Renée has her finger on the pulse of the complex, highly competitive field of corporate immigration. She is known for her savvy in guiding employers in recruiting and hiring, defending I-9 raids and audits, and establishing compliance programs clients can trust and rely upon.

Overview

Renée helps employers build a 21st century workforce and hire talent by assisting them with obtaining work visas and permanent residence for their key foreign national employees. She advises on immigration issues in mergers and acquisitions, assists with the full range of compliance, and provides policies and training for her clients, including how to respond to ICE raids, inquiries and audits. She has specific experience addressing temporary labor shortages by representing clients in connection with their H-2B visa needs. 

Renée works with U.S. and multinational clients, including IT and engineering companies, health care organizations, architectural firms, insurance companies, colleges and universities and nonprofits. She is fluent in Spanish, has prior experience serving as a clerk for a judicial court judge, and interned with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, then Madeleine K. Albright, researching issues pertaining to the investigation and prosecution of war crimes. She is a frequent writer and speaker, most recently on alternatives to the H-1B program. 

Experience

Renée assists clients with nonimmigrant visas and permanent residence filings through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Labor.

She helps employers obtain EB-1 status for managers and executives, those of extraordinary ability and those qualifying as outstanding researchers, as well as national interest waivers.

Renée helps clients with Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance, conducts self-audits and represents clients in ICE raids and audits.

A volunteer attorney with Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, Renée also has experience with individual immigration and asylum cases, and handles a number of them pro bono, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Family Reunification and U visas.

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

“Advanced H-1B Topics,” 2023 Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, May 2023

"Immigration and Form I-9 Compliance Update," New Challenges for HR in 2023, February 2023 

"NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards)," Licensing Advisors Webinar, November 2019

"NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards)," 2019 Licensing Advisors Summit, August 2019

"The ABCs of Employment-Based NIV Options," 2019 Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, March 2019

"Beyond the Cap: Alternatives to H-1B," 2018 Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, March 2018

"Immigration Law Update," Business Law Update 2018, February 2018

"Immigration Law Update," New Challenges for HR in 2018, January 2018

"Corporate Restructuring and the Impact on Foreign National Employees" 2016 Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, May 2016

"Immigration Compliance: Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification" Employment Law Institute, May 2016

"Marketing and Business of Immigration Practice" Upper Midwest Immigration Law Conference, April 2015

"H-1B Primer and Tips for FY2016 Cap Filings" AILA Minnesota/Dakotas, March 2015

Recognitions

Recognitions

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2025

North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

Pro Bono Service to the Indigent Award, Legal Clinic Volunteer of the Year Award recipient, 2012

Minnesota Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2008

Professional & Civic Activities

Professional & Civic Activities

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter, Secretary, 2006-2007, Member, 1997-present

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Current Member, 1997-Present

Minnesota State Bar Association, Immigration Law Section

Friends of FANA Minnesota, Inc. (nonprofit supporting the FANA orphanage in Bogotá, Colombia) Board of Directors, 2007-2008, and 2013-Present, Vice President 2014-Present

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, Volunteer Attorney, 1997-Present

Practices & Industries

Admissions

  • Minnesota

Education

Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, J.D.

St. Catherine University, B.A.

  • Dean’s List
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