Dustin J. O'Quinn, Shareholder We ensure clients are able to develop immigration programs that help them build and retain the most talented and diverse workforces possible
What are the challenges existing today in the immigration space? Finding and hiring employees has become more time-consuming and difficult than ever. The immigration requirements can be tricky to navigate for employers irrespective of their size or industry. It takes a more comprehensive approach to get and keep your employees work-authorized now.
Over the past decade–particularly in the past five years– companies have seen immigration laws change at high speeds. Additionally, the pandemic has contributed to the longest government delays we have seen in at least 20 years. These constant changes and excessive delays have exponential impacts on Human Resources strategies. Companies have to bench their workers (sometimes outside of the country) for months. What’s worse is that these employees have their household income impacted and their families separated. It can feel hopeless when you don’t know what your fate holds. Will you have a job in six months? Will you have to leave the country you’ve called home for the last 10 years? Will you even be able to pay your household bills next month? It’s a dire situation.
How does Lane Powell support clients in navigating these issues? We have significant experience representing employers in widely-used employment-based visa applications like the H-1B, as well as unique options that are available to companies who really need to increase their workforce. We guide regional, national and international corporations through the full spectrum of immigration issues. We work with startups, technology companies, retailers and even government entities to ensure these employers can attract the talent they need. In this era of unforeseeable immigration rules and consequences, it takes a hands-on approach to develop immigration programs that help employers build and retain the most talented and diverse workforces possible.
Employers turn to Lane Powell with their most important immigration issues because we provide that strategic and tailored advice, which increases the chance that the visa application will be approved and the employee can work as soon as possible with no issues. If you want a “cut-and-paste” vendor to help with hundreds (or thousands) of immigration applications, we can help; but most employers hire Lane Powell because we are available all day, every day, to answer the hard questions and help HR make the right immigration/ employment/tax decisions for those employees who absolutely have to be at work next week.
We have extensive experience representing clients in matters related to temporary and permanent employmentbased immigration visas; representation in the full range of government audits, including I-9 compliance; investor visas; maritime visas, and much more. We are regularly recognized as members of the Leading Lawyers for Business by Chambers® USA for our work in counselling clients on business-related immigration issues.
What differentiates Lane Powell from the other firms in the immigration space? We work with employers to understand their businesses as well as they do. Not only do we serve as their trusted legal counsel, but also as advocates and advisors—occupying a more strategic seat at the table. We represent clients on their boards, empower their business decisions, and help them confront and survive disruptions in their industries.
Lane Powell has served as trusted counsel to Pacific Northwest businesses since 1875, and we have redefined the attorney-client relationship with value delivery entailing holistic strategy, a team approach, and shared accountability. Through this, our firm has become the preferred counsel for a full range of services among established businesses in our region and around the globe. To our clients, “trusted” means an unmatched standard of service and collaboration, not a “vendor” relationship. This collaboration has been a hallmark of our law firm for more than 145 years. As much as the immigration industry continues to change, trust will always remain a value at our core in delivering value to our client companies and their employees.
Also, I feel strongly that Lane Powell’s commitment to diversity and equity is why we have such great relationships with our clients, and why our immigration team assists with exceptional empathy. We focus on our culture, people, and communities in every way. We are committed to continuing the development of a pipeline of diverse legal professionals who can continue to collaborate with trust and understanding. The programs that we build strive to improve the diversity not only at Lane Powell but also in our profession. Our commitment to giving back to our communities runs deep, and the stats on our Pro Bono and DEI pages are a great starting point if you want to learn more–or help us in these efforts!
What does the future hold for Lane Powell? Lane Powell is driven by its quest to achieve clients success. That means we will be more collaborative than ever with our clients. We have recently changed the way we leverage technology and manage documents. With our secure document management and case-tracking software, we can save time on case preparation. This allows us more time to think, strategize, and collaborate with employers and employees to ensure their needs are met. Our current immigration environment demands that we spend more time and human brain power answering tough questions and removing red tape so that no one is out of work. Dustin J. O’Quinn
