![Porthole headshot image of Fragomen [SanDiego][Partner][KarineWenger]](https://www.fragomen.com/a/web/7XPE5apMjh33N4zzjH4HeF/3hHH4d/fragomen_karine_wenger_porthole.jpg)
Partner
Karine Wenger
Country / Territory
Get in touch
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- French
Contact information
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
5355 Mira Sorrento Place, Suite 750
San Diego CA 92121
United States
Karine, managing partner of Fragomen’s San Diego office, represents a range of clients from single investors to Fortune 500 and 100 companies.
She boasts a deep background in advisory work, having guided countless individual employees through the complexities of the immigration system early in her career. As her practice grew, her work shifted to program design and management—helping clients understand their immigration challenges from a high-level strategic perspective.
Karine excels at integrating immigration strategy into her clients’ business goals and objectives, using immigration law to help them grow and prosper.
- Individual investors and entrepreneurs value her ability to present clear, viable options that synthesize their unique personal and business goals.
- She represents young, midsize companies that are shifting to a larger workforce as a consequence of their growth, ensuring that their evolving policies and programs are compliant, manageable, efficient and cost-effective.
- Fragomen’s largest corporate clients rely on her to efficiently manage their immigrant workforces while maintaining the highest level of employee satisfaction “on the ground”.
Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D., 1998
- University of California, San Diego, B.A., 1994
More from Karine
Admissions
Bar Admissions: California
Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law
Awards
Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2018 to 2025
Listed in San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence in Law, 2024
Listed in San Diego Business Journal’s Women of Influence in Law, 2023, 2025
Inn of Court Pro Bono Publico Award, Casa Cornelia Law Center’s 10th Annual La Mancha Awards, 2017
Named one of the “San Diego County Top Attorneys,” San Diego Source, 2014 to 2015
Professional accomplishments
Member, Lawyers Club of San Diego
Member, San Diego Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Advisor Emeriti, International Law section of the State Bar of California
Editorial Board of the California International Law Journal
Past AILA Chair and Executive Committee member, San Diego Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Executive Committee member, International Law section of the State Bar of California
Board of Directors for the San Diego French-American Chamber of Commerce
Member, Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Experience
Represents global leaders in the telecommunication industry, creating and implementing immigration programs customized to their specific needs, and managing them in a streamlined and cost-effective manner.
Provides innovative solutions and legal guidance in all aspects of employment-based immigration ranging from nonimmigrant issues to obtaining permanent residency.
Assists start-up and small international businesses in strategizing and facilitating the employment of foreign personnel through L-1 intra company transfers and establishing E-1 and E-2 registration at U.S. consulates around the world.
Manages immigration programs on behalf of companies in the hospitality, entertainment, shipbuilding, manufacturing, and biotechnology industries in all aspects of securing immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.
Publications and lectures
Speaker, “Are You Prepared? Key U.S. Immigration Compliance Updates for Employers.” Fragomen, Webinar, 24 March 2025.
Speaker, “TSD Spotlight: Tech Worker Immigration Alerts with Fragomen.” Tech San Diego, 14 February 2023.
Speaker, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Building a Powerful, Inclusive, and Equitable Work Environment for a Diverse Workforce.” Legal + Strategic Insights 2022 San Diego SHRM Conference, San Diego, CA, 11 March 2022.
Contributor, “Rethinking immigration policies for STEM doctorates.” Science, 27 January 2021.
Speaker, “The CWS Summit Court.” 15th Annual CWS Summit North America, San Diego, CA, 9 September 2019.
Contributor, “ICE Knocking on Doors of Companies Hiring Foreign Tech Students.” Bloomberg Law - Daily Labor Report, 13 August 2019.
Contributor, “H-1B visa policies favor large companies, study says.” The San Diego Union-Tribune and Los Angeles Times, 5 August 2019.
Speaker, “New Immigration Realities - Changes in Immigration Policies, Regulations and Trends.” Tech San Diego HR Roundtable, San Diego, CA, 27 March 2019.
Contributor, "USCIS Policy Changes Put STEM Students on Shaky Footing." Law360, 25 July 2018.
Presents/lectures extensively to seminar groups in the United States, including but not limited to:
- 20th Annual AILA California Chapters Conference
- AILA 2007 Spring Fundamentals of Immigration Law Conference
- AILA’s Conference “The Essentials of Immigration Law for Paralegals, Legal Assistants, and Law Office Staff”
- State Bar of California
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego Chapter
- Sterling Education Services
Karine’s insights
June 6, 2025 | Media mentions
October 28, 2024 | Awards
