Important Updates
Important Updates
September 22, 2025 | United StatesThe Associated Press: What to Know About the H-1B Visa Trump Has Targeted With $100,000 Fees, Generating Confusion, Fear
September 22, 2025 | Japan, United States2025年9月22日 アメリカ移民法速報
September 22, 2025 | PolandGazeta Prawna: Nowe przepisy o zatrudnianiu cudzoziemców 2025. Spada liczba zezwoleń na pracę
September 22, 2025 | GermanyHuman Resources Manager: Flucht und Arbeitsmigration: (noch) ein Dickicht in der Behördenlandschaft
September 22, 2025 | IndonesiaIndonesia: Work Permit Processing Delays due to System Outage
September 22, 2025 | United StatesThe Associated Press: What to Know About the H-1B Visa Trump Has Targeted With $100,000 Fees, Generating Confusion, Fear
September 22, 2025 | Japan, United States2025年9月22日 アメリカ移民法速報
September 22, 2025 | PolandGazeta Prawna: Nowe przepisy o zatrudnianiu cudzoziemców 2025. Spada liczba zezwoleń na pracę
September 22, 2025 | GermanyHuman Resources Manager: Flucht und Arbeitsmigration: (noch) ein Dickicht in der Behördenlandschaft
September 22, 2025 | IndonesiaIndonesia: Work Permit Processing Delays due to System Outage
September 22, 2025 | United StatesThe Associated Press: What to Know About the H-1B Visa Trump Has Targeted With $100,000 Fees, Generating Confusion, Fear
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Senior Associate

Elizabeth Cleveland Wakefield

  • People

Senior Associate

Elizabeth Cleveland Wakefield

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 281 605 3154

F:+1 281 605 3150

Houston, TX

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1415 Louisiana Street, Suite 2350

Houston TX 77002

United States

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Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 281 605 3154

F:+1 281 605 3150

Houston, TX

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1415 Louisiana Street, Suite 2350

Houston TX 77002

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 281 605 3154

F:+1 281 605 3150

Houston, TX

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1415 Louisiana Street, Suite 2350

Houston TX 77002

United States

Connect via Linkedin
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Elizabeth is a Senior Associate at Fragomen’s Houston office, where she primarily advises clients on employment-based immigration matters. She partners with in-house counsel, human resources and executives to implement and execute strategies to meet clients’ most pressing U.S. immigration challenges. Elizabeth provides immigration solutions to businesses regarding temporary work visas, immigrant petitions and naturalization, as well as compliance and corporate restructuring issues. She has advised companies of all sizes in mergers, acquisitions and other corporate reorganizations, ensuring successful immigration compliance efforts.

Elizabeth is a regular public speaker and author. Her thought leadership has been showcased in numerous forums and spans a variety of topics—from the green card process to the impact of COVID-19 on U.S. immigration. Additionally, Elizabeth prioritizes community outreach and pro bono work in her practice. She currently serves as Fragomen Houston’s pro bono ambassador, helping to funnel public service work to the Houston office and its staff.

Prior to joining Fragomen, Elizabeth worked for another full-service immigration firm, where she represented corporate clients ranging in size from Fortune Global 100 corporations to family businesses. She also served as a Legal Fellow with the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, where she researched and composed memoranda analyzing U.S. immigration law for the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During law school, Elizabeth served as a Student Attorney with the University of Houston Immigration Clinic, where she helped to win an appeal from the Board of Immigration Appeals and contributed to federal policy memoranda. Elizabeth was also selected as a Research Assistant for a professor in the clinic. In addition, Elizabeth served as a Fellow with Mosaic Family Services, where she assisted clients with asylum cases and T and U visas.

Elizabeth speaks English and is proficient in Spanish.

During law school, Elizabeth served as a Student Attorney with the University of Houston Immigration Clinic, where she helped to win an appeal from the Board of Immigration Appeals and contributed to federal policy memoranda. Elizabeth was also selected as a Research Assistant for a professor in the clinic. In addition, Elizabeth served as a Fellow with Mosaic Family Services, where she assisted clients with asylum cases and T and U visas.

