J. Claire Razzolini

With two decades of experience advising in the area of U.S. Immigration and Nationality law, Claire has provided strategic and steadfast representation to diverse clients through periods of unprecedented change and opportunity. She emphasizes providing practical solutions and decisive leadership to solve business immigration challenges in a compliant and cost-effective manner.

Claire represents established global companies in the biotechnology, healthcare and pharmaceutical, digital media and entertainment, financial services and consulting, information technology and telecommunications industries.  A problem-solver, she works closely with business leaders and client stakeholders in the Office of General Counsel, Global Mobility, Talent Acquisition, and HR, to develop and implement immigration benefits and compliance programs and to advise on best practices and policies related to the employment of foreign nationals.

Claire represents corporate and individual clients before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of State and has considerable experience obtaining temporary and permanent work authorization for executives and managers, scientists and researchers, professional and skilled workers and artists.  She conducts client trainings and seminars addressing emerging immigration issues and compliance matters, and provides lead analysis and reporting on regulatory and policy developments to help businesses understand and navigate the immigration implications for their workforce.

Claire is a member of the firm’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Claire Razzolini is a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Immigration and Nationality Law Committee.

Prior to joining Gibney, Claire practiced corporate immigration law at a large international law firm in New York and with an immigration law firm in San Francisco.  Her experience also includes working at a legal services organization to increase access to justice by coordinating pro bono representation for underrepresented individuals and non-profit organizations.

• University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., cum laude
• Boston College, M.A. with distinction
• State University of New York at Fredonia, B.A., magna cum laude

• New York

• U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
• New York State Court of Appeals
• New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division

• Management of comprehensive immigration benefits and compliance programs for corporate clients including global pharmaceutical, healthcare and financial services organizations.
• Guided clients through the immigration implications of complex corporate mergers and acquisitions, advised on the impact of corporate reorganizations and handled post-transaction immigration filings to minimize workforce disruption
• On behalf of corporate clients, facilitated outreach and conducted seminars for business stakeholders and foreign national employees with the announcement of Executive Orders impacting international travel and eligibility for immigration benefits
• Worked closely with in-house counsel to develop site-visit protocols and guide clients through government inspections and audits
• Managed seamless transition and integration of large global clients into firm
• Established and led firm’s PERM labor certification unit and managed PERM labor certification programs for firm’s largest clients, across diverse industries
• Secured a rare J-1 hardship waiver for physician specializing in radiation oncology, and obtained one of first Conrad J-1 waivers for another physician practicing oncology in an underserved area in Alaska.
• Counseled corporate clients regarding compliance with U.S. immigration and Department of Labor regulations and employment verification processes
• Represented individuals in family-based immigration applications, petitions for lawful permanent residence, and applications for naturalization

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• American Civil Liberties Union
• New York City Bar Association, Immigration and Nationality Law Committee

Claire works with various legal aid organizations, including the Safe Passage Project and New York City Bar Immigrant Justice Center, to provide legal services to underrepresented individuals.  She also participates in fundraising events for the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, and OneJustice Legal Services in San Francisco.

Other initiatives include:

• On-site advocate at JFK to facilitate admission of foreign nationals during Travel Bans
• Pro-bono counsel for non-profit social service organization and individual clients, facilitating the training of individuals working with autistic children in Romania
• Represented unaccompanied minor children in immigration court removal proceedings and family court to secure Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

Claire has served as a moderator, panelist and speaker at Continuing Legal Education and business immigration seminars in New York, California, London and Toronto including the following:

• “Immigration Law 2019: Skills and Practice,” New York State Bar Association, New York, 2019
• “Navigating Global Mobility for Your Organization (Building a Talent Pipeline),“ Business Immigration Conference sponsored by the University of Bath in collaboration with British American Business Inc., New York, 2018
• “U.K. and U.S. Global Mobility: Managing Employment & Immigration Challenges in the Age of Brexit and the Trump Administration,” Business Immigration Conference sponsored by British American Business Inc., New York, 2018
• “Both Sides Now – An In-depth Examination of Selected Topics in Canada and U.S. Immigration,” Ontario – New York Legal Summit, Toronto
• “Immigration and Identity,” Business Immigration Conference sponsored by British American Business Inc. in association with Magrath LLP, London
• U.S. and Global Immigration: Trends in Labor Market Testing
• Navigating a Changing Landscape: Immigration and Workforce Planning
• U.S. and Global Immigration: Corporate Compliance in an Enforcement Era
• Hiring and Retaining International Personnel: Strategies and Emerging Issues
• Guiding Global Growth: Solutions for Compliance, Retention & Global Mobility
• E-Verify and Worksite Enforcement: A Government Perspective
• Immigration Basics for Corporate and In-House Counsel
• Immigration 101 for HR and Hiring Managers

• Immigration

• University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., cum laude
• Boston College, M.A. with distinction
• State University of New York at Fredonia, B.A., magna cum laude

• New York

• U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
• New York State Court of Appeals
• New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division