BROWN IMMIGRATION LAW - Key Persons
Alex is an Associate Attorney at Brown Immigration Law supporting a range of clients with comprehensive solutions for their immigration-related needs - from nonimmigrant visas including H-1B, L-1, TN, E-3, J-1, F-1, E-2, and O-1, to all aspects of the green card process across various categories (PERM-based EB-2 and EB-3, NIW, and EB-1), as well as I-485 applications to adjust status and immigrant visa processing.
Alex attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science before completing his Juris Doctor at the University of Nebraska College of Law. Alex had the opportunity to work as a Law Clerk for Brown Immigration Law while completing his J.D. and developed a deep appreciation for the crucial role of immigration in economic growth and innovation, among other important values of the United States. He has been with the firm ever since, now as an attorney directly impacting those objectives by supporting the immigration needs of innovative companies in medical technology, biotechnology, and environmental industries, among others.
In his free time, Alex enjoys listening to music and playing various instruments. He is also a passionate sports fan, watching all things baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. Additionally, he loves spending time on the golf course desperately trying to salvage his swing.
Alex Bierman is a Senior Associate Attorney at Brown Immigration Law working primarily with hi-tech startups on nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications. Alex leverages her past experiences in employment law and litigation to help devise strategy and implement the best hiring solutions for clients in fast paced environments across the country.
Alex attended the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law where she first ignited her passion for guiding clients through complex legal matters. She was a focal part of the RD Hurd Clinic, serving as the Vice President of the Board, while providing legal services to low-income communities. In addition to her studies, she also served as Vice President of the Public Interest Network, and as a member of the board for the National Native American Law Students Association. Alex was a recipient of the Access to Justice Award for her extensive pro bono work advocating for underserved communities. Her experiences in law school prepared her to be a strong partner to HR departments and foreign nationals alike.
Outside of the office, Alex enjoys spending time with her family that includes her husband Aaron, their son, and their two Westies - Molly and Finn. Alex is passionate about traveling, having trekked across Eastern Europe in Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Croatia in addition to trips to Italy and Spain in college. However, these days she admits her preferred destination is someplace warm with a beautiful beach.
Allison Heimes is a Managing Attorney leveraging over 7 years of immigration experience to identify sound solutions for all types of corporate immigration matters. Allison has deep experience in a variety of nonimmigrant matters, including H-1B, L-1, and O visas, as well as immigrant petitions. She works primarily with companies in the fin-tech and bio-tech fields, industries that rely on expertise within fast-paced, ever-changing environments.
Allison attended the University of Nebraska - Omaha where she received a bachelor's degree in Political Science before attending Creighton University where she completed both a Juris Doctor and a Masters degree in Government Organization and Leadership. As an attorney, she won an 8th Circuit appeal in Barahona v. Garland that held that the ""serious reasons for believing"" standard requires a finding of probable cause before an alien can be subject to the mandatory bar set forth in 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(2)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(B)(iii), and 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(d)(2). Beyond a myriad of accomplishments in school and in her practice as an attorney, Allison has made a long-lasting impact in her community. She wrote LB261 and helped pass the bill in the Nebraska Unicameral which provided grave markers to National Guard Service men and women in 2021.
In her free time, Allison enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. A strong advocate for both her clients and community alike, Allison strives to enrich the lives of others each and every day.
Ashley is an Associate Attorney dedicated to fostering a more interconnected world that surpasses borders. With a client-centric approach, Ashley navigates the intricate reality of corporate immigration, guiding both employers and foreign nationals towards strategies for success.
Ashley's interest and dedication to immigration law stems from her exposure to a variety of global initiatives and international forums throughout her esteemed academic career. She also served as an Immigration Reform Intern for Nebraska Appleseed and as an International Intern at the Center for Studies and Research on Women in Islam. During her undergraduate studies, Ashley served as President of Model United Nations and spearheaded the creation of the Pan-Nebraska Conference, an annual gathering uniting universities and colleges to address pressing global issues. In law school, Ashley participated in the Nuremberg to the Hague program which took her to critical institutions like the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, focusing on justice for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. She also interned with the Department of Justice-Office of International Affairs in Washington D.C., where she played a vital role in the extradition process of international criminal fugitives. Her commitment to public service earned her the Pro Bono Distinction award upon graduation, recognizing her help with the Abrahams Legal Clinic.
