Mergers & Acquisitions and Due Diligence from an Immigration Compliance Perspective
Employers often experience mergers, acquisitions, and spinoffs but immigration program managers can be the last to learn of the transaction. How do these changes affect immigration programs, and how can program managers proactively identify issues and work with internal and external stakeholders to manage them? Learn what to do about petitions, greencard cases in process, I-9s, and harmonizing the policies and practices between the target entity and existing employer.
Susan Wehrer
Susan is a Partner in the Walnut Creek office of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. She concentrates on business immigration matters including nonimmigrant visas, labor certification issues, immigrant visa petitions, and adjustment of status applications. Susan regularly advises clients on petitions for individuals of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researchers and Multinational Managers as well as compliance issues, including I-9 compliance and Labor Condition Application compliance, the immigration implications of mergers and acquisitions, and immigration issues facing start-up companies.
Susan garnered extensive immigration law experience prior to joining BAL, both at a boutique immigration firm in Southern California as well as at a full service firm in San Francisco. Additionally, she has practiced labor and employment law, held an editorial position with The Labor Letters, Inc., and served as Adjunct Professor of Labor Relations at Woodbury University.
Denise Rahmani
Ms. Rahmani joined Oracle in 2001 and oversees compliance of the US immigration program. Prior to joining Oracle, Ms. Rahmani held similar immigration positions with Intel, HP, Agilent, and SAP Labs. Having supported immigration programs in several Silicon Valley top technology companies, Ms. Rahmani has a unique background in immigration. In her current role with Oracle, Ms. Rahmani works most closely with Oracle's Employment Law group, Government Relations, and HR Operations to ensure lawful use of US immigration programs.
Liane Cooney
As a partner and manager of the Virginia office of Berry, Appleman and Leiden LLP, Liane strategically advises companies in all aspects of immigration practice and policy. Liane guides her clients in both nonimmigrant and immigrant business visa issues, with a primary focus on clients in the software and technology industries. With over twenty years’ experience, Liane is widely recognized for her strategy and consulting services required to create an exceptional immigration program. She frequently speaks on employment-related immigration topics including: managing PERM recruitment programs, advising multinational corporations regarding reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions and layoffs, and immigration compliance issues.
Liane was a prior Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Vermont Service Center Liaison Committee. Prior to joining BAL, she worked in London, advising corporations and individuals on filing visa applications at U.S. Consulates throughout Europe.