Sports Immigration Counsel

Overview

This role provides advice on Americas immigration strategy for employees, talent, and other immigration matters for assigned businesses. Responsibilities include preparing immigration applications, managing visa milestones and timelines, coordinating with external counsel, and supporting immigration compliance processes for the Americas region.

Responsibilities

• Advise on Americas immigration strategy for employees, talent, and other immigration matters for assigned businesses.
• Prepare applications for employees and talent for the Americas region.
• Coordinate with external counsel on strategy and preparation of applications.
• Proactively manage and track visa milestones and manage visa petition timelines.
• Assist with responding to requests for evidence or immigration appeals.
• Coordinate with international offices regarding visa requirements for employees and talent.
• Work closely with the global mobility team on employee moves worldwide.
• Liaise with assigned businesses to provide pragmatic and business-relevant immigration guidance.
• Advise on immigration aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.
• Provide internal updates on visa processing status and keep relevant stakeholders informed of delays.
• Address and resolve concerns regarding the visa process, escalating to the Vice President, Head of Immigration immediately when necessary.
• Advise businesses on right to work requirements and prevention of illegal working for the Americas region, including I-9 compliance.
• Assist with creation and implementation of immigration compliance processes, including immigration policies.
• Complete and manage legal audit tasks, including maintaining documentation for inspection, including public access files.
• Ensure immigration case information for assigned Americas businesses is maintained on the INS ZOOM immigration platform.
• Develop, implement, and conduct training on immigration policies and programs for businesses.
• Conduct legal research.
• Lead and oversee immigration and paralegals for assigned Americas businesses, ensuring processing for assigned events is completed accurately and timely.
• Perform other legal group administrative tasks as needed (e.g., maintaining schedules and databases) and provide ad hoc support to the Vice President, Head of Immigration.

Requirements

• US qualified lawyer who has worked in a commercial environment.
• Strong knowledge of US immigration law and work authorization issues.
• Working knowledge of immigration laws and work authorization issues for the Americas.
• 7–10 years of experience in immigration matters; previous experience in media, sport, and entertainment immigration matters is preferable.
• Previous experience in global immigration matters is preferable.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize a varied and heavy workload, plan ahead, and work efficiently and accurately to deadlines.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with clients at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Ability to take responsibility and show initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; must be able to interact with a range of personalities and styles in a fast-paced environment and explain complex concepts to clients and colleagues without legal knowledge and with limited time and patience.
• Outstanding negotiation, drafting, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage global compliance specialists, case managers, and paralegals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Compensation & Benefits

• Status: Salaried (exempt)
• Hiring Rate Minimum: $105,000 annually (minimum will not fall below the applicable State/local minimum salary thresholds)
• Hiring Rate Maximum: $140,000 annually

Benefits may include health care, retirement, vacation, and other paid time off, along with short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and additional offerings.

Location

Americas-based role. (No additional location details were provided.)

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discrimination in employment. Reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state or local laws.