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

Joshua Mirer and Megan Naughton, co-chairs of the firm’s Immigration Group, presented the program “Employing Nonimmigrant Workers: Creative Solutions for the Labor Shortage,” presented as part of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s (CBIA) 2023 Human Resources Conference on March 21, 2023. The event offered an in-depth view of the most challenging workplace issues impacting management and HR personnel.

Jen Shanley Named Program Chair for Women in Manufacturing Connecticut

Immigration Group lawyer Jennifer L. Shanley has been selected by the Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Connecticut Board of Directors to serve as the Chapter’s program chair. During her term, Jen will be responsible for organizing events and educational programs that offer networking opportunities and information in support of personal and professional development for women in the manufacturing industry. For example, WiM Connecticut hosted a networking reception on October 27, 2022 in celebration of October being Connecticut Manufacturing Month. The Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) works to empower women workers and strengthen the manufacturing sector. As a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association, WiM is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and inspiring women who have chosen careers in the manufacturing industry. Learn more about WiM Connecticut.

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

Immigration Group co-chair Megan Naughton and Partner Lauren Sigg co-authored the article, “Hiring and retaining talent: Immigration for educational institutions,” published in University Business on September 23, 2022. Recognizing that many institutions of higher education recruit talented faculty from around the world, the authors discuss a number of the most common nonimmigrant and immigrant options for colleges and universities, along with some considerations when determining and selecting the correct category. Among the options mentioned are the H-1B visa category – the most common nonimmigrant visa category for institutions of higher education – and the J-1 category, which allows foreign nationals to come to the U.S. temporarily and is commonly used in higher education for research scholars and professors. Read the article.

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

Immigration Group co-chair Megan R. Naughton authored the article, “Explore Legal Immigration Options for Construction Companies,” published in Construction Executive on August 9, 2022. The article reviewed numerous visa options for legal immigration and the requirements for each that could be beneficial to construction companies around the U.S. Read the article.

Jen Shanley Authors Industry Week Article on Hiring Foreign Nationals

Immigration Group lawyer Jennifer L. Shanley authored the article “H-1B and Beyond: What are the Options for Hiring Foreign Nationals?” published in Industry Week on September 15, 2021. In the article, Jen discusses the extraordinary workforce gap that manufacturers are facing today, with more than 800,000 vacant jobs currently. To fill those jobs, manufacturers are turning to foreign nationals who can be sponsored through a variety of different work-authorized status categories, each with its own requirements and limitations. Read the article.

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

65 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022. Of the 65 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 49 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law and insurance law.

Additionally, the following five lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Patrick M. Birney in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Michael F. Maglio in Banking and Finance Law, Robert S. Melvin in Environmental Law, Joey Lee Miranda in Energy Law and Jacqueline Pennino Scheib in Trademark Law. Peter V. Lacouture was also named a Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in Providence, Rhode Island in the area of Energy Law.

The second edition of Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” was also released, of which 17 total Robinson+Cole lawyers are listed in. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Read more in the press release.

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

The Connecticut Law Tribune recognized Robinson+Cole lawyers Stephen E. Goldman, Lina M. Morkan, John B. Lynch, Jr., Gregory J. Bennici, Conor O. Duffy, Emilee Mooney Scott, and Jennifer L. Shanley during the publication’s annual Connecticut Legal Awards on May 12, 2021. Hosted virtually, the awards honor those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in Connecticut - whether in shaping the law, achieving outsized results for their clients, being an outstanding jurist or assisting those in need of legal services.

Steve was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a lawyer “who has left a lasting imprint on the legal community of Connecticut.” Linda received the Distinguished Leader Award for achieving “impressive results in 2020 and demonstrating clear leadership skills that helped achieve those results.” John was honored as a finalist for the Diversity Initiative Award. A new recognition to the awards slate, the distinction honors a lawyer or firm who has made a significant contribution to diversity and inclusion efforts in Connecticut’s legal community. Greg, Conor, Emilee and Jen were all recognized as “New Leaders in the Law,” a distinction that spotlights lawyers under the age of 40 who have excelled in the courtroom, in client service and cultivation, in service to bar associations, and in performing pro bono work or community service in a volunteer capacity. View the complete list of honorees.

