R. Blake Chisam is Fragomen’s Chief Audit and Privacy Officer. In this role, Blake oversees the firm's audit and risk management activities, as well as the firm's privacy program. Resident to the firm’s Washington, DC office, Blake’s practice focuses on risk management and compliance, along with government strategies.
Blake was previously senior counsel to the immigration subcommittee for the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, where he worked on policy and oversight issues related to employment-based immigration, international law, border security, immigration enforcement, refugee issues, naturalization and citizenship. In addition to his former role with the House Judiciary Committee, Blake served as Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics Committee) from 2009-2011, and counsel to the Ethics Committee Chair and Senior Policy Advisor to Representative Zoe Lofgren in 2009. During his tenure, Blake directed an unprecedented number of complex Congressional ethics investigations and served as lead counsel in high-profile House ethics disciplinary hearings.
Prior to his government service, Blake practiced immigration and nationality law in the private sector. His practice focused on advising organizations with respect to immigration-related policy, employment issues and other related matters. Blake is a sought-after speaker and guest lecturer and has published many commentaries on immigration law including a book, Immigration Practice, which he co-authored. In 2000, he was awarded the Meritorious Public Service Award by former Attorney General Janet Reno.
Education
Temple University School of Law | J.D., 1994
Auburn University | B.A., 1991, summa cum laude
University of Alabama | Bachelor of Arts Studies, 1988
Awards
Director’s Award for Meritorious Public Service, U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review (2001)
Professional Accomplishments / Memberships
Bar admissions: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland
Court Admissions: U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Court Admissions: U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
Member, American Bar Association
Directed scores of Congressional investigations and oversight hearings on wide range of topics, including employment-based immigration, global immigration, federal claims processes, and ethics
Negotiated and drafted complex legislation
Advised Members of Congress on immigration and other policy matters
Litigated complex cases before state, federal and administrative tribunals
Publications and Lectures
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Guest Lecturer, Temple University Beasley School of Law (2011). Contributing Editor, Immigration Practice (Juris Publishing 2008, 2009, 2010). Author (with Robert C. Divine), Immigration Practice (Juris Publishing 2005, 2006). Author, “BALCA’s Health America Decision Doesn’t Go Far Enough” (2006). Author, “Ethics: What Do You Do When A Qualified U.S. Worker Applies?” (2006). Author (with Ana Avendano), Immigration Issues in the Workplace, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Labor Law Series (2005). Author, “Civil & Criminal Federal Case Update” (2005). Author, “Writing and the REAL ID” (2005). Author, “H-1B Myths and Realities,” American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) 2004-2005 Annual Handbook (2004). Author, “PERM Practice Advisory” (2004). Author, DSN Retailing Today, “The Time is Right to Reform Immigration” (2004). Author, PHJW Client Alerts, including “Key Immigration Compliance Decisions” (2002) and “The New Anti-Terrorism Act: Consequences for U.S. and Foreign Corporations” (2001). Author, “The Right to Asylum and Need for Legal Representation of People with Mental Disabilities in Immigration Proceedings,” Mental & Physical Disability Law Reporter, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 511-516 (July/Aug. 2001). Author, ALI-ABA Study Materials, “Temporary Work Authorization for Specialty Occupation Workers (H-1B),” “L-1 Intracompany Transfers of Managers, Executives and Employees with Specialized Knowledge,” and “Admission of Professionals Under NAFTA” (2001). Presenter, Center on the Administration of Criminal Law and NYU Annual Survey of American Law Spring 2011 Symposium, “Policing, Regulating and Prosecuting Corruption” (2011). Presenter, 41st Annual Immigration & Naturalization Institute, Practicing Law Institute (2008). Presenter, 25th Annual Legislative & Regulatory Roundtable, Electronic Industries Alliance (2007). Presenter, AILA Teleconference, “Help Me Help Myself: Why Managing your Practice Well is the ‘Right’ Thing as Well as the ‘Smart’ Thing To Do” (2007). Presenter, AILA Teleconference, “Employment Law for Immigration Lawyers” (2007). Presenter, American Bar Association, “Immigration Issues in the Workplace” (2005). Presenter, American Bar Association, “On the Fulcrum: Managing Migration and Protecting ‘U.S. Workers’ in the Real World Under Immigration and Employment Laws” (2005). Moderator and Presenter, Immigration Lawyers on the Web, “The REAL ID Act of 2005” (2005). Presenter, Immigration Lawyers on the Web, “PERM: An Up-to-the-Minute Course” (2005). Presenter, AILA Annual Conference, “Labor & Employment Law FAQs” (2005). Presenter, AILA Annual Conference, “H-1B Myths and Realities” (2004). Presenter, Human Resources Professionals Update, “Immigration Compliance Issues” (2004). Presenter, Nuts and Bolts of Immigration Law, “Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications” and “Removal Proceedings and Defense” (2004). Presenter, Society for Philosophy and Geography, “Sentries at the Gates: The Politics of Global Migration Control” (2004). Presenter, Alabama Self Insurers Association, “Immigration Issues in the Workplace” (2004). Presenter, State of Georgia, Department of Human Resources, Refugee Program Conference, “Immigration Compliance: Exploring the Intersections of Immigration and Employment Law” (2003). Presenter, Emerging Issues in Immigration & Employment Law, “Is There Life After INS?” (2003). Presenter, Emerging Issues in Immigration & Employment Law, “Intersections of Immigration and Employment Law” (2003). Presenter, Emerging Issues in Immigration & Employment Law, “Impact of 9/11/2001” (2002). Presenter, National Alliance for Multicultural Mental Health Annual Conference, “Immigration Proceedings & the Mentally Disabled” (2002). Presenter, AILA Teleconference, “H-1Bs - Documenting Degree and Degree Equivalency and Specialty Occupations” (2002). Presenter, ABA Annual Conference, “Immigration Detention: Perversities and Prospects” (2001). Presenter, ALI/ABA Conference on Immigration Law, “Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications” (2001). Presenter, Detention Watch Network Conference, “Advanced Topics on Immigration Relief” and “New Developments in Asylum Law” (2001). |