Susan is a Partner in the Walnut Creek office of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. She concentrates on business immigration matters including nonimmigrant visas, labor certification issues, immigrant visa petitions, and adjustment of status applications. Susan regularly advises clients on petitions for individuals of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researchers and Multinational Managers as well as compliance issues, including I-9 compliance and Labor Condition Application compliance, the immigration implications of mergers and acquisitions, and immigration issues facing start-up companies.

Susan garnered extensive immigration law experience prior to joining BAL, both at a boutique immigration firm in Southern California as well as at a full service firm in San Francisco. Additionally, she has practiced labor and employment law, held an editorial position with The Labor Letters, Inc., and served as Adjunct Professor of Labor Relations at Woodbury University.

Stuart Anderson is Executive Director of the National Foundation for American Policy, a non-partisan public policy research organization focusing on trade, immigration and related issues based in Arlington, Virginia. From August 2001 to January 2003, Stuart served as Executive Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning and Counselor to the Commissioner at the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Before that Stuart spent four and a half years on Capitol Hill on the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, first for Senator Spencer Abraham and then as Staff Director of the subcommittee for Senator Sam Brownback. Prior to that, Stuart was Director of Trade and Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., where he produced reports on the military contributions of immigrants and the role of immigrants in high technology. He has an M.A. from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Political Science from Drew University. Stuart has published articles in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other publications. He is the author of the book Immigration (Greenwood, 2010).

Stephanie Lewin is an executive and corporate lawyer, specializing in immigration, employment, compliance and global mobility strategy and policy for large and mid-sized companies. Stephanie’s global work experience includes government, in-house counsel, law firm and corporate roles. She is an award-winning customer service advocate and contributor to Dot Complicated on Wharton Business Radio.

Stephanie currently serves Envoy Global’s Head of Global Immigration and brings more than 20 years’ immigration experience. Before joining Envoy, she served as Senior Counsel for Global Immigration at Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL), and has also held management positions at Crown World Mobility and Emigra Worldwide in London.

Earlier in her career Stephanie worked at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and was an in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 company. 

Ms. Kersey provides advice, project management and consulting services on Form I-9 and E-Verify matters to help organizations of all sizes avoid civil and criminal penalties, as well as ancillary damage to reputation, caused by weaknesses in their immigration-related hiring and record-keeping practices. Ms. Kersey represents employers before, during, and after Form I-9 inspections by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, providing practical advice to and serving as an advocate for employers during negotiations and litigation relating to fines for I-9 violations. She is a frequent trainer and speaker on I-9 and E-Verify issues.

Ms. Kersey has practiced immigration law for 12 years, working with large and boutique law firms to provide services to clients in the hospitality, finance, manufacturing, construction, retail and technology industries, among others. She provides pro bono assistance to arts organizations and to military families. She is learning to play the electric guitar with her daughter, has never been to Maine, recently learned to shuck oysters, and can probably be found at the Renwick Gallery after her panel presentation, as it is her favorite museum in D.C

Mr. Jackson is currently SHRM’s manager of employee experience, overseeing employee relations and engagement for SHRM 400-plus employees around the world. Prior to starting this role in September 2019, Mike was the manager in charge of SHRM's J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and administered the intern and trainee programs sponsored under SHRM's J-1 visa designation. Previously, Mike oversaw the J-1 visa program for the Council for Global Immigration (CFGI), which was a SHRM strategic affiliate organization. Before joining SHRM and CFGI, Mike was the University Relations Manager for the Association for International Practical Training (AIPT) and was the program manager in charge of operating the U.S. affiliate of the International Association for the Exchange Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) program. Previously, he served as the Communications and Outreach Officer at the Washington, DC-based Middle East Institute (MEI) and has also worked at the University of Southern California's School of International Relations and at Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick Public Affairs. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from The George Washington University and a Master's degree in Public Diplomacy from the University of Southern California.