Jen Shanley Featured in United Way Women United Social Media Spotlight

Immigration Group member, Jennifer L. Shanley, was highlighted in a recent United Way Women United social media spotlight. In the "#WomenRockWednesday" profile, Jen enthuses about her business immigration practice and career highlights, as well as her love of family life as the mother of two boys. She is a member of the board of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and leads its New Member sub-committee of the Engagement Committee. In addition to her work with United Way, Jen is an active volunteer with Special Olympics Connecticut. She also is a member of the firm’s Women’s Committee and Safety & Health Committee. The spotlight is available on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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

61 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021. Of the 61 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 46 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law and insurance law.

Additionally, the following six lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Michael R. Enright in Litigation – Bankruptcy, Gregory R. Faulkner in Litigation – Construction, Virginia E. McGarrity in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Joey Lee Miranda in Environmental Law, James P. Ray in Litigation – Environmental and Theodore J. Tucci in Health Care Law. Michael S. Giaimo was also named a Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Boston, Massachusetts, in the area of Land Use and Zoning Law.

The inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch was also released, of which 17 total Robinson+Cole lawyers are listed in. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Read more in the press release.

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

Immigration Group lawyers Megan R. Naughton, and Jennifer L. Shanley authored the article “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 on February 6, 2020. The article focuses on the H-1B work authorization category, which is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain approvals for positions like financial quantitative analysts (quants) and data scientists, that, against H-1B regulations that maintain a position must require a degree in a specific field, allow an individual to qualify by obtaining a degree in a STEM field or other quantitative field. Because these roles are critical for a hedge funds to be competitive, Megan and Jen offer insight that fund managers can use to develop a strategy for H‑1B sponsorship for quants and data scientists. Read the article.

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

57 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020. Of the 57 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 44 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law, insurance law, and litigation-construction.

Additionally, the following four lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Thomas P. Cody in Real Estate Law, Michael R. Enright in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, John B. Lynch Jr. in Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Theodore J. Tucci in Insurance Law. Kathleen M. Porter was also named a Best Lawyers® 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” in Boston, Massachusetts, in the area of Information Technology Law. Read more in the press release.

51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 51 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2018. In addition, 32 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” The Super Lawyers designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas. An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here. View the list of recognized attorneys and their areas of practice.

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

Immigration Group lawyers Joshua S. Mirer and Jennifer L. Shanley co-authored the 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,” published in the October 2018 issue of Worldwide ERC®’s Mobility magazine, the leading publication for the global workforce mobility industry. The article covers the qualifications for an EB-1B Outstanding Researcher green card case, case assessment and best practices for a successful EB-1B Outstanding Researcher green card case, tips for a successful petition, and presenting a winning case. Read the full article.

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

Immigration Group lawyers Megan R. Naughton and Lauren M. Sigg presented a program on "Compliance Issues When Employing Foreign National Employees or Contractors" on May 8, 2018. The 90-minute web conference, hosted  by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), focused on the risks associated with employing foreign nationals directly or receiving their services through contractors, including highlighting potential work authorization and export control issues. Ms. Naughton and Ms. Sigg reviewed the Form I-9 requirements, discussed trends in government audits/compliance - including site visits and government inquiries - and provided best practices to follow when faced with a government request.

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

Immigration Group lawyers Joshua S. Mirer and Jennifer L. Shanley co-authored the article “US Employers: Work-authorized Visa Options for Hiring a Foreign National Worker,” published in the March/April 2018 issue of the Connecticut Bar Association’s (CBA) member magazine, Connecticut Lawyer. The article notes that: “Employers in the United States increasingly seek to hire foreign nationals, as they possess unique perspectives and diverse backgrounds, and often have international experience, making them uniquely qualified for a particular position. The hiring process for foreign nationals, however, is different than the hiring process for US citizens.” In the article, Mr. Mirer and Ms. Shanley give a brief overview of some of the most widely used work-authorized categories, as well as their timing and other implications. Read the full article.

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

Immigration Group lawyers Joshua S. Mirer, Megan R. Naughton, and Jennifer L. Shanley authored the article “H1B Work Visas Under Attack,” published in Business New Haven E-News on January 31, 2018. In the article, Mr. Mirer, Ms. Naughton, and Ms. Shanley describe the heightened scrutiny faced by H1-B petitions from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under President Trump’s “Buy American and Hire American Executive Order.” The article indicates that “foreign nationals can still qualify for the increasingly narrow H-1B category. To do so, the employer must understand the type of positions that qualify for an H-1B visa and describe the requirements for the position with specific, yet limited degree requirements, choose the most accurate prevailing wage category and wage level, and, present evidence that the position and the foreign national qualify for an H-1B visa.” Click here to read the article.

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

Fifty-nine Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Of the 59 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 49 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state.

