Fragomen, the leading provider of global immigration services and a member of both the Am Law 100 and the Am Law Global 100, announces the election of new Partners and Of Counsel effective October 1, 2014. Fragomen’s newly elected individuals—who include senior legal professionals from across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East—signify the Firm’s continued growth and recognition as a powerhouse in worldwide immigration services.
The Firm’s new Partners and Of Counsel have a deep and extensive knowledge of immigration and the experience to offer highly strategic and practical advice to clients worldwide. Fragomen congratulates these Partners and Of Counsel on their promotion, and is proud of their professional achievements and important contributions to the Firm and its clients.
Partners
Brian Coughlin, Partner, is based in Fragomen’s Boston office. He assists small and multinational corporate clients, chiefly in the IT consulting industry, with workforce mobility and employment authorization concerns. Brian also works with companies in diverse scientific fields, as well as within the management consulting, financial services, insurance and healthcare industries. His practice comprises all aspects of business immigration law, including corporate restructuring concerns, policy drafting, employee trainings, and general employment enforcement and compliance issues. He regularly represents clients in matters before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Embassies and consular posts abroad. Brian is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and to the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Boston College (B.A.) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D.).
Karine Faure Wenger, Partner, serves as corporate immigration counsel to a wide range of clients, from small domestic entities to large multinational corporations in varying industries. Based in the Firm's San Diego office, she manages a growing legal team of attorneys and paralegals that provide immigration solutions to corporate clients and counsels them on all matters of U.S. immigration and nationality law, regulation, policy and compliance. Karine emigrated from France in the 1980s and has practiced exclusively in the field of U.S. corporate immigration and nationality law for over 14 years. She is admitted to the Bar in California and is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego (B.A.) and Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D.).
Murtaza Khan, Partner, is Fragomen’s Practice Leader in the United Arab Emirates and is responsible for the provision of corporate immigration solutions throughout the Middle East and North Africa. He has extensive knowledge of immigration and related HR regulations in the region, and works with a number of large multinational companies to effectively manage large-scale outsourced corporate immigration programs. Murtaza’s experience includes the design and execution of business processes tailored to the Middle East’s particular compliance requirements and best practices. Murtaza is a B.A. (Hons) graduate of the University of Durham and an ACA at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
George Koureas, Partner, is based in our London office and has worked in UK immigration law for over 10 years. He has considerable experience in all areas of UK business immigration, including international transfers and hires under the Points Based System (PBS), applications under the UK Immigration Rules for high-net-worth individuals, sponsorship for companies seeking to employ non-EEA nationals, and assisting companies with establishing themselves in the UK. He is also experienced in settlement, European visa and work authorization applications, and applications for British citizenship. George also assists employers with their immigration strategy, with applications to obtain sponsorship, and with maintaining compliance thereafter. He has also supported a number of employers through audits and licensing visits. George is a graduate of the London Guildhall University (LL.B) and The College of Law, Legal Practice Course.
Catherine Macris, Partner, provides counsel on all aspects of corporate immigration, including nonimmigrant visa options and permanent residence. Based in the Firm’s New York office, she has significant experience representing clients in various industries, including consulting, tax, audit, financial advisory, financial services, insurance, fashion design and computer software. She also has experience collaborating with client stakeholders, and presenting recommendations and strategic solutions as well as process improvement plans. Catherine is admitted to the Bar in Connecticut and New York. She is a graduate of Stanford University (B.A.) and Syracuse University College of Law (J.D.).
Anna Morzy, Partner, is based in the Firm’s Chicago office. Her practice focuses on advising multinational corporations, U.S. employers and foreign nationals regarding U.S. immigration law and compliance. She is experienced in managing EB-5 Immigrant Investor matters for individuals and groups establishing commercial enterprises in the U.S., and in managing immigration strategy matters for entrepreneurs and technology start-ups. Anna is the President of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce and is on the steering committee of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition. She is also a board member of the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights and is an invited member of the American Jewish Committee’s Immigration Task Force. Anna is admitted to the Bar in Illinois and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Chicago Bar Association and the American Bar Association – International Law Committee. Anna received her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago and is fluent in Polish.
Francesca Morschetta, Partner, practices in the Firm’s New York office. Francesca joined Fragomen as an Associate in 2005 and is admitted to the Bar in New York and New Jersey. Francesca currently represents multinational corporate clients in the financial services and management consulting industries on all aspects of corporate U.S. immigration, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence and citizenship. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association. Francesca is a graduate of Yale University (B.A.) and Fordham University School of Law (J.D.).
Krista Nevarez, Partner, is based in the Firm's Santa Clara office. For over 17 years, she has advised clients in matters of corporate business immigration, including nonimmigrant visas, labor certifications and adjustments of status. Kristi has served as corporate immigration counsel to emerging and mid-sized clients in a wide range of industries, including technology, consumer products, civil engineering and the legal services sector. In 2010, Kristi briefly stepped aside from her practice to serve as the Congressional Assistant and Immigration Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Immigration Subcommittee. The experience provided Kristi with first-hand insight into the policy development of complex immigration laws at the highest levels. Upon her return to Fragomen in 2012, Kristi began to manage a team serving a large, multinational high-tech corporation with worldwide immigration needs. Kristi is admitted to the Bar in California and attended Santa Clara University (B.A.) and Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D.).
Charlotte Slocombe, Partner, is based in Fragomen's London office. Charlotte oversees the consular and document practice, focusing on U.S. consular services out of the EMEA region. The practice also has oversight of other consular jurisdictions, and the business visa group and document services teams out of Europe. Charlotte is admitted to the Bar in New York and is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. She is a graduate of European Law (LLB Euro) from the University of Warwick and attended a Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School, London.
Of Counsel
Cheryl Escario-Pash, Of Counsel, serves as corporate immigration and strategic counsel to small, mid-sized and large Fortune 500 companies, as well as individuals and emerging companies. Cheryl has represented clients in an array of global industries, including leading high technology companies, consumer product manufacturers, preeminent biopharmaceutical firms, multinational energy and aluminum suppliers, leaders in renewable energy sources and international engineering and architectural firms. Based in Fragomen’s Santa Clara office, Cheryl partners with corporate clients to effectively manage their in-house immigration programs, and manages a team of experienced legal professionals responsible for meeting the employment-based immigration needs of these clients. Cheryl has also successfully provided pro bono legal representation in array of immigration cases, including challenging family-based, asylum and deportation (cancellation of removal) matters.