Immigration attorney Sarah Hawk has arrived at Barnes & Thornburg at a demanding time in her practice. Hawk, who joined as a partner from Polsinelli, is coming with Terra Martin, as of counsel, and Elizabeth Wei, a paralegal.

The closure of U.S. consulates abroad because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, on top of the Trump administration's increased immigration scrutiny, Hawk said, is jeopardizing the visa status of many foreign nationals, including clients who are doctors, scientific researchers and business executives.

"In this critical time, we couldn't ask for a better resource for our clients than Sarah," said Barnes & Thornburg's labor and employment department leader, Kenneth Yerkes, in a statement. "COVID-19 has complicated many employees' immigration statuses, whether it stems from remote work, reductions in force, border closings or shortened internship programs." 

Sarah Hawk, Barnes & Thornburg, Atlanta. (Courtesy photo)

Hawk, who joined Barnes & Thornburg in April to head its Southeastern immigration practice, said her move was in the works before the pandemic hit. Her practice representing universities, corporations and individuals has doubled over the past two years, she said, so the firm's national immigration practice and "high touch" approach with clients were draws.

She explained that, before the pandemic, the strong economy had increased demand for skilled foreign workers, especially in health care, but under the Trump administration the time and work needed to gain visas also increased. Visa extensions, for example, are now treated as brand new cases.

"It's a challenging time," said Hawk, who has 20 years of corporate immigration experience. "Under this administration, we've seen an increase in scrutiny on all immigration cases–especially since the COVID-19 pandemic."

U.S. consulates have been closed since March 20, she said, creating problems for foreign nationals who need visas, because they must return to their country of origin for a new visa stamp in their passport. Travel abroad is still a risky proposition, she added, and U.S. travel bans for China, the U.K., the Schengen Area of Europe (encompassing almost all of the European Union), and Iran mean people can't get passport stamps.

Hawk said one client, an Italian doctor at a local university who just changed jobs, was about to return to Italy for a new visa stamp when the pandemic made travel too risky. The doctor's current work visa expires in June, which could put her in immigration limbo.

Several multinational businesses that Hawk represents are unable to bring foreign executives from the U.K., Germany and China into the United States because U.S. visa processing is on hold. "I'm hoping the consulates will be opening up within the next couple of months," she said, adding that some have started scheduling visa appointments—but for September.

It's also a challenging time for foreign nationals graduating from university or law school, Hawk said. Many had lined up jobs with U.S. employers that would extend their visas—only to lose them because of the pandemic.

"Immigration attorneys are working overtime, trying to help clients find other options, including other [visa] sponsors," she said.

BRIEFLY

Jeremy Berry has joined litigation and white-collar defense boutique Chilivis Grubman Dalbey & Warner as a partner from Hilliard Starkey Law. Berry handles government affairs and regulatory matters, government contracts, campaign finance, elections law and investigations. Berry, a former Atlanta city attorney, was previously a partner in Dentons' government and public policy practice.

Freeman Mathis & Gary has expanded its insurance coverage team with partner W. Shawn Bingham in its Atlanta headquarters. Bingham, who joined from Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, counsels insurance companies on coverage matters and defends them in bad faith actions from insureds. He also handles business disputes and class action claims.

The Robbins Firm, which handles business and government law, has hired three associates. Melanie Johnson was deputy executive counsel for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and earned a J.D. in 2013 from the University of Arkansas Law School. M. Koty Newman, a litigator, joined from Freeman Mathis & Gary. Newman also clerked for U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia after graduating from the University of Georgia Law School in 2016.

Danielle Hernandez, a 2020 graduate of Emory Law School, will join the firm on May 18. Hernandez is the first attorney the Robbins Firm has hired directly from law school, where she was editor of the Emory Corporate Governance and Accountability Review. 

Plaintiffs employment law firm Barrett & Farahany has hired two associates, Nikki Bradley and Adian Miller. Bradley joined from King & Spalding, where she handled litigation, after earning a J.D. in 2017 from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School. Miller was previously at plaintiffs firm Morgan & Morgan, handling workplace cases for employees. She is a 2006 graduate of American University Law School. 

Both are representing employees on claims involving the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Global firm Clyde & Co. has promoted 13 lawyers to equity partner worldwide, as of May 1, including Taylor Davis in Atlanta. Davis practices insurance law.

DLA Piper also has made promotions globally for 67 lawyers, including Forrest Neal in Atlanta. Neal, who became a partner on April 1, is a corporate lawyer who represents private equity firms and corporations in M&A deals.