Elizabeth speaks English and is proficient in Spanish.

Education

  • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 2012
  • Sewanee: The University of the South, B.A., 2008

More from Elizabeth

Admissions

Bar Admissions: Texas

Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law

Awards

Named to Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2024

Named to Houston Business Journal’s 2023 Women Who Mean Business Awards (American City Business Journals), 2023

Public Interest Fellowship Award, University of Houston Law Center, 2010

Wilkins Academic Merit Scholar, Sewanee: The University of the South, 2004-2008

Order of the Gownsmen, Sewanee: The University of the South, 2006 to 2008

Professional accomplishments

Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Member, Houston Bar Association

Member, Houston Young Lawyers Association

Member, Texas Bar Association

Member, Asia Society

Publications and lectures

Speaker, “GME Leaders Exchange | Houston.” Global Mobility Executive, Houston, TX, 5 June 2025.

Co-author, “Prepare your global energy workforce for the second Trump administration.” Energy Voice, 21 January 2025.

Co-author, “Work Within the Water.” World Pipelines, Volume 23, Number 8, Pages 35-38, August 2023.

Speaker, “Hiring Foreign Nationals in the U.S.: What HR Needs to Know.”  2023 Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues, Houston, Texas, 13 July 2023.

Speaker, “’Right on the Money’ by Alan Jackson: Wage issues and processing updates.” AILA Texas Spring Conference, Austin, Texas, 31 March 2023.

Speaker, “Global Mobility Executive Houston Roundtable.” Global Mobility Executive Leaders Exchange, Houston, Texas, 30 March 2023.

Co-author, “White Paper: Immigration in the Offshore Energy and Maritime Industry.” Fragomen, 15 March 2023.

Speaker, “T’Expat Panel – Everything An Expat Needs To Know.” British American Business Council Texas, Webinar, 28 February 2023.

Co-author, “Don’t Let a Lack of U.S. Immigration Due Diligence Derail Corporate Reorganization.” Texas Lawyer, 14 September 2022.

Speaker, “Career Planning and Immigration: What HR Professionals Need to Know.” SHRM Gulf Coast Symposium, Houston, Texas, 28 July 2022.

Speaker, “T’Expat Panel – Everything An Expat Needs To Know.” British American Business Council Texas, Webinar, 5 April 2022.

Speaker, “T’Expat Panel – Everything An Expat Needs To Know.” British American Business Council Texas, Webinar, 17 March 2022.

Speaker, “911! An HR Toolkit to Prevent and Address U.S. Immigration Emergencies.” SHRM Gulf Coast Symposium, Houston, Texas, 3 August 2021.

Speaker, “Immigration Family Planning: What HR Professionals Need to Know.” SHRM Gulf Coast Symposium, Houston, Texas, 3 August 2021.

Speaker, “The Impact of COVID-19 and Presidential Proclamations on U.S. Immigration.” Association of Corporate Counsel Houston, Houston, Texas, 18 June 2020.

Speaker, “COVID-19 and U.S. Immigration.” SHRM HR Houston June General Meeting, Houston, Texas, 18 June 2020.

Elizabeth’s insights

July 31, 2025 | Meeting

Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues: Managing Global Immigration in Mergers and AcquisitionsRead more

June 5, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | HoustonRead more

January 22, 2025 | Media mentions

Energy Voice: Prepare Your Global Energy Workforce for the Second Trump AdministrationRead more
More related insights

Elizabeth’s insights

July 31, 2025 | Meeting

Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues: Managing Global Immigration in Mergers and AcquisitionsRead more

June 5, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | HoustonRead more

January 22, 2025 | Media mentions

Energy Voice: Prepare Your Global Energy Workforce for the Second Trump AdministrationRead more
More related insights

Elizabeth’s insights

July 31, 2025 | Meeting

Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues: Managing Global Immigration in Mergers and AcquisitionsRead more

June 5, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | HoustonRead more

January 22, 2025 | Media mentions

Energy Voice: Prepare Your Global Energy Workforce for the Second Trump AdministrationRead more
More related insights

