Immigration Strategies For Founders, Startups, and Small Business Owners

Anne Rowley | Grossman Young & Hammond LLC

Anne Rowley is an immigration attorney who counsels clients on a variety of employment-based visa categories. She has over a decade of experience representing foreign nationals and employers in a range of immigrant and nonimmigrant matters, and has supported clients in various industries, including industrial science, financial services, retail, entertainment, heavy machinery, clean energy, communications technology, and computer software, among others.

Prior to her current role as Counsel at Grossman Young & Hammond, LLC, Anne practiced at the world’s largest business immigration provider in the firm’s Boston and San Diego offices, at a boutique immigration firm focusing on employment-based work, and for the immigration department of a Fortune 500 company.

Anne enjoys providing pro bono legal services through various citizenship and naturalization clinics. She has found it meaningful to contribute on pro bono cases provided through the Transgender Law Center, as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Military Assistance Program, where she assists active duty and recently retired members of the U.S. military with immigration related legal questions and cases. Her pro bono experience has included representing clients with disability waivers for naturalization applications, facilitating preparation and submission of Temporary Protected Status applications for foreign nationals requesting immigration relief, and supporting naturalization applications. Anne has also assisted several pro bono clients with provisional unlawful presence waivers, asylum, and Special Immigrant Juvenile matters.

In addition to providing pro bono legal services, Anne loves the opportunity to provide mentorship and to speak with learners at all education levels about immigration and its impact on our communities and country.

Anne was included in the 4th and 5th editions of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, which gives recognition to lawyers in earlier career stages for their outstanding professional excellence.

Hallie Cohen | Grossman Young & Hammond LLC

Hallie Cohen is a Senior Attorney at Grossman Young & Hammond where her practice focuses on employment-based immigration matters. She counsels clients throughout all stages of the immigration journey, from nonimmigrant classification through naturalization.

She has extensive experience representing multinational corporations, as well as small businesses, in a wide range of industries including financial services, technology and data sciences, health care, research institutions, and fashion. She develops impactful strategies and advises in-house counsel and human resources representatives, as well as individual employees, to help them achieve their immigration goals.

Her experience prior to joining the firm includes her time as an associate in the Immigration and Nationality practice of an AmLaw 200 firm where she represented clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups to successfully manage their immigration programs. She also worked with the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security where she conducted investigative services on behalf of the Office of Personnel Security and Suitability.

She has been repeatedly recognized by the New York State Bar Association as an Empire State Counsel Honoree for her commitment to pro bono work.

I. Introduction to entrepreneur immigration | 1:00pm – 1:20pm

• Defining entrepreneur immigration and its significance in the U.S. economy
• Key challenges faced by foreign entrepreneurs
• Relevant U.S. immigration laws impacting founders and startups

II. Immigrant visa pathways for entrepreneurs | 1:20pm – 1:40pm

• EB-1A Visa: Demonstrating extraordinary ability for permanent residency
• EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver): Highlighting contributions to U.S. innovation and economic growth
• EB-5 Visa: Investment-based immigration for entrepreneurs and small business owners

III. Non immigrant visa options for entrepreneurs | 1:40pm – 2:00pm

• H-1B Visa: Strategies for founders to qualify and use for startup employment
• O-1 Visa: Meeting the criteria for extraordinary ability as an entrepreneur
• E-2 Visa: Leveraging treaty investor status for small business operations
• L-1 Visa: Intra-company transfer options for expanding foreign startups

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

IV. Special considerations for startup immigration | 2:10pm – 2:30pm

• Navigating equity ownership and control issues for visa eligibility
• Compliance with labor and immigration laws for founders and employees

V. Policy trends and legislative updates | 2:30pm – 2:50pm

• Recent developments in immigration policy affecting entrepreneurs
• Proposed reforms and their potential impact on startup founders
• Strategies for staying informed and adapting to policy changes

VI. Practical tips for entrepreneurs and legal practitioners | 2:50pm – 3:10pm

• Best practices for preparing strong visa petitions and applications
• Collaborating with immigration attorneys, business advisors, and investors
• Addressing denial risks and preparing for appeals or alternative pathways