Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing workplace law firms, is pleased to announce Matthew J. Martinez has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as Shareholder. Mr. Martinez, who joins the firm from Fennemore Craig, brings to Jackson Lewis over 13 years of experience in immigration and nationality law. Mr. Martinez’s arrival strengthens the firm’s Immigration Practice Group, which recently benefited from the addition of immigration pro Lucrecia Davis in Houston.
“Our ability to recruit high-level immigration specialists like Lucrecia and now Matt is a testament to Jackson Lewis’ excellent reputation as well as our strategic growth in the field in response to client demand,” said Sean G. Hanagan, Leader of the Immigration Practice Group. “Matt’s talents contribute significantly to our bench strength in Arizona – a significant market for immigration – and his proximity to Las Vegas and Silicon Valley provides a tremendous upside for our clients in those regions.”
“We are pleased to welcome Matt to the Phoenix office, where his experience will immediately strengthen our immigration capabilities and ability to service all of our clients in the Phoenix area and throughout Arizona,” added Phoenix office Managing Shareholder Gregg E. Clifton. “Matt is a proven leader with strong connections to the local employer community, and he adds tremendous value to our team.”
Mr. Martinez provides immigration-related counsel for multinational corporations, academic institutions, information technology providers and manufacturers from countries throughout the world. He represents companies in the preparation of nonimmigrant visa petitions, labor certification (PERM) applications, immigrant petitions, and permanent residency applications. He regularly works with companies to conduct internal I-9 audits in an effort to assess compliance with immigration, employment and discrimination laws, and works with clients to develop hiring policies and procedures. He also assists employers in responding to agency-initiated workplace audits and investigations.
Mr. Martinez works closely with companies from diverse industries, including the resort, equine and agricultural industries, to develop guest worker programs that provide temporary and seasonal workers. In addition, he has extensive experience representing athletes, particularly in the baseball and equestrian industries. He also assists companies in sending employees abroad, working with HR professionals and individual employees to obtain appropriate outbound visas.
Mr. Martinez is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and frequent lecturer on immigration law issues. He received his B.S. from Brigham Young University and his J.D. from Brigham Young’s J. Reuben Clark Law School, where he was Senior Editor of the BYU Law Review. He is fluent in Spanish.
Jackson Lewis’ Phoenix office can be reached at (602) 714-7044.
