Russell W. Roberts
Of Counsel

Mr. Roberts is of counsel to the firm and practices in the Immigration Law Practice Group. He provides counsel and representation to industry, professionals, health care providers, academic and research institutions, and individuals in all areas of U. S. immigration law. Mr. Roberts advises clients in the areas of business immigration systems, temporary visas, permanent residence visas ("green cards"), consular visa processing, naturalization, I-9, E-Verify, and related human resources issues, investment and job creation visas, establishment of regional centers to attract direct foreign investment, and the impact of immigration law on business transactions. As U.S. immigration law grows more complex, organizations require skilled immigration counsel to guide them in establishing uniform policies, in maintaining compliance with the burgeoning array of regulations governing this field, and obtaining U.S. status for foreign national employees.

Mr. Roberts has obtained H, L, and TN status for engineers, scientists, physicians and other health care workers, software experts, professors, architects, designers, and other professionals. Other work visa successes include achieving O-1 status for extraordinary ability workers, P status for performing artists, J waivers for professionals, and E visas for international investors. He has obtained U.S. permanent residence for international workers under the multinational manager/executive, national interest waiver, and PERM-based labor certification categories.

Prior to joining Harris Beach, Mr. Roberts was a name partner with Brent & Roberts, an immigration boutique firm. Mr. Roberts is a regular speaker at business, community, and continuing legal education seminars on immigration matters. He is the co-author of Inside the Minds: Employing International Workers, for Aspatore Books, a Thomson West business publication and of "Global Labor and Employment Law for Practicing Lawyer: Proceedings of the New York University 61st Annual Conference on Labor" published by Kluwer Law International. Mr. Roberts has also practiced commercial and creditor's rights law, and was the successful lender's attorney in In re Scarpino (2d Cir. 1997), a decision that prevents bankrupt debtors from discharging judgment liens on after-acquired real property.