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 281 605 3154

F:+1 281 605 3150

Houston, TX

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1415 Louisiana Street, Suite 2350

Houston TX 77002

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Elizabeth’s insights

July 31, 2025 | Meeting

Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues: Managing Global Immigration in Mergers and AcquisitionsRead more

June 5, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | HoustonRead more

January 22, 2025 | Media mentions

Energy Voice: Prepare Your Global Energy Workforce for the Second Trump AdministrationRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 281 605 3154

F:+1 281 605 3150

Houston, TX

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1415 Louisiana Street, Suite 2350

Houston TX 77002

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Elizabeth’s insights

July 31, 2025 | Meeting

Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues: Managing Global Immigration in Mergers and AcquisitionsRead more

June 5, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | HoustonRead more

January 22, 2025 | Media mentions

Energy Voice: Prepare Your Global Energy Workforce for the Second Trump AdministrationRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 281 605 3154

F:+1 281 605 3150

Houston, TX

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

1415 Louisiana Street, Suite 2350

Houston TX 77002

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Elizabeth’s insights

July 31, 2025 | Meeting

Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues: Managing Global Immigration in Mergers and AcquisitionsRead more

June 5, 2025 | Conference

GME Leaders Exchange | HoustonRead more

January 22, 2025 | Media mentions

Energy Voice: Prepare Your Global Energy Workforce for the Second Trump AdministrationRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

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2025年9月22日 アメリカ移民法速報Learn more

Media mentions

Gazeta Prawna: Nowe przepisy o zatrudnianiu cudzoziemców 2025. Spada liczba zezwoleń na pracę

Partner Karolina Schiffter discusses how new regulations have led Polish companies to adjust their use of work permits.

Learn more

Media mentions

Human Resources Manager: Flucht und Arbeitsmigration: (noch) ein Dickicht in der Behördenlandschaft

Partner Marius Tollenaere examines Germany’s immigration administration and strategies to support skilled labor.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Associated Press: What to Know About the H-1B Visa Trump Has Targeted With $100,000 Fees, Generating Confusion, Fear

Partner Bo Cooper discusses the potential implications of the $100,000 H-1B fee for employers, universities and research programs relying on international talent.

Learn more

Blog post

The Future of UK Residency and Citizenship: Longer Waits, Tougher Rules?

Partner Natasha Catterson discusses how proposed changes to UK residency and citizenship rules could affect immigration planning and applicant eligibility.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Partner Julia Onslow-Cole Featured in Financial Times Spotlight on 2025 Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards

Partner Julia Onslow-Cole is recognised for her work shaping global immigration and workforce mobility.

Learn more

Awards

Fragomen Receives Ally in Action Award from Oasis Legal Services

Fragomen was recognized by Oasis Legal Services with the Ally in Action Award at their 8th Annual Community Celebration: Liberation Sounds Like Us, which took place on September 12, 2025 in Oakland, California.

Learn more

Video

Summer 2025 Highlights | #FragomenFC - Ep. 11

Fragomen FC hosts recap major international football transfers and tournaments played this summer.

Learn more

Media mentions

The PIE: US Visa Changes “Further Widening Global Equity Gap”

Partner Aaron Blumberg highlights how careful planning can help international students navigate US visa changes and avoid disruptions to study and travel.

Learn more

Media mentions

Agência Eixos: Inovação e contratação de talentos estrangeiros: o desafio do compliance em novos cenários

Managing Director Diogo Kloper examines the challenges of hiring foreign talent in Brazil’s evolving energy sector and the role of compliance in supporting innovation.

Learn more

Blog post

Skilled Worker Visa 2025: Impact on UK Aviation Roles

Manager Adam Hickling, Senior Immigration Consultant Katya Fedorenko and Paralegal Sasindie Ambawatte explore how upcoming changes to the UK's skilled worker visa scheme may affect recruitment and retention in the aviation sector.

Learn more

Media mentions

Construction Management: Crackdown on Illegal Working in Construction

Manager Kirsty Moore highlights the need for UK construction employers to maintain compliance and manage risks.

Learn more

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