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Experience:
Allen Erenbaum maintains a broad government practice, representing clients with local, state, or federal government issues. He particularly focuses his practice on immigration, ballot measures, and trade association work.
Immigration. As head of the firm's Immigration group, Allen leads a team serving businesses and their employees across the US and overseas, from Fortune 500 companies to start up enterprises. His group assists US companies in hiring and retaining non-citizen professionals; preparing, filing and tracking petitions for professional (H-1B) visas, NAFTA (TN) visas, extraordinary ability (O) visas, and others; and preparing applications for accompanying family members. They represent clients transferring foreign managers, executives, and professionals with specialized knowledge from a non-US entity to a US entity; advise clients opening US offices; and identify and assist clients with the process for obtaining visas for US personnel to travel and work overseas, often using the firm's overseas offices.
Allen and the Immigration group work with employers sponsoring green cards for employees; help clients proceed through the PERM labor certification process, including job description development, advertising, and recruitment phases, prepare petitions for employees seeking green cards, including "aliens of extraordinary ability"; and prepare adjustment of status (green card) applications. They advise clients on immigration implications of hiring and retaining employees, and counsel clients regarding employee documentation issues. They also advise clients across the US and internationally regarding a full range of general immigration matters, including immigration consequences of mergers, acquisitions, or other changes in ownership.
Allen once served as Counselor to the Commissioner and Director of Congressional Relations for the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) in Washington, DC. He previously worked as Counsel to the US House Judiciary Committee, where he drafted, analyzed and negotiated immigration legislation. Allen also chairs the Board of Directors of the National Immigration Law Center, the leading national legal group advocating on behalf of low-income immigrants.
Ballot Measures. Allen has substantial experience with state and local ballot measures, including involvement in all three of the major phases of ballot measure advocacy: drafting, qualification, and the campaign. His drafting philosophy is to present voters with a legally sound initiative that is accessible to the voters and that communicates the measure effectively. His counseling through the qualification process identifies procedural requirements, develops time lines, and provides strategic advice through the critical steps from filing the measure to securing its place on the ballot. He also provides legal services throughout the campaign, including on issues related to election law compliance and substantive issues regarding the initiative.
Trade Association. Allen has represented the trade association of the discount health care industry since its inception, focusing on state legislative and regulatory issues in states across the country. He has advocated on behalf of the discount industry before the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, National Association of Attorneys General, and regulatory agencies and legislatures in more than 25 states. Allen advises trade associations regarding internal matters and trade association members on regulatory, compliance, and corporate issues.
Notable Engagements:
Immigration:
Expedited a work visa for the new interim CEO of a Fortune 500 company after a sudden change in leadership.
Obtained a green card based on "extraordinary ability" for the CEO of a biotech start-up.
Helped a British technology company transfer a team of employees to the U.S. to work on the company's largest contract.
Obtained temporary visas for a leading financial services company's senior IT professionals, then moving the employees through the green card process.
Assisted a US technology company in obtaining work permits in the Netherlands for American and foreign employees based in the US.
Ballot Measures
Represented a coalition of 17 tribes in Arizona to draft a 2002 ballot measure extending the tribes' gaming compacts and expanding their authorized gaming; we provided continual analysis and advice during the campaign.
Drafted a 2006 statewide ballot measure in Missouri that guaranteed the right to conduct safe and ethical stem cell research without undue restrictions.
Drafted a measure in the City of Corona to require a vote of city residents before the city could takeover the private electrical utility operating in the city.
Represented two coalitions of Indian tribes in California in 2004 to challenge a statewide ballot measure to expand gaming at race tracks and card clubs.
Trade Association
Testified before numerous state legislative committees to shape favorable legislation.
Drafted and advocated for amendments to model law adopted by National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Education:
Harvard Law School, JD, cum laude, 1987, Brandeis University, BA, magna cum laude, 1984; Dean's List. | 