Deborah is Senior Counsel in the firm’s Atlanta office. Her experience includes providing strategic counsel to multinational clients on a variety of matters related to business immigration law, regulation, policy, and compliance.
She has represented international companies in alien employment certification proceedings before the U.S. Department of Labor, and has extensive experience advising clients with temporary and permanent visa petitions before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
Deborah frequently partners with clients to develop effective programs to audit and maintain compliance with immigration regulations and policies. She has developed immigration training programs for corporate human resources and legal professionals.
Education
University of Michigan | J.D., 1983
Emory University | B.A., 1980
Awards
Listed in Best Lawyers, Immigration Law, 2006-2020
Named Lawyer of the Year, Immigration Law - Atlanta in Best Lawyers in America, 2017
Listed in Chambers USA
Named to Georgia Super Lawyers, 2005, 2007-2009, 2011-2016
Listed in Who’s Who in American Law
Professional Accomplishments / Memberships
Bar admissions: Georgia
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
Co-founder, Global Personnel Alliance
Board Member, Reinhardt University Board of Trustees
Board Member, Emory University Board of Trustees
Publications and Lectures
Speaker, “Hot Topics in Business Immigration.” Seminar, 8th Annual USA India Business Summit and 23rd Annual Georgia Tech Global Business Forum, Atlanta, Georgia, September 20, 2017.
Speaker, The Globally-Mobile Workforce: Building Successful (&Compliant!) Corporate Immigration Policies, Atlanta, Georgia, February 28, 2017.
Moderator, "From Campus to Company: OPT and H-1B Strategies." Panel discussion, Council for Global Immigration Symposium, Washington D.C., June 2015.
Panelist, "You missed the H-1B Cap, Now What?" Panel discussion, AILA Georgia-Alabama Chapter 3rd Annual Immigration Law Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, February 2015.
Author, “Annual Review: Corporate Immigration, United States.” Financier Worldwide (September 2013): 4-7. Online.
Moderator, “Immigration Challenges and New Proposals Affecting the Employment of Indian Nationals in the United States.” Panel discussion, U.S. India Business Summit, Atlanta, Georgia, June 2013.
Co-Author, “TalkingPoint: Issues in Corporate Immigration.” Financier Worldwide, (June 2013): Online.
Speaker, “Religious Worker Cases.” Lecture, AILA Pro Bono Lunch and Learn, Atlanta, Georgia, March 2013.
Author, “United States.” In Corporate Immigration 2014, edited by Julia Onslow-Cole, 185-190. London: Getting the Deal Through, 2013. Print.
Author, “United States.” In Corporate Immigration 2013, edited by Julia Onslow- Cole, 155-160. London: Getting the Deal Through, 2012. Print.
Author, “United States.” In Corporate Immigration 2012, edited by Julia Onslow- Cole, 185-190. London : Getting the Deal Through, 2011. Print.
Speaker, “Outbound Immigration – The Americas.” Lecture, AILA Annual Conference, San Diego, California, June 2011.
Speaker, Global Personnel Alliance Annual Business Immigration Conference, Washington, D.C., May 2011.
Speaker, “Summary of Immigration Visa Categories.” Lecture, GA State Bar Business Immigration Seminar, April 2011.
Speaker, “Global and Mobile - Employing an International Workforce.” Lecture, NOVA SHRM International HR SIG, McLean, Virginia, March 2011.
Speaker, Global Personnel Alliance Annual Business Immigration Conference, Washington, D.C., May 2010.
Speaker, AILA 2010 Midyear CLE Conference, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, January 2010.
Speaker, Global Personnel Alliance Annual Business Immigration Conference, Washington, D.C., May 2009.
Speaker, “Hot Topics in Business Immigration.” Seminar, 8th Annual USA India Business Summit and 23rd Annual Georgia Tech Global Business Forum, Atlanta, Georgia, September 20, 2017.