Megan Naughton

Megan R. Naughton

(she/her/hers)

Partner

Megan R. Naughton

(she/her/hers)

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    Megan Naughton, co-chair of the firm’s Immigration Group, has more than two decades of experience successfully handling U.S. business immigration matters. She represents a wide range of clients, from start-up to Fortune 500 companies, in a variety of industries, including financial services, insurance, technology, manufacturing, and higher education.

    U.S. Business Immigration Advice

    Megan advises employers on the best way to employ candidates and retain employees who need U.S. immigration sponsorship. She guides clients through an assessment of temporary and permanent options, and issues involving timing and cost. She also provides advice regarding employee pay and benefits, promotion, relocation, travel, and termination related to employees requiring sponsorship. Megan has developed best practices for employers regarding immigration sponsorship.

    Preparation and Filing of U.S. Immigration Cases

    Megan prepares visa petitions and business immigration cases for submission to government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of State. These cases include, but are not limited to, petitions and applications for temporary business visitors, temporary employment visas, and exchange visitors, as well as Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) applications and employment-based immigrant petitions, including outstanding researchers and extraordinary ability cases. As a Six Sigma Green Belt, Megan has overseen the efficient preparation and filing of thousands of successful cases.

    Immigration Compliance

    Megan counsels employers on the Immigration Reform and Control Act and related issues, including I-9 and worksite enforcement issues. She provides training to employers on their I-9 obligations, and responds to government audits and site visits regarding sponsored employees. She also has provided immigration compliance training to human resources professionals, recruiters, executives and managers, business owners, and in-house counsel for a variety of clients and business organizations, including one of the world's largest chemical and pharmaceutical companies, as well as one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S.

    Immigration Strategies for U.S. Start-ups

    Megan assesses visa options for new companies in the United States, and prepares and files applications in highly scrutinized immigration categories on behalf of start-ups. She successfully assisted many British, Canadian, Danish, French, German and Italian -owned companies in their efforts to bring employees to the United States in E-2 status as managers and essential workers.

    Pro Bono

    Megan regularly provides immigration assistance on a pro bono basis. She helped a diplomat from the Democratic Republic of the Congo obtain asylum in the United States. She routinely represents children in special juvenile immigrant visa petitions, enabling them to obtain U.S. permanent resident status.

    A frequent author on pressing topics shaping immigration law, Megan most recently wrote "The H-1B Quagmire: Colleges and Universities Develop Programs to Combat H-1B Gridlock," and "Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs Have Visa Options," both published in the Connecticut Law Tribune. She served as a peer editor for the treatise Business Immigration Law & Practice, published by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

    Megan has served as a faculty member for Sterling Educational Services' immigration series. She frequently speaks for the Connecticut Business Industry Association, as well as the Connecticut Bar Association, on immigration-related topics.
     

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Counseled one of the 30 largest financial institutions and one of the five largest insurance companies in the United States with regard to post-acquisition I-9 compliance issues and provided guidance for self-audit.

      • Routinely assist multinational companies in staffing their new U.S. offices by successfully obtaining H-1B, E-2 and L-1 status for their executives and technical personnel.

      • Enable biotechnology companies, educational institutions, and hospitals to retain valuable key scientists, researchers, chemists, and professors by obtaining both temporary and permanent immigration status, including Outstanding Researchers and Extraordinary Ability Aliens.

      • Routinely apply for and obtain permanent resident status for employees of our corporate clients through the Alien Labor Certification process through the DOL’s PERM system.

      • Representation of a New York City-based global management consulting firm to secure an approved L-1 Blanket petition. Converted the majority of its H-1B workforce to L-1B status at U.S. Consulates in India and China. This has allowed for more flexibility regarding staffing, compensation, and client service and no further concerns about H-1B dependency.

      • Representation of a Connecticut-based global technology company concerning one of its employees who was denied a pending PERM application. The U.S. Department of Labor indicated that the company did not list all of its requirements on the PERM application even though the requirements were listed in the ad and that this was prejudicial to U.S. workers. Robinson+Cole refiled the PERM application and successfully argued that the requirements were in fact listed on the application as an alternative and that this was appropriate. The case was reopened relatively quickly, and the employee received her permanent resident status.

    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      American Bar Association (1998 - present)

      Connecticut Bar Association (1998 - present)

      American Immigration Lawyers Association (1999 - present)

      American Immigration Lawyers Association, Connecticut Chapter
      Past Chair of Technology Committee (1999 - present)

      National Association of College and University Attorneys (2010 - present)

      National Association of Foreign Student Advisors (2010 - present)
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2013 to 2015.

      Selected as a Rising Star in the Connecticut Super Lawyers list for 2011 and 2012.

      Joseph F. Noonan Award for Outstanding Legal Scholarship

      Fleming James Jr. Award for Excellence in the Area of Labor Law

      Connecticut Law Tribune, 2010, recognized in Women in the Law: High Achievers yearbook

      Connecticut Center for Children's Advocacy, 2010 Champion of Children Award

      Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Immigration Law since 2016.

