Fragomen Growing Rapidly in Houston, Adds Respected Immigration Leaders to Office

Fragomen, the world’s leading immigration service provider devoted exclusively to counseling corporate clients on global immigration law, is further bolstering its capabilities in Houston with the addition of two highly regarded immigration lawyers: R. Blake Chisam, a firm partner with extraordinary credentials in government, academia and private practice, who is relocating from Fragomen’s Washington, D.C. office; and Ben Willis, formerly practice leader and special counsel in the firm’s Brisbane office, who has moved here from Australia. 

Since opening its Houston office last January, Fragomen has enjoyed significant growth here, much of it coming from companies in the global energy industry. The firm has seen a sharp rise in new clients as organizations with important global talent mobility initiatives and operations increasingly recognize the value of its unique international capabilities. 

“When we joined the firm in Houston earlier this year, we were confident that Fragomen’s exclusive focus on immigration, its unsurpassed network of international offices and its in-depth understanding of the global energy industry would be appealing to companies here,” said Kelly Cobb, a partner who helped launch the office. “Adding such impressive talent will only strengthen that appeal. Blake Chisam has an unrivaled understanding of the confluence of business, government and politics, bringing truly strategic insights to client engagements. The addition of Ben Willis provides an invaluable international knowledge and perspective. ” 

Prior to joining Fragomen in 2011, Chisam was senior counsel to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, where he focused on policy and oversight related to an array of immigration-related issues. He also served as staff director and chief counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and senior policy advisor to U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). Chisam, a sought-after speaker and guest lecturer, is co-author of the book Immigration Practice. In 2000, he was award the Meritorious Public Service Award by former Attorney General Janet Reno. 

Willis, an Australian Accredited Immigration Law Specialist, is now director of client services in Fragomen’s Houston office, where he focuses primarily on servicing the energy sector and coordinating the global mobility needs of international clients. For the past several years he has worked primarily to secure the most qualified employees for the firm’s energy clients and their international projects. Importantly, Willis is helping to ensure that Fragomen’s corporate clients maintain compliance with the many challenging regulations in multiple jurisdictions for their global workforces. 

“Fragomen has long recognized the benefits of combining global resources with an on-the-ground presence in the communities where our clients are located,” said Chisam. “Houston is an exciting, dynamic and internationally focused business center. Expanding our team here is clear evidence of the firm’s confidence in Houston’s future and its commitment to our business here.” 

“Our Houston clients are very similar to our Brisbane clients in that the personal relationship is of critical importance," commented Willis. “By being based here, I am able to leverage Fragomen’s extensive worldwide network and provide our clients with accessible global mobility resources right here on the ground in Houston— irrespective of where they need to mobilize their employees.”