Ice Miller’s Workplace Solutions Group counsels clients regarding the various issues triggered by relocation of key professionals, managers, and executives outside of the United States.
We regularly work with clients to advise and assist with appropriate visas and employment authorization for employees based on temporary and permanent assignments outside of the United States. We have an extensive network of trusted foreign counsel we partner with (including through the firm's networks, Employment Law Alliance and the U.S. Law Firm Group) to confirm requirements, develop strategies, and prepare and file necessary applications with the relevant authorities. The appropriate strategy depends on the country, nature of assignment, and specific immigration regulations, among other things, and with so many factors to consider, the volume of information can be overwhelming to clients trying to navigate and decipher this process on their own. We understand that our clients have other priorities and job functions beyond immigration matters, and we serve to insulate our clients from the sometimes confusing and inconsistent information that arises in global immigration matters. When working with foreign counsel, we continue to serve as the client's single point of contact and simply manage foreign counsel's handling of the outbound visa, work permit and other needs for relocation.
In addition, these immigration matters often raise related labor and employment, benefits, and tax issues for both the employee and the company. Again, we offer one-stop shopping on these issues by working closely with attorneys within the firm from our international practice, tax group, labor and employment, and benefits practices. Additionally, the local counsel we hire in foreign jurisdictions often practice at full-service law firms and can offer on the ground support to employees prior to and during the relocation.