Partner
David Grunblatt
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Languages
- English
Contact information
David understands that the immigration environment in which he operates—and the business environment in which his clients operate—are both constantly evolving, and he is positioned to confront the fluid mobility challenges they face with innovative solutions.
With more than three decades of immigration experience, David helps clients seamlessly manage the movement of their international workforce, using the full range of nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories. He advises corporations from a range of industries, including financial services, media, publishing and luxury retail, as well as high-net-worth individuals and not-for-profit organizations. David counsels clients on their most complex immigration matters, including issues resulting from mergers, acquisitions and other corporate restructurings, and ultimately helps them to maintain compliant programs as the immigration environment evolves. He has particular experience advising clients on the government compliance requirements of the I-9 program.
David draws on his vast knowledge to mentor other lawyers and legal assistants and has received the Sam Williamson Award from the American Immigration Lawyers Association in recognition of these efforts.
Education
- New York University School of Law, LL.M., 1983
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 1977
- Brooklyn College, B.A., 1973
More from David
Admissions
Bar Admissions: New York
Court Admissions: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law
Awards
Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2001 to 2026
Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2006 to 2022
Named to Chambers USA, 2007 to 2026
Listed in Lawdragon's 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2024
Listed in Lawdragon’s 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers, 2023
Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year: New York Immigration Law” by Best Lawyers in America, 2021
Listed in The Legal 500 United States, 2009 to 2021
Listed in JD Supra Reader’s Choice: Immigration, 2020
Listed in New York Magazine "New York Area's Best Lawyers"
Listed in International Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration
Recipient, Empire State Counsel Silver Supporter Award, 2011 to 2012
Professional accomplishments
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Member, Liaison Committee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Headquarters, AILA
Member, New York County Lawyers Association
Member, New York State Bar Association
Member, Practical Law Company Advisory Board – Labor and Employment
Former Chair, Vermont Service Center Liaison Committee, AILA
Former Chair, New York District Liaison Committee, AILA
Former Chair, National Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, AILA
Former Chair, Committee on Immigration and Nationality Law, New York County Lawyers Association
Former Chair, Committee on Immigration and Nationality Law, New York State Bar Association
Experience
Advised private equity firms on a range of visa matters as they sought out best-in-class finance professionals to maintain their competitive edge
Served as U.S. immigration counsel to high-profile media clients. This included facilitating the visa and green card process for C-suite executives; partnering with management to significantly expand a company’s digital offerings; and advising on the nonimmigrant visa process and complex green card processes for prominent journalists
Partnered with a fast-growing company to develop and expand its global immigration program to keep up with its tremendous growth over the last decade. This included managing the immigration consequences of ongoing corporate change (e.g., corporate restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and joint ventures); achieving extraordinarily high success rates in responding to Requests of Evidence and avoiding H-1B visa petition denials during the H-1 Cap process; and advising in-house counsel on the management of the I-485 Adjustment of Status surge following sudden quota changes
Publications and lectures
David has written and contributed to numerous articles for legal and professional publications. Following are select examples:
Author, “Challenges In Lowering H-1B Worker Pay During Pandemic.” Law360, 27 April 2020.
Author, “REAL ID and Enhanced Driver Licenses: Are TSA Agents As Confused As We Are?” Blog, 30 January 2020.
Author, “It’s Preponderance, People: Addressing Misapplication of the Burden of Proof.” AILA Immigration Practice Pointers 2019-20 Ed., 28 June 2019.
Author, “RFEs, NOIDS, and Challenging Denials.” AILA Immigration Practice Pointers 2017-18 Ed., June 2017.
Contributor, “The Diplomatic Visas Handbook, 2nd Ed.” AILA, 30 November 2017.
Contributor, “Business Immigration: Law & Practice, 2nd Ed.” AILA, 25 August 2017.
Contributor, “Advanced Ethical Issues in Business Immigration.” AILA Immigration Practice Pointers 2016-17 Ed., June 2016.
Author, “Complex Visa Issues for Entrepreneurs.” AILA Immigration Practice Pointers 2016-17 Ed., June 2016.
Contributor, “An L-1 Survival Kit – Tips and Strategies in Today’s Environment.” AILA Immigration Practice Pointers 2015-16 Ed., June 2015.
Author, “B-1 Business Visitors.” AILA Immigration Practice Pointers 2015-16 Ed., June 2015.
Co-author, “American Immigration Council (AIC) Comments to the March 24, 2015 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Policy Memorandum, ‘L-1B Adjudications Policy’ (PM 602-0111).” American Immigration Lawyers Association, 8 May 2015.
Speaker, “Walking the Line – Approaches to Dual Representation in the Immigration Context.” Step Right Up to the Immigration Circus: 15th Annual AILA NY Chapter Symposium, 1 December 2012.
David’s insights
June 5, 2026 | Fragomen news
August 21, 2025 | Awards
June 6, 2025 | Fragomen news
