Faced with a tough immigration climate, and increasingly confusing regulations and perceived financial/administrative headaches, some employers are shying away from acquiring highly- skilled, foreign-born professionals -- who are often the best candidates for a specific position -- argues Cozen O’Connor immigration practice chair Elena Park.  Advising international and domestic organizations (including Fortune 500s), seeking to obtain permanent or temporary visas for foreign nationals desiring U.S. employment, Park will discuss why recruiting/retaining foreign talent is actually manageable, and how it can improve your company’s position in the international marketplace.

By attending this webcast, you will learn, among other things:

• factors to consider when deciding to hire international talent;
• visas options available for different situations (O visas for extraordinary talent, H-1B for specialized positions requiring bachelor’s degree, L1 for intra-company transferees, etc);
• steps to secure visas/workers, ensure proper documentation and avoid potential pitfalls/liabilities (and the interplay of current regulations/reform, including the pending no-match policy); and
• the process involved in retaining such workers.
  

Elena Park, a Member of Cozen O'Connor, heads the firm's immigration practice. She concentrates her practice on all aspects of immigration law, with particular focus on business and employment immigration matters.

Elena has extensive experience in representing multinational corporations, domestic companies, nonprofit institutions and investors seeking to employ foreign nationals in the U.S. for immigrant (permanent) or nonimmigrant (temporary) visas. She has represented clients on diverse immigration matters before the Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration Board of Appeals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the EOIR, and federal district and circuit courts. Elena also counsels clients on employment verification compliance and provides defense in the event of government agency audits and investigations.

Elena is regular speaker on the topic of immigration law. She has presented numerous Continuing Legal Education courses to attorneys, including "Wage/Hour and Immigration Issues in Employment Cases" and "The Basics of Immigration Law." In addition, she has given numerous presentations to the business and lay communities. From holding a seminar for Hispanic residents of Philadelphia to being a featured speaker at Widener School of Law's Immigration Event, Elena is highly recognized for her immigration expertise. Elena is also a frequent writer on immigration issues: her articles have been published in journals such as the National Law Journal and Workforce Management. Elena is often quoted by the media on the topic of immigration law, including the L.A. Times and Workforce Management.

In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the 2007 Lawyers on the Fast Track award by Pennsylvania Law Weekly and The Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as the 2007 Minorities on the Verge Award by The Legal Intelligencer.

Elena is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association and the Montgomery Bar Association.

Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor in 1999, she was a law clerk for the Hon. Murray C. Goldman of the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. Elena received her bachelor of arts degree with honors from the University of Toronto in 1994. She earned her law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1998, where she was articles editor of the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review. Elena is an active member of the firm's Diversity, Pro Bono and Hiring Committees.