Partner Dawn Lurie Brings Immigration Expertise to Sheppard Mullin
Dawn M. Lurie has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm's Labor and Employment practice group and leader of the firm’s Business Immigration and Compliance practice, based in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Lurie previously practiced at Greenberg Traurig in Washington, D.C. Special counsel Mahsa Aliaskari practiced with Lurie at Greenberg Traurig and joins Sheppard Mullin’s Labor and Employment practice group in Century City.
"Dawn is a leading immigration law expert, with significant knowledge and experience regarding the EB-5 Entrepreneur Investment visa program and in government worksite investigations. Given her background and skill set, Dawn’s practice has strong synergies with our Labor and Employment practice group, expands our immigration law capabilities, and is an outstanding fit for the firm in general," said Guy N. Halgren, chairman of Sheppard Mullin.
"I am excited to join Sheppard Mullin. The strength and breadth of the firm's Labor and Employment practice group is very impressive. Equally impressive is the depth and variety of Sheppard Mullin’s transactional practices, such as Corporate and Real Estate, which I often leverage in connection with my immigration compliance work. Sheppard Mullin's successful expansion and entrepreneurial culture have also been very attractive to me. I look forward to continuing to grow my practice with Mahsa, as well as my new partners throughout the firm," Lurie commented.
For two decades, Lurie has been advising high-net worth individuals on the EB-5 Entrepreneur Investment visa program, including regional center representation and compliance work. Lurie regularly provides creative strategies to private equity funds and developers across industries when setting up EB-5 projects and EB-5 Regional Centers.
Lurie also advises corporations on a variety of compliance-related issues, particularly related to Form I-9 alien employment verification and SEVIS matters. She has successfully defended a number of businesses in high profile, high stakes government investigations involving both criminal and civil liability.
Additionally, Lurie is considered a leading authority on monitoring and compliance issues concerning the government’s E-verify program and also has experience in Office of Special Counsel immigration-related matters. Her practice also consists of managing global migration matters and providing immigration counsel to address the visa and work authorization needs of U.S. and global personnel in the industrial, retail and service industries, real estate, healthcare, pharmaceutical and technology sectors.
Aliaskari represents national and international employers before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as the U.S. Department of Labor in connection with immigration-related employment and compliance matters. Providing practical and innovative strategies and immigration practices, she has assisted companies, professionals and skilled workers in obtaining immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.
Aliaskari has specific experience in counseling foreign nationals and companies that are establishing new U.S. ventures requiring the temporary or permanent transfer of employees to the U.S., with a particular emphasis on emerging growth and start-up companies. She has assisted companies, professionals and skilled workers in obtaining immigrant and nonimmigrant visas across industries including pharmaceutical, health care, IT, entertainment, retail, industrial, manufacturing, food service and finance.
Lurie received her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law in 1990 and a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University in 1987. Aliaskari received her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law in 2000 and a B.A. from George Mason University in 1997.
Sheppard Mullin has 50 attorneys based in its Washington, D.C. office and 50 attorneys based in its Century City office. The firm's Labor and Employment practice group includes 90 attorneys firmwide.