to go over all the options with clients so they are informed.” Robert Groban handles a variety of business immigration visa matters and is described as “a very good practitioner.”
About Chambers and Partners
Chambers, covering 185 jurisdictions, has ranked the best lawyers since 1990 and is known for its strength-in-depth editorial and research team. Chambers publishes an annual guide ranking the world’s best lawyers on the basis of technical expertise, business acumen, prompt delivery, and value for the money. A team of more than 170 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.
Significant investment in AI and automation maintains BAL’s position as the technology and innovation leader in immigration law
Dallas, April 7, 2020 – Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the leading immigration law firm in the world, will be honored at this year’s CIO 100 Symposium for its work bringing innovative AI and automation technology to the legal industry.
The award recognizes 100 organizations for their achievements in technology innovation. Winners’ initiatives are evaluated by a team of external judges on their use of leading-edge IT practices that produce measurable results. The award is an acknowledged mark of enterprise excellence. CIO recognized BAL for its innovative Intelligent Automation program portfolio, which combines artificial intelligence (AI) — including natural language processing, machine learning, and decision networks — with robotic process automation (RPA) to enhance quality, speed, and client experience.
“This extraordinary honor comes as a result of years of targeted investment in developing next generation technologies,” said Vince DiMascio, BAL’s CIO. “Our firm demands the best tools for our people and our clients, and I’m very proud to say that, thanks to our groundbreaking work in this area, the technical promise of automation is now being realized in a practical way.”
“Our goal is to enable BAL legal teams to focus on the client experience. Automation of certain repetitive administrative and clerical manual tasks allows them to do just that,” explains Edward Rios, BAL Partner and Innovation Leader. “By leveraging RPA to accomplish these processes, both internal and client-facing teams are able to dedicate themselves to higher-value and more client-focused interactions, strengthening the underlying service relationship while also improving operational efficiency. We’re delighted to be celebrated by CIO 100 as an organization that understands how to use the latest technology in innovative ways.”
BAL partnered with UIPath, Accelirate, and Synaptiq to enhance business processes using intelligent automation with the goal of driving productivity, eliminating errors, and allowing legal teams to focus less on mundane tasks and more on their clients.
“The possibilities are endless when it comes to automation; but not all automation is created equal,” says Ashley Fleischer, BAL Automation Project Manager. “That’s why we’ve partnered with the best minds in AI and automation to develop the most effective solutions in the immigration field.”
BAL will be recognized at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards Ceremony on Aug. 19 at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
Copyright © 2020 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.
Super Lawyers® recognizes five Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP lawyers as “Rising Stars” for 2020. The BAL attorneys listed by the publication are:
Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.
BAL is again 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. BAL has received top-tier ranking in the publication since 2014.
Chambers recognizes BAL as an “acclaimed group of immigration specialists, evoking praise for its deep experience in corporate global mobility.” Chambers states that BAL offers a broad spectrum of services from application support and immigration program management to strategic advice on compliance and government relations. The firm’s impressive client base benefits from its ever-expanding U.S. footprint and alliance with Deloitte, combining centralized global mobility advice with on-the-ground expertise in more than 135 countries. Chambers calls out BAL for its innovative case management technology, with the operation of its Cobalt® mobile app and artificial intelligence engines.
Chambers sources enthuse that BAL “[is] an excellent firm with a good caliber of partners across the board, many of whom have been in the market a long time.” One client explained: “The firm’s key strength is its large size, combined with its close attention to client needs.”
Many distinguished attorneys lead BAL, and Chambers’ notable practitioners include Founding Partner David Berry, based in San Francisco, and Managing Partner, Jeremy Fudge, in Dallas.
About Chambers Global Since 1990, Chambers has published an annual guide ranking the world’s best lawyers on the basis of technical expertise, business acumen, prompt delivery, and value for money. A team of over 200 researchers conducts thousands of interviews worldwide to produce the rankings. Lawyers cannot buy their way into Chambers rankings; as a result, its annual directories are considered among the most accurate and reliable.