Ashley's diverse international experience provided her with a unique perspective and appreciation for law and justice that ultimately led her to a career in immigration law. She supports a variety of organizations and foreign nationals navigate the complexities of global mobility by providing comprehensive nonimmigrant and immigrant solutions to allow individuals of all backgrounds to pursue their dreams in the U.S.
In her spare time, Ashley finds joy in embroidery, reading, running, and traveling. She is also a devoted fan of Nebraska Cornhusker football and volleyball and can always be heard chanting "Go Big Red!".
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Founding Partner - U.S. Practice Lead
Bailey Anderson is a Founding Partner at the firm with extensive experience in all employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant solutions. Bailey first realized her passion for business immigration while working as a Paralegal for Brown Immigration Law. She left to pursue a Law Degree in 2014 and graduated from the Creighton University School of Law in 2016. Bailey always knew she wanted to return to Brown Immigration Law to practice and tailored her education accordingly. She focused her studies on Immigration, Business, and Employment law, and spent the majority of her last semester researching and analyzing the internal processes and issues of the Visa Bulletin as part of an independent study course.
In addition to handling a wide variety of nonimmigrant and immigrant matters for many of Brown Immigration Law's largest clients, Bailey leads the firm's legal operations. Inspired by the various tech companies she works with, she saw an opportunity to improve internal workflows, communication, and efficiency by designing a case management platform. Through this system, she has created a variety of dashboards and other proprietary tools to optimize the development and delivery of the firm's core offerings.
In her spare time, Bailey enjoys photography, playing the piano, and traveling.
Carly is a Supervising Attorney, handling a variety of immigrant and nonimmigrant matters for her corporate clients.
Carly received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota, followed by her Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law. She started her practice in primarily family law but discovered her passion for immigration law several years after starting at a Nebraska nonprofit that provided civil and immigration legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking. She spent over 10 years representing immigrant victims in a variety of humanitarian remedies, including VAWA self-petitions, U and T visas, and related filings.
In her spare time, Carly is an avid amateur genealogist, and enjoys reading, traveling, and playing volleyball. Her favorite pastime, however, is spending time with her three nieces, doing crafts and playing games.
Caterina is a Partner at Brown Immigration Law committed to the success of corporate clients and their highly skilled workers. She is well known for delivering favorable outcomes for outstanding researchers and individuals of extraordinary ability (O-1 visas and EB-1 green cards) as well as many other employment-based visa solutions for a wide variety of clients, from biotech startups to universities and global consulting companies, among others.
An immigrant herself, Caterina brings a unique touch of strategy and compassion to her practice that puts clients at ease in navigating the complex world of immigration. She obtained her Juris Doctor (Laura Magistrale) from Università Degli Studi Roma Tre, in Rome, Italy graduating summa cum laude and completed her L.L.M. at St. John's University in New York, earning the highest-grade point average in her class along with recognition as a top student demonstrating outstanding leadership and citizenship in the St. John's Community. Caterina then practiced business immigration for an NYC firm before relocating to Lincoln, Nebraska to join Brown Immigration Law.
Outside of the office, Caterina enjoys practicing yoga, reading, and spending time with her young son and husband. She is fluent in both Italian and English and loves to travel the world, with Sicily, Greece, and Hawaii being among a few of her favorite destinations.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chairman of the Nebraska
- Chief Operating Officer of Brown Immigration Law, Mana
Cheryl Anderson is the Chief Operating Officer of Brown Immigration Law, managing a team dedicated to facilitating the firm's delivery of successful immigration outcomes. Cheryl brings many years of experience and leadership studies expertise to the firm, assisting in our growth for the past ten (10) years!
Before coming to BIL, Cheryl attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL), graduating with her bachelor's degree. After, Cheryl worked as an Adjudicator for the Department of Education (DOE) for several years, where she engaged in complex case review and decision making on behalf of the DOE. Shortly after leaving the DOE, Managing Partner David Brown handpicked Cheryl to join BIL as the Director of Operations, focusing on growing the firm.
