Christian is a Partner in Fragomen's Troy, Michigan office and assists in managing its daily operations. He has comprehensive experience partnering with his clients to develop strategic solutions to immigration challenges. Christian represents clients of various sizes and industries, including automotive, IT and health care.
Christian is a frequent speaker and writer on emerging immigration topics that impact the management of corporate immigration programs. Christian’s work on behalf of his clients includes providing advice regarding PERM processes, large-scale H-1B cap filing projects, I-9 compliance self-audits, and Blanket L-1 preparation procedures. He has also addressed board meetings regarding immigration developments and adjudication trends as well as prepared Extraordinary Ability petitions for a wide range of applicants, including CEOs of publicly traded companies and well-known professional athletes.
Christian proudly gives back to the immigrant community through providing pro bono legal services. In July 2017, Christian was recognized as the inaugural Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the World Relief DuPage/Aurora’s Immigrant Legal Services Program.
Education
Tulane University School of Law | J.D., 2006, magna cum laude
Murphy Institute of Political Economy at Tulane University | B.A., 2003, cum laude
Awards
Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” 2013 to 2018
Recipient, Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award, World Relief DuPage/Aurora - Immigrant Legal Services Program, 2017
Recipient, Global Awards: Immigration Law Within the IT Sector, Corporate LiveWire, 2016
Order of the Coif at Tulane Law School, 2006
Phi Beta Kappa Honors Fraternity, 2003
Professional Accomplishments / Memberships
Bar Admissions: Illinois
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Member, Council for Global Immigration
Past Member and Contributor, Illinois Technology Association (ITA)
Past Committee Member, AILA Chicago Chapter Ethics and CLE Committees
Advised Corporate Board of Directors regarding immigration challenges associated with hiring and retaining a global workforce.
Developed comprehensive immigration policies in conjunction with client management teams, addressing H-1B visa scarcity, narrowing USCIS interpretations of nonimmigrant visa regulations, and employment-based immigrant visa unavailability and associated quota backlogs.
Formulated Request for Evidence (RFE) response protocols.
Directed nonimmigrant visa program processes for high-volume IT consulting firms.
Counseled employees who apply for visas at the U.S. Consulates in India.
Advised clients regarding the immigration implications of global corporate restructuring.
Oversaw extraordinary ability and outstanding researcher petitions, inadmissibility waiver applications, complex L-1B and L-1A petitions, sophisticated RFE responses and PERM audit responses.
Publications and Lectures
Roundtable Leader, “Immigration Challengers Associated with Hiring and Retaining a Global Workforce.” SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, IL, 2018.
Webinar Host, “The Current U.S. Administration & Business Immigration Policy Today.” Illinois Technology Association (ITA), 2018.
Co-author, “U.S. Business Immigration Policy in the Trump Administration.” German American Chambers of Commerce: GACC Midwest Expert White Papers, November 2017.
Panelist, “Winning the Battle for Global Talent.” Global Business News: Mobility Leadership Aligns with the Business, Not Talent, Chicago, IL, 2017.
Panelist, “The Business of Doing Business Immigration, Let's Focus on Students: New Regulations and Government Investigations.” AILA Chicago Chapter Seminars, Chicago, IL, 2016.
Panelist, “VENI, VIDI, VISA! (I went to the Embassy, I saw the Consular Officer and I got my Visa!)” 2012 American Council on International Personnel (ACIP) Annual Symposium, Washington, DC, 2012.