Overview
To thrive in today’s economy, the most enterprising and successful businesses depend on a global—and increasingly mobile—workforce. In a given year, a company may transfer dozens or even hundreds of personnel to new work venues, both domestic and international. To coordinate such moves, companies must contend with a web of local, national or international regulatory requirements, visa and work permit bureaucracies, complex tax regimes, and a host of other legal and compliance challenges.
We have the agility, on-the-ground experience and dedicated resources, including state-of-the art technology, to help clients anticipate, monitor and manage the movement of their people. With offices in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and a worldwide network of relationships with highly qualified local counsel, we are able to offer our full suite of services around the world.
Our Clients
Our clients include small and mid-size companies or start-ups that are dipping their toe into international waters for the first time, as well as Fortune 500 companies with upwards of 10,000 employees who regularly travel and work internationally. For large organizations, overseas assignments can require hiring or relocating employees to and from a dozen or more countries.
In addition to serving businesses of all sizes, we have substantial experience advising celebrities and high-net-worth individuals on their immigration needs, including individuals contending with complex relocation challenges, such as potential exclusion from a destination country.
Clients of all types turn to our Global Mobility & Migration team because of our long list of achievements in this area and because of our reputation for world-class counsel on legal and regulatory matters that are of paramount importance to their success.
Our Global Network
We capitalize on both our own lawyers practicing in the world’s principal financial centers—in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East—and a carefully nurtured network of internationally experienced lawyers in other countries with whom we have worked closely for a number of years. This network allows us to draw on the experience of lawyers we know well and to reduce cost by utilizing our existing experience of local laws around the world. In every instance, the lawyers dedicated to the practice are fully immersed in the mobility area and therefore can provide the immediacy and accuracy of specialized advice in this critical area, which is essential to our clients.
Technology Designed for Global Business
Staying on top of the regulatory requirements for business travelers and international expatriates is a complex process. Mayer Brown uses advanced technology to help clients get the job done and to provide them with customized reporting employing traffic light coding to simplify tracking of key deadlines. We also develop key compliance training tools online, for high-risk issues such as management of global traveler programs or certification of third-party supplier compliance with governing visa laws.
With the benefit of Mayer Brown’s world-class IT and administrative support, we are able to give each client a clear view of their global team via a secure extranet accessible on desktops, laptops and mobile computing platforms.
Experience
We develop visa filings for the full enterprise of our clients across their worldwide locations. Working with a best-in-class network of attorneys around the world, our Global Mobility & Migration partners drive the strategy and optimize quality of service across worldwide locations. Our team uses sophisticated software to ensure that every visa filing occurs on time, with milestones tracked in real time on the system. In complex cases, and in jurisdictions in which quotas or other local restrictions may apply, we provide customized counsel and identify the appropriate strategy for maximizing the chance of a successful submission. In some cases, this includes advising on the nature of the employment agreement or the company’s authorization to sponsor foreign workers in the host country. We are similarly accustomed to addressing complex personal challenges that may impact eligibility (e.g., prior visa denials, arrest records, serious medical issues and divorce or custody issues).
We are regularly asked by our clients to audit their internal processes for immigration compliance and to develop remediation plans for both regulatory compliance and cost optimization. We also prepare our clients for government audits, and our shared IT portal includes a repository of the documents that officials typically require.
Sending staff overseas or across borders without the proper work and residency authorizations is just one of the myriad global mobility pitfalls that can disrupt business. Yet we find that many companies still manage personnel transfers and relocations without true global oversight, resulting in redundancies and compliance failures that can hamper profitability and increase the risk of fines, penalties or government audits.
For clients with complex global workforce needs, Mayer Brown creates a managed mobility program that helps them avoid those pitfalls. We create a global coordinating team for the individual client that becomes the day-to-day contact for the client’s general counsel or for the head of the client’s global mobility function. The team includes Mayer Brown’s client relationship partner, as well as designated managers with responsibility for each region in which our client operates. We then work with the client to review and solidify the company’s mobility practices and policies, decision structures for domestic or global relocations and processes for visa and work permit requests, and use technology to create a global process that can be monitored and managed online.
