Jennifer Shanley

Jennifer L. Shanley

(she/her/hers)

Partner

Jennifer L. Shanley

(she/her/hers)

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    As a member of Robinson+Cole’s Immigration Group, Jennifer Shanley focuses her practice on U.S. immigration law, with an emphasis on business immigration matters.

    Immigration

    Jennifer helps multinational companies, in particular, companies in the Manufacturing and Aerospace industry, as well as Financial companies, staff their U.S. offices by obtaining appropriate immigration status for employees. Her efforts allow research organizations, academic institutions, and manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies, including some Fortune 100 companies, to retain key business people, scientists, researchers, and other professionals. She obtains both temporary and permanent immigration status for key workers. Her practice encompasses all business-related nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions. Jennifer frequently handles multinational intracompany transfers, transfers for individuals with specialized knowledge, as well as petitions for outstanding researchers and individuals with extraordinary ability. She has helped secure immigration approvals for hundreds of employees, helping business clients attract and secure top talented individuals across a range of industries. While doing so, Jennifer uses her Six Sigma Green Belt certification to streamline the immigration process for clients, in order to decrease process variation and increase value.

    Employment Eligibility – Verification and Compliance

    Jennifer counsels employers on the Immigration Reform and Control Act and related issues, including employment verifications, I-9 matters, and E-Verify. She also provides guidance with export control regulations.

    Jennifer regularly writes about immigration-related topics. Her recent article, "H-1B and Beyond: What are the Options for Hiring Foreign Nationals?" published in Industry Week, discusses the most common work-authorized status categories through which manufacturers can sponsor foreign nationals to fill at least some of the unprecedented 800,000 job openings. She also co-authored the piece “How Fund Managers May Increase the Likelihood That H 1B Sponsorship for Quants and Data Scientist Employees Will Be Approved," published in Hedge Fund Law Report.

    Pro Bono

    Jennifer is committed to pro bono service. She recently assisted with the firm’s successful effort to secure the required immigration status for a dancer from Bolivia by demonstrating that he was one of the top ballet dancers in his field. The successful petition permitted the Bolivian dancer to join a ballet company in New York.

    In addition to her practice, Jennifer is committed to serving her community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, and is actively involved in Women United, serving on its Engagement Committee and as the Chair for the New Member Subcommitteeas well as Special Olympics Connecticut. Jennifer is also active in the professional Women in Manufacturing Association, and as a member of Robinson+Cole’s Women’s Committee, which promotes the success of women lawyers and its Safety & Health Committee, which promotes the safety and health of the firm’s employees.

    Jennifer was selected as a Rising Star to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2019 to 2022. She also recognized as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2021, and is a recipient of the firm's Community Service Award.  

    Prior to joining Robinson+Cole, Jennifer served as a law clerk to the Honorable F. Herbert Gruendel of the Connecticut Appellate Court. While attending law school, she served as the business managing editor of the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal. She also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Janet C. Hall at the United States District Court, District of Connecticut.

    Jennifer earned her J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law, summa cum laude, and received her B.A. from Fordham University, also summa cum laude.

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Successfully assisted pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with securing green cards for outstanding researchers and individuals with extraordinary abilities.

      • Files and secures approval for over 200 L-1 petitions each year on behalf of a Fortune 100 aircraft manufacturing company, which allows for intracompany transfers of managers, executives, and individuals with specialized knowledge.

      • Successfully registered multiple companies for E-2 treaty trader status with the U.S. Consulates in Italy, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. 

    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      American Bar Association (2013 - Present)

      Connecticut Bar Association (2013 - Present)

      American Immigration Lawyers Association (2015 - Present)

      Women in Manufacturing® Association (WiM)
      Program Chair, Connecticut Chapter (2022 - present)
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Selected as a Rising Star to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2019 to 2023.

      Recognized as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune, 2021

      Robinson+Cole Community Service Award Recipient, 2021

      Selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2024 and 2023 editions of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the area of Immigration Law.

    • Community Involvement

      Community Involvement

      Special Olympics Young Professionals Group
      Former Volunteer

      Special Olympics Connecticut
      Former Volunteer

      United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
      Member, Board of Directors (2020 - Present)
      Member, Finance Committee

      Women United
      Vice Chair (2022 - Present)
      Chair, New Member Committee (2021 - Present)
      Co-Chair, Power of the Purse (2022)
  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "H-1B and Beyond: What are the Options for Hiring Foreign Nationals?" published in Industry Week (9/15/2021)
      • » more info

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

      "U.S. Employers: Is Your Foreign National Employee Internationally Recognized as an Outstanding Researcher? Let’s Find Out — Qualifications for an EB-1B Outstanding Researcher green card case," co-authored with Joshua S. Mirer, published in Mobility, the monthly magazine of Worldwide ERC® (October 2018)
      • » more info
      • View article

      "US Employers: Work-authorized Visa Options for Hiring a Foreign National Worker," published in Connecticut Lawyer, co-authored with Joshua S. Mirer (March/April 2018)
      • » more info
      • View article

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

      "Hiring a Foreign National Worker: What U.S. Employers Need to Know," published in Mobility Magazine, co-authored with Joshua S. Mirer (May 2017)
      • » more info
      • View article

    • News

      R+C in the News

      • October 27, 2022

        Jen Shanley Named Program Chair for Women in Manufacturing Connecticut

        • » more info
      • February 4, 2022

        R+C Lawyers Present on Culture of Success at Women in Manufacturing Conference

        • » more info
      • September 20, 2021

        Jen Shanley Authors Industry Week Article on Hiring Foreign Nationals

        • » more info
        • View article
      • July 30, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Presents Annual Awards for Outstanding Contributions

        • » more info
      • May 13, 2021

        Connecticut Law Tribune Honors Seven Robinson+Cole Lawyers During Connecticut Legal Awards

        • » more info
        • View article
      • March 4, 2021

        Jen Shanley Featured in United Way Women United Social Media Spotlight

        • » more info
      • May 18, 2020

        Jen Shanley Appointed to United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Board

        • » more info
      • February 11, 2020

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

        • » more info
        • View article
      • October 5, 2018

        Josh Mirer and Jen Shanley Co-author Article Published in Mobility Magazine

        • » more info
      • April 19, 2018

        Josh Mirer and Jen Shanley Co-author Article Published in Connecticut Lawyer

        • » more info
      • February 6, 2018

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

        • » more info
      • May 5, 2017

        Immigration Group Lawyers Publish Article for Mobility Magazine

        • » more info

      R+C News Releases

      • October 26, 2023

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in 2023 Super Lawyers®

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      • August 17, 2023

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

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      • October 11, 2022

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in 2022 Super Lawyers®

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        • View article
      • August 18, 2022

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

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      • December 8, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners and Counsel

      • October 14, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • October 15, 2020

        47 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in Super Lawyers®

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      • October 19, 2019

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • October 16, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Welcomes New Lawyers

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