Additionally, the following six lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Dennis C. Cavanaugh in Litigation – Construction; Stephen E. Goldman in Insurance Law; Stuart D. Rosen in Litigation – Banking and Finance; Edward J. Samorajczyk Jr. in Securities / Capital Markets Law; William T. Sellay in Mergers and Acquisitions Law; and Theodore J. Tucci in Health Care Law.

See a complete listing of all Robinson+Cole's ranked lawyers in the press release.

Immigration Group Lawyers Publish Article for Mobility Magazine

Immigration Group lawyers Joshua S. Mirer and Jennifer L. Shanley penned the article "Hiring a Foreign National Worker: What U.S. Employers Need to Know," published in the May 2017 issue of Mobility Magazine. The topics they cover in the article include the process for foreign nationals entering the U.S. for business activities, assessing whether the foreign national qualifies for a particular work-authorized category, the timing and availability of the most widely used work-authorized categories for foreign nationals, what to do when a nonimmigrant petition is approved, and what happens after the foreign national enters the U.S. in valid nonimmigrant status. To find out more, click here to read the article.

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

Robinson+Cole was again recognized as having the highest number of Connecticut lawyers selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017 (Copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Across the firm’s practice groups and offices, 57 lawyers were named to this year’s list, including 47 in Connecticut.

Additionally, the following four lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Dennis C. Cavanaugh in Construction Law; Judith M. Keppelman  in Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Linda L. Morkan in Appellate Practice; and Edward J. Samorajczyk Jr. in Corporate Law.

See a complete listing of all Robinson+Cole's ranked lawyers in the news release.

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

Robinson+Cole was again recognized as having the highest number of Connecticut lawyers selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2016 (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Across the firm’s practice groups and offices, 55 lawyers were named to this year’s list, including 45 in Connecticut.

Additionally, the following seven lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Bruce B. Barth in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Dennis C. Cavanaugh in Litigation – Construction; Stephen E. Goldman in Insurance Law; Joey Lee Miranda in Environmental Law; Craig A. Raabe in Litigation – Intellectual Property; Edward J. Samorajczyk, Jr., in Securities / Capital Markets Law; and William T. Sellay in Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Peter V. Lacouture was named the Best Lawyers® 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Law in Providence, Rhode Island.

See a complete listing of all Robinson+Cole's ranked lawyers in the news release.

Megan Naughton Joins Statewide Legal Services Board of Directors

Megan R. Naughton, co-chair of Robinson+Cole’s Immigration Group, has joined Connecticut’s Statewide Legal Services (SLS) Board of Directors. SLS empowers low-income people in Connecticut to obtain justice by providing tools and information to address their civil legal needs. The nonprofit legal aid advice and referral center, available by phone to low-income people throughout Connecticut, helps clients solve their legal problems for free. Read more in the news release.

Hartford Lawyers Promote AILA Immigration Contest

In local sites around the country, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) sponsored the 17 Annual Celebrate America Fifth Grade Creative Writing Contest, whose 2014 theme was "Why I Am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants." The contest encourages fifth graders to submit written works (essays, poems, and stories) that reflect the theme. Serving as contest coordinator in Connecticut, immigration lawyer Lauren M. Sigg organized the efforts of AILA members to give presentations in several Connecticut fifth grade classrooms, coordinated contest submissions across the state, and organized the evaluations of the submissions. At Duffy Elementary in West Hartford, immigration lawyer Megan R. Naughton discussed the role that immigration has played in shaping our society. Charlie Krajc, a student from Duffy, won Connecticut's first place prize. His essay underscored the hope and bravery of immigrants coming to the United States. Although Charlie did not win the national contest, he and the other Connecticut finalists received gift certificates and were invited to attend and participate in a naturalization ceremony in Hartford on June 6, 2014.

Please click here to view the West Hartford News article on the contest.

R&C Lawyers Write Article for Connecticut Law Tribune

Super Lawyers® Names 61 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2013 List

Robinson & Cole Lawyers Provide Commentary in Law360

Megan Naughton Quoted in the Boston Globe

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Earn Additional Honors for Pro Bono Work

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

A total of 49 Robinson & Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for 2012. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 26 attorneys at the firm were recognized as "Rising Stars." Read an explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology here.

Recognized attorneys and their areas of practice can be read in the full press release.

Robinson & Cole Attorney Elected to Board of Directors of the Village for Families & Children, Inc.

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

Robinson & Cole Announces New Partners