Joseph Barnett, Robert Blanco, Zara Najam, Charina Garcia and Brandon Meyer, Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP

Gary Eisenberg, Eisenberg & Associates

Priscilla Mifsud Parker and Wojtek Gadzała, Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates

Maria Jockel, BDO Migration Services

Bernard P Wolfsdorf, Matthew Beatus, Robert Blanco & Joseph Barnett, Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP

In this article, Bernard P Wolfsdorf, Matthew Beatus, Robert Blanco and Joseph Barnett at Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP give an insight into recent developments in US immigration policy under the Trump administration. 

We are delighted to present the latest edition of WWL: Corporate Immigration, featuring 627 practitioners from over 380 firms across 39 jurisdictions.

Those recognised are highlighted for their exceptional work advising domestic and international clients on a range of matters including visa applications, corporate immigration strategy, employee transfers, naturalisation of skilled workers and regulatory matters.

We also identify the most highly regarded individuals across EMEA, North America, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

For the first time, WWL presents our Future Leaders in corporate immigration, with 53 future stars recognised this year. They have been selected for their expertise in a range of immigration law across multiple jurisdictions, including immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications, global immigration programmes and citizenship applications.

For the corporate immigration market, the past few years have been characterised by significant political shifts across the globe and uncertainty around policy and procedure. This year has been no different. The UK market continues to deal with the fallout of Brexit, while in the US President Trump has ramped up on anti-immigration regulation, making it all the more difficult for corporates and individuals to gain visa approvals. Lawyers we spoke with also highlighted the increase in work relating to compliance, as well as the growing importance of technology in corporate immigration law.

This year’s research features 639 leading corporate immigration attorneys who come highly regarded for their experience in the legal immigration and naturalisation of skilled workers. The individuals listed here specialise in assisting corporate entities navigate the increasingly complex regulatory environments in jurisdictions around the world through sophisticated immigration planning and counselling advice. 

Our research team conducted more than 60 interviews with leading immigration practitioners worldwide this year, discussing global trends and the legal market in the area. Dozens of potential issues, trends and topics of conversation were identified. Changes in US immigration law and policy were among the hot topics in this year’s research. The resulting uncertainty presents immigration practitioners with immense challenges as clients struggle to plan for their long-term business needs. In the US, the Trump administration has brought unpredictable changes to policy and procedure. In the UK, lawyers are busy advising on nationality and citizenship issues following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, with details of the UK government’s post-Brexit immigration policy not due to be announced until autumn 2018. 

Corporate immigration was the first practice area researched in our series, and Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration remains one of our flagship publications – one that always draws a fantastic response from our market sources. The USA is still the dominant market by far for immigration work, with over two-thirds of our global listings being made up of US attorneys. A further 10 per cent of the listings is comprised of UK and Irish lawyers, with Canadian practitioners constituting 5 per cent more. In total, lawyers from 43 countries feature. 632 of the best immigration lawyers in the world are highlighted this year. Although all of our listed lawyers are highly recommended, our editorial below focuses on the best of the best from around the world.

After the extraordinary scenes witnessed in 2015, with refugees and migrants entering Europe by land and water at an unprecedented rate, few would have predicted that 2016 would see further events with potentially far-reaching impacts on the Western world for generations to come. Numerous governments around the world have gradually – or, in some cases, suddenly – taken a more isolationist stance, as political upheaval, the real or perceived threat from terrorism and, in some instances, mistrust, division and xenophobia have shaped attitudes towards migration and immigrants. The immigration legal market has been left to react as best as it can to the unexpected and significant events of 2016.

Featuring 637 of the world’s leading practitioners across 43 jurisdictions and 384 law firms, Who's Who Legal: Corporate Immigration 2016 is a one-stop shop for the global corporate immigration legal market.

The highly specialised nature of the market means that it is mainly composed of boutique law firms with relatively few full-service firms ranking among the most prominent in our research. The field is led by global immigration powerhouse Fragomen, with fellow global immigration service provider Berry Appleman & Leiden ranking second in our listings.

Seyfarth Shaw, Foster, Wolfsdorf Rosenthal, Maggio Kattar Nahajzer & Alexander, and Miller Mayer are among the most prominent immigration specialists in the highly competitive US market. Meanwhile, Kingsley Napley leads the immigration outfits in the UK.

We also recommend the top 10 practitioners both inside and outside the US in this section.

The past year has witnessed some of the most severe political upheavals across the world in recent history. The great surge in global migration has rendered immigration a polemic issue, with more than 1 million migrants and refugees arriving into Europe in 2015. Such drastic changes on an international level, coupled with the increased globalisation of business, have brought the topic of immigration to the forefront of current political, social and economic debate.

Our brand new Corporate Immigration edition features 545 of the world's best lawyers, stretching out over 38 jurisdictions and 345 law firms.

The corporate immigration landscape is dominated by specialised independent law firms. No firm stands out for its international depth like Fragomen Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy, which once again leads our research with lawyers in America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, US immigration giant Berry Appleman & Leiden also impresses with its number of listings. Beyond this we have selected some truly outstanding boutiques and have also highlighted the 10 most highly regard lawyers in North America, as well as the top five across Europe; Latin America; Asia-Pacific; and Africa and the Middle-East.