Megan Naughton, head of the Immigration Practice Group, practices primarily in the area of U.S. immigration law, focusing on business immigration. The majority of her work involves advising businesses, schools, and nonprofits on nonimmigrant and immigrant visas for their employees and preparing visa petitions for submission to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. She also counsels employers on the Immigration Reform and Control Act and related issues, including I-9 and worksite enforcement issues. On a daily basis, Ms. Naughton oversees the PERM process with regard to the filing of regular and special-handling PERM cases, as well as the preparation and filing of outstanding professor and researcher petitions, and extraordinary ability petitions. A frequent author on pressing topics shaping immigration law, Ms. Naughton most recently published "Foreign-Born Can Fall Into Gaps" and "Trepidation Over Employee Verification," both appearing in the Connecticut Law Tribune, and "Immigration Reform Needed to Support Emerging Technologies," appearing in the CT Business Magazine. Ms. Naughton recently coauthored a chapter regarding worksite compliance in a Matthew Bender publication on labor and employment law. Ms. Naughton recently served as a faculty member for Sterling Educational Services' immigration series in Boston, Hartford, and Long Island. She annually speaks for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), as well as the Connecticut Bar Association, on business immigration and related topics. She was interviewed last year for a CBIA publication on immigration issues. Professional Associations - American Bar Association, 1998 to present - Connecticut Bar Association, 1998 to present - American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 1999 to present - AILA, Connecticut Chapter, 1999 to present, Past Chair of Technology Committee - National Association of College and University Attorneys, 2010 to present - National Association of Foreign Student Advisors, 2010 to present Community Involvement - Center for Children's Advocacy at the University of Connecticut School of Law, Outside Immigration Counsel - Connecticut World Affairs Council, Executive Committee Member Honors and Awards - Listed as a Rising Star in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Immigration for 2011/2012 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.) - Connecticut Center for Children's Advocacy, 2010 Champion of Children Award - Connecticut Law Tribune, 2010, recognized in Women in the Law: High Achievers yearbook - Fleming James Jr. Award for Excellence in the Area of Labor Law - Joseph F. Noonan Award for Outstanding Legal Scholarship Experience - Representation of a Danish-owned publically traded company to bring Danish nationals to the U.S. as managers and specialized knowledge personnel. Robinson & Cole filed documentation to register the company with the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen as an E-2 Trader Investor. Also filed substantial documentation with the E-2 application regarding the company's real estate leases, corporate acquisitions, current employees and their immigration status, and the company's initial investment in the U.S. - Representation of a Connecticut-based global technology company concerning one of its employees who was denied a pending PERM application. The U.S. Department of Labor indicated that the company did not list all of its requirements on the PERM application even though the requirements were listed in the ad and that this was prejudicial to U.S. workers. Robinson & Cole refiled the PERM application and successfully argued that the requirements were in fact listed on the application as an alternative and that this was appropriate. The case was reopened relatively quickly, and the employee received her permanent resident status. - Representation of a New York City-based global management consulting firm to secure an approved L-1 Blanket petition. Converted the majority of its H-1B workforce to L-1B status at U.S. Consulates in India and China. This has allowed for more flexibility regarding staffing, compensation, and client service and no further concerns about H-1B dependency. - Routinely apply for and obtain permanent resident status for employees of our corporate clients through the Alien Labor Certification process under Reduction in Recruitment. - Enable biotechnology companies, educational institutions, and hospitals to retain valuable key scientists, researchers, chemists, professors, and physicians by obtaining both temporary and permanent immigration status. - Provide immigration training to human resources professionals, recruiters, executives and managers, business owners, and in-house counsel for a variety of clients and business organizations, including Fortune 100 and Global 500 companies and one of the world's largest chemical and pharmaceutical companies. - Routinely assist multinational companies in staffing their new U.S. offices by successfully obtaining H-1B and L-1 status for their executives and technical personnel. - Counseled one of the 30 largest financial institutions in the United States with regard to postacquisition I-9 compliance issues and provided guidance for self-audit. Publications & Presentations Articles - "The Ever-Changing Definition of 'Special': New Interpretations Affect Companies Bringing Multinational Managers to U.S." (10/31/2011), published in Connecticut Law Tribune - "Foreign-Born Workers Can Fall Into Gaps" (7/27/2009), published in Connecticut Law Tribune - "Trepidation Over Employee Verification," coauthored with Natalia Sharubina (4/2008), published in Connecticut Law Tribune, appeared in Employment & Immigration Law insert - "Immigration Reform Needed to Support Emerging Technologies" (1/2007), published in CT Business Magazine Presentations - "Immigration Issues and Compliance" (9/22/06) presented at Connecticut Business & Industry Association - "Perm Talk: How to Avoid Stalling on the Road to Permanent Residence" (9/20/06) presented at Cambridge, Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce News 11.21.11, Attorneys Write Articles Published in Connecticut Law Tribune Special Section on Employment and Immigration Law 9.10.10, Women in the Law and in the News 5.21.10, Robinson & Cole's Naughton, Mirer, and Sharubina Named Pro Bono Legal Champion's by the Center for Children's Advocacy 3.05.10, Robinson & Cole Immigration Attorneys Honored by Center for Children's Advocacy 1.02.08, Robinson & Cole Immigration Partner Interviewed by CBIA for Article |