CONCENTRATION
Lori Chesser is a senior shareholder of the Davis Brown Law Firm and the chair of the Firm's Immigration Department. She has a background in finance and corporate law, but has been practicing primarily in immigration law for 20 years.
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
• AV Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell. An AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
• The Best Lawyers in America 2011 & 2012, Immigration Law
• Immigrant Champion Award, Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit, 2011
• Chambers USA, Labor & Employment: Immigration, Iowa Ranked Band 1, 2010
• Pro Bono Award, Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations, 1999
• Business Record's Forty Under 40, Class of 2002
• Mary Louise Smith Human Rights Award, Des Moines Human Rights Commission, 2007
• Business Record's Women of Influence Award, 2008
• Footsteps Award, Diocese of Des Moines, 2009 - For work in social action
SUMMARY
Lori represents individuals and companies in employment-based immigration applications for both temporary and permanent positions, assists in making visa applications, trains and advises companies on I-9 compliance and audit response, and helps plan immigration strategy for business owners and entrepreneurs. She also assists in family-based immigration, including fiancé(e) visa applications and marriage-based and other family-related immigration issues. Finally, she advises clients on maintaining permanent residence and applying for naturalization, and works in conjunction with the firm's tax and estate planning departments to optimize immigration status for financial planning purposes.
Lori has been active in immigration advocacy and as a liaison with the federal government regarding immigration issues, as well as in the Des Moines community:
- She co-founded the American Immigration Lawyers Association Iowa/Nebraska Chapter, and was its first Chapter Chair. She is now chair of AILA's national Access to Counsel Committee.
- She was involved in advocating for the opening of the Des Moines Suboffice of the Immigration Service so that Iowa residents would not need to travel to Omaha for their immigration applications.
- She served on numerous AILA national committees, including the Nebraska Service Center Liaison, USCIS Benefits, Immigration Reform and Media, helping to bring areas of concern to the government's attention, assisting on individual cases, and forming strategy.
- She co-founded the Iowa Immigration Education Coalition, a non-profit organization committed to providing factual information and education to people across Iowa regarding immigration law and policies.
- She helped organize and maintain local and state-wide grassroots advocacy groups to push for positive immigration law reform.
SEMINARS, LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS
She is a frequent speaker at continuing education and advocacy programs on immigration issues, both locally and nationally. Below are some recent and upcoming presentations.
- Overview of Immigration Law, Just Faith program on Immigration, Trinity United Methodist Church, Sunday, January 24, 2010
- Immigration Law & Economics (with Dr. David Swenson, Iowa State University), Drake University Choral Program Series, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010
- Immigration Issues in Education, Iowa Culture and Language Conference, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
- Immigration Law and Policy Discussion, "On the (L)edge" (radio show), Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2010, 6 - 7 PM
- Immigration Update, 18th Annual Legal and Legislative Conference, Presented by Central Iowa SHRM and The Iowa State SHRM Council, February 23, 2010, West Des Moines, Iowa
- Immigration Law and Policy, Des Moines Women's Club, Wednesday, March 31, 2010
- What All Lawyers Should Know about Immigration Law, Dubuque County Bar Association, Tuesday, April 13, 2010
- An Exploration of America’s Immigration Past, Present and Future, Ray Society, Wednesdays in April 2010
- Panelist, American Immigration Lawyers Association web seminar, "Audit Workshop Part II-Defending an Employer in an LCA Audit," Tuesday, June 8, 2010
- "Arizona law and policy implications," Women for a Stronger America, Wednesday, June 2, 2010
- Guest, the Meria Heller radio show, Phoenix, Arizona, http://meria.org/2010/06/, Wednesday June 9th, 2010
- Guest, the Fallon Forum radio show, Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, June 10, 2010
- Guest, Lee Davis – Breakfast Club radio show, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Guest, Scott Vorhees radio show, KFAB Omaha, Nebraska
- Iowa State Bar Associations' Trade Regulation and Corporate Counsel seminar, "Immigration Policy and Rule of Law: The Grand Canyon?", September 10, 2010
- Heartland Area Education Agency & Des Moines Area Community College, Immigration Forum Panelist, October 5, 2010
- Participant, President’s National Export Initiative Roundtable, Pella, Iowa, February 3, 2011
- Speaker, Legal Support Professionals of Greater Des Moines, “Immigration in Today’s Society”, Des Moines, February 9, 2011
- Speaker, Drake University showing of “Papers”, Des Moines, February 11, 2011
- Speaker, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, “The Changing Face of Trial Advocacy – Immigration Law”, Des Moines, February 24, 2011
- Speaker and member of conference organizing committee, AILA EB5 Investors and Regional Centers Conference, Las Vegas, March 12, 2011
- Participant, Rosenfeld Program U.S. Immigration Policy Symposium panel discussion, Grinnell College, April 13, 2011
- Speaker, "I-9 Update and Training: New developments in compliance and enforcement" webinar, June 14, 2011, sponsored by the Employers Council of Iowa, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Kaplan University and Iowa Works
- Speaker, "Immigration Law and the I-9 Form" at Addressing Top Challenges of Small to Medium Size Businesses Lunch & Learn, October 11, 2011, sponsored by the Employer's Council of Iowa and Greater Des Moines Partnership
- Speaker, "The Obstacle Course to Citizenship; The Immigrant Journey", February 7, 2012, Iowa International Center
MEMBERSHIPS
She is active in the community, having been past president of Polk County Women Attorneys, a member of the 1993 class of Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, and several non-profit boards, including serving as the president of the Iowa Council for International Understanding ('07-'08), and Catholic Charities ('06). She was appointed to the national American Immigration Council Board of Trustees in 2007, and serves on its Community Education Center subcommittee. She is on the executive committee of the Nexus Executive Women’s Alliance.