Mareza I. Estevez (“Rez”) serves as lead in-house immigration law counsel to Infosys Limited (NYSE: INFY). As legal director of a corporate multinational immigration department spanning the world, Ms. Estevez develops legal strategy, supports business strategy, and advises senior leadership and operational groups on immigration law matters globally. Ms. Estevez directs legal strategy for the in-house immigration operations and compliance groups in the preparation and filing of cases for permanent and temporary visa benefits in the U.S. and other countries for thousands of employees. Ms. Estevez advises and guides compliance operations relating to U.S. immigration, and significantly contributes to immigration compliance activities for other geographies. Ms. Estevez regularly counsels senior business leadership on legal and business considerations relating to immigration operations, strategic planning, potential acquisitions, corporate and crisis communications, investigatory and enforcement matters, and governmental relations. Before joining Infosys Limited, Ms. Estevez served as Senior Director – Legal for the global immigration function at Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (NASDAQ: CTSH). Before going in-house, Ms. Estevez practiced Immigration and Nationality Law at large national law firms in New York and Washington, D.C. She is an active member of ACC (American Corporate Counsel), has authored/ co-authored numerous articles in the field, and has served as an expert panelist and speaker at a wide array of legal fora. Ms. Estevez is admitted into the practice of law in the states of New Jersey and New York. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Rutgers School of Law – Newark. 

Manish Daftari is a Director within the Immigration Practice at PwC Law with over 12 years of immigration law experience. He currently oversees immigration services for PwC Law.

Manish advises clients on corporate immigration compliance, oversees the development and implementation of their policies, and assists companies in keeping their immigration programs competitive. Manish is an expert in the full array of employment-based immigration benefits available to foreign nationals who seek to work in the U.S., and further counsels on permanent residency and citizenship.  

Manish represents individual clients in personal immigration matters, as well as private businesses in establishing immigration policies and immigration compliance practices which are tailored to meet a range of business needs. Manish has represented applicants at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Department of Labor, and the US Consulates. He has also represented clients in front of Immigration Court.

Manish has lectured frequently on diverse immigration law topics at corporate events and meetings, as well as at client presentations and conferences. 

Manish is a member the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the California Bar Association and was formerly an Executive Committee member of the AILA Canada Chapter. Prior to joining PwC Law, Manish practiced for many years in San Francisco, California.

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD), University Of San Francisco School Of Law

Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of California, Davis

Dr. James Hammerschmidt is the Associate Vice Provost for the Office of Global Engagement and the Executive Director of the Office of International Services at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As Associate Vice Provost, Hammerschmidt provides oversight of immigration-related services to over 6,000 international students, scholars, physicians, and staff at the University of Illinois at Chicago and its Peoria and Rockford campuses.

Hammerschmidt is also an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, currently serving as Chair of NAFSA’s Healthcare IIG. Hammerschmidt has also served as past chair of the NAFSA International Education Leadership Knowledge Community. In addition, he also served as Chair of the NAFSA Regulatory Ombudspersons Subcommittee.

Eric Ellis is President and CEO of Integrity Development Corp. Since 1991, his firm has served businesses, law enforcement agencies, and organizations by building cultures where Diversity, Inclusion and Respect flourish, driving business results.

One of our nation’s leading strategists on Diversity & Inclusion, Eric and his firm have won numerous awards, including the State of Ohio's Minority Business of the Year, and the NAACP President’s Award. Eric is a member of the SHRM Inclusion & Diversity Expert Panel.

Eric is author of the book, Diversity Conversations, 3rd edition, and co-hosts a weekly broadcast of the same name at www.1320thevoice.com or facebook live, every Saturday, 9:30 am EST @elliseric.

CEO, Pearl Immigration and Pearl Law Group

Co-Founder, Tracker Corp and Pearl Travel Tech

www.pearlimmigration.com

• Founder and CEO of the only US immigration law firm to win national awards for innovation, global business immigration and pro bono service
• Named one of nation’s 3 “Preeminent Practitioners of Immigration Law” (Chambers Guide)
• Ranked 10+ years in “Nation’s Top 20 Immigration Lawyers” - only firm with west coast lawyers in the Top 20.  (HR Executive Magazine)
• Launched two technology companies and innovated four immigration web-based products that have helped employers and professionals comply with visa, labor, tax and travel rules worldwide for over 20 years.