Since joining the firm in 2013, Cheryl has been using her creative vision and excellent insight in company management, leadership, and corporate policy to enhance operations and assist in recruiting top talent for BIL. Under her leadership, as the Director of Operations and now Chief Operating Officer of BIL, the firm has experienced record growth in terms of personnel, clientele, and even office square footage. As true of any company experiencing growth, a combination of technology, efficiency, leadership structure, and a focus on organizational core values are essential keys to success, among other concepts. To facilitate our growth, Cheryl curated a new leadership structure for the firm, oversaw the implementation of new technologies and software, and brought a discerning eye for productivity and efficiency to the firm's operations, among other achievements, ensuring BIL continued its growth without barrier. Cheryl continues to lead firm efforts to deliver excellent client service and become industry leaders.
Aside from her work with BIL, Cheryl serves as the Chair of the Nebraska Associate of Legal Administrators (ALA) board. In this position, Cheryl heads the Nebraska chapter of the premier professional association connecting leaders and managers in the legal industry.
Outside of her professional life, Cheryl loves spending time with her husband and three children. She is passionate about learning and has recently taken up golf, cooking, and driving in the United Kingdom! She is also a Nebraska enthusiast - one of her favorite pastimes is taking road trips to small towns throughout the state to explore Nebraska State Parks, historical sites, and museums; celebrating local culture; and supporting small town bakeries, stores, and coffee shops.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Managing Attorney - Canadian Practice Lead
Clinton J. Green is a Managing Attorney and the Canadian Practice Lead at Brown Immigration Law. Clinton partners with businesses and entrepreneurs to implement Canadian immigration strategies as part of their global plans for workforce management.
Clinton leverages his expertise to devise comprehensive solutions to the complex challenges that arise when global companies seek to scale their operations and expand into Canada. Clinton regularly processes applications for temporary and permanent residence, including business visitors, work permits, labour market impact assessments, and permanent residence (express entry and provincial nominations). He also advises on inadmissibility, immigration compliance, and citizenship matters.
Clinton has almost a decade of experience practicing Canadian immigration law at preeminent immigration law firms in Toronto, Canada. He has partnered with clients ranging from Fortune 100 multinational companies to start-ups and entrepreneurs across various sectors. As a complement to his practice, Clinton sits on the Ontario Bar Association's Citizenship and Immigration Law Section Executive as CPD Liaison, where he collaborates to design professional development programs for immigration lawyers in Canada's largest province. He also regularly speaks at panels and seminars on Canadian immigration law.
Clinton's passion for immigration law is informed by his family's experience immigrating to Canada. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, where he received the Joel S. Guberman Prize in Immigration Law for achieving the highest standing in the course, as well as the Dean's Gold Key Award. Because of his lived experiences, Clinton is acutely aware of how changes in regulations and policies impact immigration processes. His passion for immigration law is matched by his view that immigration counselling goes beyond simply processing applications - creative and thoughtful immigration strategies can help ensure that a company can scale up or transfer key personnel to meet project timelines or help ensure that a family member can join their family in Canada.
Outside of the office, Clinton enjoys travelling around the world, spending time with family, cooking, and spending time in nature.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Managing Partner - Global Practice Lead
Hunter is an Associate Attorney at Brown Immigration Law focusing on employment-based immigration solutions tailored for startups and established companies in the United States. He provides employers and their foreign workers with full-service support, from nonimmigrant visa petitions like H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, J-1, F-1, E-2, etc. to various paths to permanent residency including PERM Labor Certification, National Interest Waivers (NIW), EB-1, and I-485 Adjustment of Status, and eventually U.S. citizenship.
Hunter received his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law where he also served as Vice President of the UNL Global Trade and Business Think Tank, a student-run organization seeking to improve and diversify legal research in global trade, business law and policy, which was one of many experiences that inspired a career in business immigration. Prior to joining Brown Immigration Law, Hunter worked as a World Language Teacher teaching Chinese language to middle school students, and later at the college level, working in the University of Nebraska Department of Modern Languages and Literature, where he continues to lecture.
When not in the office, you can find Hunter spending his free time with his wife and young daughter. He also gives back to the community by volunteering legal services to the NSBA Tenant Assistance Project, a program to provide free- or reduced-cost assistance to avoid immediate eviction and give access to legal resources to those with limited financial means.