    • Community Involvement

      Community Involvement

      World Affairs Council of Connecticut
      Board Member

      Center for Children's Advocacy at the University of Connecticut School of Law
      Outside Immigration Counsel

      Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc.
      Board of Directors (2015 - 2020)
  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "Constructing a Successful Workforce: Hiring and Retaining Foreign National Engineers," co-authored with Lauren M. Sigg, published in the December newsletter of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (December 2022)
      • » more info

      "Hiring and Retaining Talent: Immigration for Educational Institutions," co-authored with Lauren M. Sigg, published in University Business (9/23/2022)
      • » more info

      "Explore Legal Immigration Options for Construction Companies," published in Construction Executive (8/9/2022)

      "How Fund Managers May Increase the Likelihood That H 1B Sponsorship for Quants and Data Scientist Employees Will Be Approved," co-authored with Jennifer L. Shanley, published in Hedge Fund Law Report (2/6/2020)
      • » more info
      • View article

      "H1B Work Visas Under Attack," published in Business New Haven E-News, co-authored with Joshua S. Mirer and Jennifer L. Shanley (1/31/2018)
      • » more info
      • View article

      "The H-1B Quagmire: Colleges and Universities Develop Programs to Combat H-1B Gridlock," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Lauren M. Sigg (10/21/2016)

      "Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs Have Visa Options," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Lauren M. Sigg and Joshua S. Mirer (10/27/2014)

      "Employment And Immigration Law: The Annual Immigration Gold Rush," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Lauren M. Sigg and Joshua S. Mirer (1/23/2014)

      "Maintaining A Green Card While Working Abroad," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Lauren M. Sigg (10/18/2013)

      "Q&A with Robinson & Cole's Megan Naughton," published in Law360 (4/29/2013)

      "The Ever-Changing Definition of 'Special': New Interpretations Affect Companies Bringing Multinational Managers to U.S.," published in Connecticut Law Tribune (10/31/2011)

      "Foreign-Born Workers Can Fall Into Gaps," published in Connecticut Law Tribune (7/27/2009)

      "Trepidation Over Employee Verification," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Natalia Sharubina, appeared in Employment & Immigration Law insert (4/2008)

      "Immigration Reform Needed to Support Emerging Technologies," published in CT Business Magazine (1/2007)

    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Feeling at Home with I-9s?" co-presented with Lauren M. Sigg, R+C hosted webinar (8/24/2023)
      • » more info

      "Employing Nonimmigrant Workers: Creative Solutions for the Labor Shortage," co-presented with Joshua S. Mirer, as part of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s (CBIA) 2023 Human Resources Conference (3/21/2023)

      "Expanding the Civil Engineering Pipeline: Hiring non-U.S. Citizen Engineers and Students," co-presented with Lauren M. Sigg, sponsored by the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (1/19/2023)
      • » more info

      "Giving Your Hire the Best Chance of H-1B Lottery Selection and Approval," co-presented with Nina B. Pelc-Faszcza (2/14/2022)
      • » more info

      "Compliance Issues When Employing Foreign National Employees or Contractors," co-presented with Lauren M. Sigg, web conference hosted by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) (5/8/2018)
      • » more info

      "Immigration Issues and Compliance," at Connecticut Business & Industry Association (9/22/06)

      "Perm Talk: How to Avoid Stalling on the Road to Permanent Residence," at Cambridge, Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce (9/20/06)

    • News

      R+C in the News

      • March 22, 2023

        Josh Mirer and Megan Naughton Present on Employing Nonimmigrant Workers at CBIA Human Resources Conference

        • » more info
      • October 6, 2022

        Lauren Sigg and Megan Naughton Author University Business Article on Hiring and Retaining International Talent

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 15, 2022

        Megan Naughton Authors Construction Executive Article on Legal Immigration Options for Construction Companies

        • » more info
        • View article
      • February 11, 2020

        Megan Naughton and Jen Shanley Author Article Published in Hedge Fund Law Report

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 20, 2018

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019

        • » more info
        • View article
      • May 23, 2018

        Megan Naughton and Lauren Sigg Offer Insights on Foreign National Compliance Issues

        • » more info
      • February 6, 2018

        Josh Mirer, Megan Naughton, and Jen Shanley Author Article Published in Business New Haven E-News

        • » more info
      • May 11, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Women Lawyers Listed in Best Lawyers Spring Business Edition

        • » more info
      • June 13, 2014

        Hartford Lawyers Promote AILA Immigration Contest

        • » more info
      • January 21, 2014

        Nicole Bernabo Organizes First CBA Labor and Employment Conference

        • » more info
      • November 20, 2013

        R&C Lawyers Write Article for Connecticut Law Tribune

        • » more info
      • April 10, 2013

        Megan Naughton Quoted in the Boston Globe

        • » more info
      • November 21, 2011

        Attorneys Write Articles Published in Connecticut Law Tribune Special Section on Employment and Immigration Law

      • September 10, 2010

        Women in the Law and in the News

      • March 5, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Immigration Attorneys Honored by Center for Children’s Advocacy

        • » more info
      • January 2, 2008

        Robinson & Cole Immigration Partner Interviewed by CBIA for Article

        • » more info

      R+C News Releases

      • August 17, 2023

        78 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 18, 2022

        74 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 19, 2021

        65 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 20, 2020

        61 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 15, 2019

        57 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 15, 2017

        Fifty-Nine Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 15, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017

        • » more info
        • View article
      • October 19, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

        • » more info
        • View article
      • August 18, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016

        • » more info
        • View article
      • April 16, 2015

        Megan Naughton Joins Statewide Legal Services Board of Directors

        • » more info
        • View article
      • October 17, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers

        • » more info
        • View article
      • October 22, 2012

        Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

        • » more info
        • View article
      • May 21, 2010

        Robinson & Cole's Naughton, Mirer, and Sharubina Named Pro Bono Legal Champion's by the Center for Children's Advocacy

        • » more info
        • View article