Mayer Brown has the ability to develop and manage a tailored global mobility program that encompasses the following:
- Optimizing company policies to reflect industry and regulatory best practices
- Bringing clarity and standardization to vast HR caseloads involving international travel and relocation
- Training HR and other client teams and liaising regularly with them on process enhancements
- Handling applications and filings for visas and other work authorizations in jurisdictions worldwide
- Providing customized approaches and counsel for particularly unique or complex cases
- Guarding clients’ reputations to ensure their regulatory compliance and protect their bottom line
Recognition
2024
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in the 2024 edition of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® ”Best Law Firms” list in the National and Washington DC categories.
2023
- Mayer Brown partners Elizabeth (Liz) Espín Stern and Grace Shie were recognized in Corporate Counsel’s 2023 Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards. The annual list honors top women lawyers who are business strategists, complex problem-solvers and who demonstrate a “commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law,” according to the publication. Liz, managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Washington DC office and leader of the Global Mobility & Migration practice, was recognized in the “Managing Partner of the Year” category. And Grace, a partner in the firm's Global Mobility & Migration practice in Washington DC and chair of the Women’s Leadership Committee, was recognized in the “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion” (DEI) category.
- Mayer Brown received National Immigration Project’s 2023 “Impact in the Courts” award for its role as co-counsel in a case challenging the Trump administration’s illegal termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
- Mayer Brown counsel James Perrot is ranked Band 1 in the UK-wide Immigration category in the Chambers High Net Worth 2023 guide.
- Mayer Brown partner Grace Shie was named a 2023 “Woman Worth Watching in Leadership” by Profiles in Diversity Journal. The award recognizes the “dynamic women who are using their talents and influence to enhance the workplace and change our world,” according to the publication.
- Mayer Brown partner Ori Lev received the American Immigration Council’s (AIC) “Immigration Impact Award” for his leading role in Al Otro Lado v. Mayorkas. A Mayer Brown team, led by Ori, represented nonprofit Al Otro Lado and a certified class of thousands of asylum seekers in a case against federal immigration authorities who instituted a policy of turning back asylum seekers at ports of entry on the US-Mexico border.
- The 2023 edition of The Legal 500 United States has named Elizabeth Espín Stern to its Immigration “Hall of Fame” and Grace Shie was recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” for Immigration
2022
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been named to Washingtonian’s “Lawyer Lifetime Achievement” list for Immigration. The list recognizes individuals who have been named to Washingtonian’s list of “Top Lawyers” in the Washington DC area at least 10 times within the past 15 years.
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list in the National and Washington DC categories.
- Legal 500 US 2022 has named Elizabeth Espín Stern to its “Hall of Fame” and Grace Shie was recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” for Immigration.
2021
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list (National and Washington DC).
- Elizabeth (Liz) Espín Stern was recognized in Corporate Counsel’s 2021 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards in the "Innovative Leadership” category. The awards honor general counsel, in-house leaders and law firm partners who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law.
- Mayer Brown earned a rating of “Highly Commended” in the “Outstanding Agility & Crisis Management as a Service Provider” category from the Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM) at its 2021 Americas Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards (EMMAs).
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been recognized as one of “The Most Admired Women Leaders in Business 2021” by CIO Views.
2020
- Elizabeth Espín Stern named as one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Legal Practitioners” by the Financial Times for her efforts in harnessing technology to guide businesses through COVID-19.
- Grace Shie was named a “Labor & Employment Star” in the 2021 edition of Benchmark Litigation.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern and Grace Shie were recognized among 7 Mayer Brown lawyers in Washingtonian magazine’s “Top Lawyers” list.
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list (National and Washington DC).
- Mayer Brown partner, Elizabeth Espín Stern was named a 2020 “Crisis Leadership Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal. The list honors individuals who have launched new initiatives through times of crisis and helped their communities, colleagues or clients.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been named to Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for Immigration. The list highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.