On February 13, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by a vote of 214-213. Secretary Mayorkas faced two articles of impeachment for allegedly willfully and systematically refusing to enforce existing immigration laws and allegedly breaching the public trust. Secretary Mayorkas is the first sitting Cabinet secretary to be impeached by Congress. The Articles of Impeachment will now be sent to the U.S. Senate for a trial. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has stated the trial will begin after senators return to Washington, D.C. on February 26, but the rules and procedures of the trial remain to be an open question. Unfortunately this political theater detracts from the real issues of the day, including meaningful immigration reform.
Olivia is a Senior Associate Attorney specializing in employment-based immigration solutions for an array of companies in the biotech and hi-tech sectors. She has experience handling a variety of corporate matters, especially with nonimmigrant petitions such as the H-1B and O-1 visas. Olivia prides herself on exceeding her client's needs by handling each matter with care, precision, and clarity.
Olivia graduated from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, School of Law with a concentrated study in Cyber and High Technology Law. She leverages this background to match the rapid-growth and specific needs of her clients in these industries. During law school, she received a CALI Excellence for the Future Award for excellent achievement for a paper she authored on the history of Japan's national space legislation. Olivia complimented her emphasis on hi-tech throughout school by working as a student attorney in the UNL College of Law Immigration Clinic where she drafted numerous Crimmigration Analysis Memos for the Criminal Defense Counsel. This project provided her the opportunity to get a jumpstart on strategizing all possible immigration consequences for non-citizen clients - a skill in tandem with her concentrated studies in high growth industries that she utilizes daily at Brown Immigration Law to get the best outcomes for her clients.
Beyond her practice at Brown Immigration Law, Olivia enjoys immersing herself in nature on long hikes or longboarding with her dog, Jax. She is a voracious reader, especially when it comes to the science fiction and science fantasy genres. Her favorite author is Octavia E. Butler who penned the Lilith's Brood collection.
Ryan P. Kelly is a Managing Attorney at Brown Immigration Law primarily focused on business immigration, though he possesses experience in family and humanitarian-based applications as well. He graduated from Washburn University as the valedictorian of the school of business. At Washburn University, Ryan was a three-time national champion on the university's debate team. He continues to be a debate coach and judge for the university's debate team to this day.
Ryan attended law school at the University of Kansas School of Law. During law school, Ryan started as a clerk with a family law firm working on child custody matters, divorce settlements, and translating for Spanish speaking clients. He was then a law clerk at the University of Kansas Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) where he worked on various immigration matters, including T-Visas and Asylum. Ryan also volunteered at an ongoing DACA renewal clinic and various other clinics to help the undocumented community. At KU, he was on the mock trial team and a staff editor of the University of Kansas Law Review. Ryan was published in the law review for his article challenging the constitutionality of the Trump administration's attempts to force states to cooperate with ICE. Ryan speaks Spanish.
Beyond practicing law, Ryan enjoys being an academic debate coach, traveling, and volunteering with political organizations. In his undergraduate career, he lived in Wuhan, China and worked as a marketing intern for an herbal remedy company. During his internship, he was able to travel all around China and Hong Kong. Since then, he has visited Viet Nam, Thailand, and Macau, and hopes to continue his travels soon! His political volunteerism has focused on work with organizations such as Election Protection and DACA renewal clinics with El Centro of Kansas City, among others.
Stephen is an Associate Attorney dedicated to providing caring and professional support to clients. He is enthusiastic about assisting people with their immigration needs and leverages his experience working closely with companies across the globe to exceed clients' expectations. From his lived experience as an immigrant from Taiwan, Stephen understands firsthand the clients' experiences and communicates from a firsthand perspective to help guide clients through complex immigration processes. At BIL, Stephen focuses his practice on both US and global corporate matters, including L-1, O-1, and other immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions. Additionally, Stephen helps support BIL's growing Canadian operations.
Stephen received his Juris Doctor from University of Wisconsin Law School where he served as Co-President of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Law Students Association. During law school, Stephen was a clinical law student at the Wisconsin Innocence Project, working to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals through post-conviction remedies. Stephen also worked as a legal extern with the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General. Stephen continues to be active in the Asian American community and volunteers with Taiwan Innocence Project, developing his legal expertise in many areas of the law to help communicate advanced legal concepts to clients in support of their dreams.
Outside his practice, Stephen enjoys traveling around the world, wine tasting, and cooking. Stephen is also passionate about tailoring, vintage clothing, and suiting fabrics. Stephen is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese and thinks he is a better karaoke singer than he actually is.