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT MONTHLY NEWS
Read our Immigration Department monthly news and updates at www.ImmigrationLawIowa.WordPress.com.
AILA LEADERSHIP BLOG - American Immigration Lawyers Association
http://ailaleadershipblog.org/
Resources
Lori T. Chesser to serve on leadership panel
10/27/2011 - Davis Brown shareholder Lori T. Chesser will serve as a panelistLori T. Chesser discusses I-9 Audits in the Business Record
10/21/2011 - Lori T. Chesser, senior shareholder of the Davis Brown Law Firm aLori Chesser Quoted In Des Moines Register
09/21/2011 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser was recently quoted in theLori Chesser Discusses Employment Issues And Reform in Des Moines Register
09/21/2011 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser recently discussed issues surroundiLori Chesser to Receive Immigrant Champion Award
08/25/2011 - The Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit recently namedEncouraging Entrepreneurship? 08/05/2011 - On August 2, 2011, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that ...Lori T. Chesser appointed Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s National Access to Counsel Committee
06/28/2011 - Lori T. Chesser was recently appointed the Chair of the American ImmigratVictory for Equal Justice and the Rule of Law: Court of Appeals Enjoins Enforcement of Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Law (SB 1070)
04/18/2011 - On April 11, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction ...Davis Brown Attorneys to Participate in Refugee “Green Card” Clinic
04/17/2011 - Davis Brown attorneys Lori T. Chesser and Nichole Miras Mordini will participate in the ...Advance in EB-2 India Category Expected on May 2011 Visa Bulletin
03/29/2011 - According to the U.S. Department of State (DOS), since October 2010 there has been a ...Japan Earthquake Ramifications
03/11/2011 - The Immigration Service has quickly responded to the earthquake disaster in Japan. Please see ...Expect I-9 Audits to Increase
03/10/2011 - Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) is continuing its efforts to enforce employer ...E-Verify Self-Check
03/10/2011 - E-Verify, the national database that can be used by employers to check work authorization, will ...Aggrieved Travelers Have Redress Mechanism for Certain Problems When Seeking Entry to the United States
03/03/2011 - The Department of Homeland Security’s Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) is available to ...“Deemed” Export Attestation for L-1, O-1A, and H-1B Employers
03/02/2011 - Beginning February 20, 2011 employers filing for L-1, O-1A, and H-1B petitions are required to ...Lori Chesser Interviewed on Fallon Forum
10/12/2010 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser was a guest with Geoff Fisher on 98.3 WOW-FM with host Ed ...Lori Chesser Moderating Business Implications of Immigration Reform
06/02/2010 - Lori Chesser will be moderating Business Implications of Immigration Reform presented by the ...Lori Chesser Presenting at Central Iowa Society for Human Resource Management Seminar
01/15/2010 - Davis Brown attorney Lori T. Chesser is presenting an immigration update at the 18th ...E-Verify Going into Effect for Federal Contractors Sept. 8
08/31/2009 - The lawsuit against the federal government filed to stop the implementation of e-Verify ...Immigration Update Sept. 2009
08/24/2009 - Immigration Update Sept. 2009: H-1B Numbers Hold Out, but DOL Bungles LCAs R-1 Premium ...Lori Chesser Writes Des Moines Register Guest Column On Immigration Reform
08/24/2009 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser wrote an guest column in The Des Moines Register on ...ICE Launches I-9 Audits
07/02/2009 - ICE launches initiative to step-up audits of businesses' employment records. 652 businesses ...Immigration Update June 2009
06/29/2009 - Immigration Update June 2009: Download the associated document for the June update on ...I-9 Form Still Valid past June 30, 2009
06/29/2009 - The Immigration Service announced Friday that the Employment Eligibility Verification form I-9 ...Lori Chesser Interviewed in Des Moines Register About H-1B Visa Numbers
04/15/2009 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser was interviewed in The Des Moines Register Biz Buzz column ...April 2009 Immigration Update
04/10/2009 - Dear Client - This is one in a series of periodic email updates on immigration law and related ...New I-9 Form Implementation Delayed & H-1B Misinformation
02/03/2009 - The Immigration Service delayed the effective date of the new I-9 form that was to go into ...Late-breaking January Immigration Updates