- Grace Shie was recognized in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500 US as a “Next Generation Partner,” for Immigration.
2019
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list (National and Washington DC).
- Mayer Brown earned the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition’s 2019 “Detained Adult Champion Award” for the firm’s dedication to representing detained immigrants fleeing persecution from Central America, West Africa, Central Asia and many other parts of the world.
- Mayer Brown partner, Grace Shie was named to Human Resource Executive’s list of 40 “Up-and-Comers” in its annual ranking of “The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys.” The list honors lawyers with 10 – 20 years of experience who have achieved remarkable accomplishments in labor and employment law.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Immigration by Legal 500 US.
- Our award winning Global Mobility & Migration practice won the “Immigration Provider of the Year” at this year’s Forum for Expatriate Management’s Americas: Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards (EMMAs). The award recognizes organizations or companies that have demonstrated best-in-class immigration support and compliance for their clients and their internal assignee population during the past year.
- Mayer Brown earned the New York State Bar Association’s 2019 President’s Pro Bono Service Award in the Large Law Firm category for the firm’s pro bono service, including taking on seven cases that helped unaccompanied immigrant children in the New York area apply for asylum and special immigrant juvenile status.
- Mayer Brown was awarded “Asian Pro Bono Initiative of the Year” at the Asia Legal Awards in recognition of its pro bono initiative to help substantiated refugees obtain employment permission in Hong Kong.
2018
- Liz Stern and Grace Shie were recognized among 11 Mayer Brown lawyers in Washingtonian magazine’s “Top Lawyers” list.
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list (National and Washington DC).
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been named to The National Law Journal’s list of “Immigration Trailblazers,” which recognizes those who “have truly moved the needle in facilitating the ever-changing immigration policies.”
- The Hispanic National Bar Foundation (HNBF) has honored Washington DC-based Employment & Benefits partner Elizabeth Espín Stern with the Latina Legal Leadership Award. Ms. Stern received the award, which recognizes her excellence as a legal practitioner, at HNBF’s annual award dinner.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Immigration by Legal 500 US.
2017
- Elizabeth Espín Stern and Grace Shie were named by Washingtonian magazine as the “Top Lawyers” in the field of Immigration in the Washington DC area. The list is published every two years and is based on research, reporting and lawyer interview conducted by the publication’s editorial staff.
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list (National and Washington DC).
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Immigration by Legal 500 US.
- Grace Shie has been named a “Rising Star” in Immigration by Law360.
- Mayer Brown earned the “Pro Bono Star” award from Human Rights First at its annual World Refugee Day. The award recognizes lawyers who “demonstrate extraordinary commitment to the cases for asylum or related forms of immigration protection that they take on a pro bono bases” through its program.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern was named “Global Mobility Professional of the Year” by the Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM) at the 8th Annual Americas Expatriate Management & Mobility Awards.
2016
- The Financial Times recognized Mayer Brown in its annual report “North America Innovative Lawyers” for Integrated Solutions. This award recognized Elizabeth Espín Stern’s establishment of the Mobility-based Global People Solution™.
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list (National and Washington DC).
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been recognized in the Washington Business Journal’s 2016 Women Who Mean Business Awards. The award recognizes the most influential trail-blazing women in Washington DC and surrounding areas who have made differences in their communities.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Immigration by Legal 500 US.
2015
- Elizabeth Espín Stern was named to Washingtonian magazine’s 2015 “Top Lawyers” list, published every two years.
- Mayer Brown achieved first-tier rankings for Immigration in US News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list (National and Washington DC).
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been named to the national board of advisors for the New American Leaders Project (NALP), a nonpartisan national non-profit whose mission is to prepare first- and second-generation immigrants for civic leadership.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Immigration by Legal 500 US.
- Elizabeth Espín Stern has been named one of 75 “Outstanding Women Lawyers” by The National Law Journal; she is the only immigration practitioner to be ranked as such.
