Our History
Founded in 1980, BAL has grown from a small immigration boutique to a global corporate immigration law firm providing representation to employers and their personnel in all regions of the United States and the world. We provide comprehensive global immigration services from offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, McLean, Va., New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Through our affiliated offices, Berry Appleman & Leiden Limited and Berry Appleman & Leiden Pty Ltd, we provide regional migration management from London and Sydney. BAL is an alliance of the best immigration minds and legal teams, working together to provide an unprecedented level of expertise and excellence within one firm.
From its original office in San Francisco, BAL quickly became known for the unparalleled quality of its legal work and its commitment to client service. In February 2007, the majority of the corporate immigration group of Jenkens & Gilchrist joined BAL, establishing a strong presence in Dallas and Houston. This merger added both highly qualified and experienced attorneys to BAL, and expanded the firm’s geographic reach. With the merger, BAL became the second largest law firm in the country specializing in immigration law. In 2009, BAL expanded again, merging with the former corporate immigration practice group of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. This merger added BAL offices in Atlanta, New York, and Washington D.C., and added to the firm an unmatched government relations practice.
BAL attorneys have extensive experience in the policy process, and have active, productive relationships with key Congressional committees and with decision-makers in the Department of Labor, the Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security. Our leaders have been involved in the drafting and passage of every piece of business immigration legislation since the 1980s. BAL represents a wide range of companies, from some of the world’s largest corporations to small start-ups in emerging growth industries. Our firm includes the former General Counsel of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the former General Counsel of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), a former policy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and three past presidents of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Our Practice
BAL handles the corporate immigration needs of employers around the world. Regardless of company size or project complexity, we plan, execute, and manage the full spectrum of U.S. and global immigration matters ranging from designing corporate immigration programs to processing international visas. The firm’s commitment to service drives everything we do, based upon clear standards for client communications, advanced information technologies, well-honed project management processes, and a firm-wide belief that all matters are urgent and all deadlines are absolute. Our client-tailored services are backed by a standard of excellence that has contributed to our reputation as one of the country’s top immigration firms. The senior partners are not only renowned among their peers, but they are called upon to represent immigration issues before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies. We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of analyzing new policies and alerting the industry to relevant issues of concern. In all our work, we never lose sight of our primary focus — that of easing the workload of human resources departments and accelerating the employment prospects for foreign nationals while ensuring that our clients maintain the highest standards of regulatory compliance.
BAL also successfully litigated numerous immigration cases in Federal Courts on behalf of our clients, including the national class action lawsuit, Chintakuntla v. INS, Case No. C-99-5211 MMC, (N.D. Cal.) which overturned the systematic denial of employment-based second preference (EB2) immigrant visa petitions by legacy INS, and Mindseye v. Ilchert, Civ. No. C-84-6199-FJW, (N.D. Cal.) which successfully secured expansion of the definition of “professionals” who qualify for H-1B status.
Our Commitment to Service
Pro-Bono Work
Our firm believes that pro-bono work is critically important to the legal profession and the good of society. We engage in extensive pro-bono representation through organizations like the Lawyer’s Committee on Civil Rights, the Asian Law Caucus and the American Immigration Council (formerly American Immigration Law Foundation). Our roles in these organizations include advocacy, clinic participation and activities to increase the awareness of the benefits of legal immigration. In addition, our attorneys volunteer their time to serve on local and national committees of AILA which advance the practice of immigration law and help advance the interests of our clients.
Community Service
Our attorneys and staff are actively involved in the community. BAL regularly sponsors the "Celebrate America" Creative Writing Contest held in Dallas, Texas in affiliation with the American Immigration Council (formerly American Immigration Law Foundation). The contest, open to fifth grade students, is part of an ongoing effort to educate the public about the benefits of immigration to our society. We also play key roles with such organizations as the Anti-Defamation League and the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network.
Charitable Contributions
Our partnership firmly supports charitable giving and is a regular and major contributor to many organizations. Organizations we have supported over the years include the ACLU Foundation – Immigrants’ Rights Project, the American Immigration Council (formerly American Immigration Law Foundation), the American Red Cross, the B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund, the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, and Doctors Without Borders.