01/29/2009 - New Form I-9 Required as of Feb. 2 The form is available (free!) atImmigration Update January 2009
01/22/2009 - Dear Clients: Federal Contractor Rule Delayed As you have probably heard if you are ...Federal Contractor Rules to Go Into Effect - Maybe
11/17/2008 - Dear Clients: The Immigration Service announced today that the rule requiring federal ...Lori Chesser Video: Technology Association of Iowa Clinic
11/07/2008 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser presented in the October 21 Technology Association of ...Immigration Updates
10/23/2008 - Dear Client: Below is an update on recent news and developments in immigration law. If ...Lori Chesser Presented at the Iowa's Mosaic Diversity Conference 2008
10/20/2008 - Lori Chesser presented at the Iowa's Mosaic Diversity Conference 2008 on Monday, October 20 ...Lori Chesser Presents in Technology Association of Iowa Clinic
10/15/2008 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser presents in the October 21 Technology Association of Iowa Legal ...H-2B Cap Reached 2 Months before Fiscal Year Begins
08/29/2008 - USCIS announced July 29 that it would no longer accept applications for H-2B (temporary seasonal ...Lori T. Chesser named as a Women of Influence in Central Iowa
07/23/2008 - Davis Brown attorney Lori T. Chesser was announced by the Des Moines Business Record as a Women ...Lori T. Chesser Receives Presidential Award
07/01/2008 - Lori T. Chesser Receives Presidential Award Vancouver, B.C. -- The American Immigration ...Immigration Update June 2008
06/13/2008 - President Bush Orders Federal Contractors to Use E-Verify The Executive Oder ("EO") ...Lori Chesser to Receive AILA Presidential Award
05/16/2008 - Davis Brown shareholder Lori Chesser will be honored with an American Immigration Lawyers ...Second Immigration Update April 2008
04/23/2008 - In this update: H-1B Lottery Results Expected within 6 Weeks "Cap-Gap" Now ...H-1B update and New Attorney!
04/10/2008 - H-1B update and New Attorney! Dear Clients: The following is an update on ...Lori Chesser Named Chair of American Immigration Lawyers Association Work Group
04/04/2008 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser has been named Chair of the Missions/Goals/Program Strategic ...New I-9 form FINALLY here
11/29/2007 - New I-9 form FINALLY here Dear Clients: US Citizenship & Immigration Service ...October Immigration Update
10/03/2007 - Social Security No-Match Letters As you may remember, ICE issued a regulation requiring ...Update on No-Match Regulation - Court has Stopped Implementation for Now.
09/06/2007 - When we last left Immigration & Customs Enforcement ("ICE"), they were preparing ...Immigration Enforcement Update: No-Match Letters & Increased Enforcement
09/05/2007 - A hot political issue is now becoming a legal issue for employers. Several recent ...Immigration Update, May 29 2007
05/29/2007 - As expected, CIS is increasing its filing fees. The change will not go into effect until ...Immigration Update May 19, 2007
05/19/2007 - Below is a quick update on breaking developments in immigration law and advocacy. ...An update on immigration law and advocacy
05/10/2007 - The following is an update on immigration law and advocacy. In this information you ...Attorney Lori Chesser selected as recipient of "Mary Louise Smith" Award
04/05/2007 - The Des Moines Human Rights Commission announced today that Attorney Lori Chesser has been ...H-1B Cap Reached the First Day - CHANGE IS NEEDED!
04/05/2007 - As our clients who filed H-1Bs this year already know, USCIS received three times the available ...Lori Chesser to participate in Immigration Summit
08/09/2006 - Davis Brown attorney Lori Chesser presented at the Immigration Summit, "Preparedness for ...Attorney Lori Chesser To Serve As Panelist For An Immigration Round Table Discussion
06/14/2006 - Major changes to our immigration laws are being considered by congress. The outcome will change ...
Contact Information
| PH: | 515-288-2500 |
| Fax: | 515-243-0654 |
| Email: | Click Here |
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The Davis Brown Tower 215 10th Street, Suite 1300 Des Moines, IA 50309 |
Born
Flagstaff, Arizona, 1962
Education
Western Illinois University
(B.B.A., Finance, with high honors, 1984);
University of Georgia
(J.D., magna cum laude, 1987)
Admitted To Bar
1987, Iowa
Areas of Law
ImmigrationMemberships
American Bar AssociationAmerican Immigration Lawyers Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Polk County Bar Association
