Our Team: Elise A. Fialkowski

Phone: 215-825-8647
Email: efialkowski@klaskolaw.com

Elise Fialkowski has practiced immigration law for fifteen years and she handles all aspects of employment based immigration. Her clients run the gamut from multinational corporations and their employees to universities and private individuals. Elise has particular experience in worksite enforcement and she leads our worksite compliance group. Elise regularly counsels clients regarding I-9 compliance, E-Verify, Social Security no-match letters, and H-1B Labor Condition Application (LCA) compliance. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Fialkowski's practice also included advising employers in traditional employment and labor law matters, including litigation as well as advice regarding proactive action to avoid and minimize claims. With her immigration clients, she has provided counseling, training and policy development services to employers in diverse industries including, for example, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, manufacturing, healthcare and continuing care retirement communities.

Her practice focuses on:

• The representation of multinational and domestic corporations, their employees and private individuals in business immigration matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and at U.S. Consulates;
• Advice to employers regarding the Immigration Reform and Control Act including I-9 employment eligibility verification, E-Verify and worksite enforcement issues;
• Development of proactive compliance programs and immigration policies;
• Assistance with internal audits and training to ensure I-9, H-1B LCA, E-Verify and Social Security no-match compliance;
• Representation of companies facing I-9 and H-1B LCA audits and investigations;
• Matters involving: Adjustment of Status, Exchange Visitors, Treaty Trader and Investors, Immigrant Visas, Temporary Work Visas and Naturalization; and
• Representation of universities and research centers as well as students and faculty.

Elise has long been active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and she currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Chapter and on the E-Verify Liaison Committee.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (B.A.1987), she received her law degree from the Villanova University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1991).

Publications and Presentations:

• Immigration Compliance in the New Age of Worksite Enforcement (April 2009)
• E-Verify and I-9 Compliance for Colleges and Universities, NACUA (National virtual seminar, December 2008)
• Hot Topics in Immigration—Worksite Enforcement, E-Verify, Employer Policies and Best Practices, PBI (September 2008)
• Immigration Options for Students and Scholars, LaSalle University (September 2008)
• The ICE-Man Cometh Again - Avoiding Criminal Immigration Charges, The Legal Intelligencer (August 21, 2008)
• Immigration Enforcement Goes Criminal, Sterling Education (August 2008)
• "Immigration Update: Criminal Sanctions and State Law Regulation of the Employment of Unauthorized Workers" PBI (August 2008)
• U.S. Immigration Options for Students, Scholars, Entrepreneurs and Investors, Lehigh University Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry (July 2008)
• Options for the Entrepreneur - E-2, L-1 & EB-5 Visas (ILW.com Teleconference Series Seminar; May 2008)
• Immigration Compliance Goes Local and Criminal (14th Annual Northeast Regional Employment Law Institute; April 2008)
• Recent Developments in Employment-Based Immigration and Worksite Enforcement for Corporate Counsel (Delaware Valley Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel; March 2008)
• Is Pennsylvania Next to Require Verification Through E-Verify, The Legal Intelligencer (January 2008)
• Follow the Money - Ability to Pay Issues for Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Petitions (AILA, New York Symposium; December 2007)
• The Nuts and Bolts of Employment Based Immigration (AILA 2007)
• Global Employees - Visa Options for Foreign Nationals (2005)
• How to Protect & Defend Against Claims of Discrimination (SHRM 2005), (Lorman Education 2006)
• Guest lecturer at the St. Joseph's University, Comey Institute of Industrial Relations teaching various issues relating to immigration law
• Chapter Author, International Labor and Employment Laws BNA Books. (First Edition 1997, as well as Second Edition and Treatise Supplements through 2006)
• Co-author, Hiring Foreign Workers, Network Magazine (1999)

Honors and Awards:

• Selected as one of 7 lawyers to be featured in Aspatore Books Inside the Minds series regarding employment law. The book highlighted her expertise in employer counseling including IRCA and I-9 compliance as well as her expertise in employment based immigration (2006).
• Clerkship, Honorable Stanley S. Brotman, U.S. District of New Jersey and Acting Chief Judge for the District of the Virgin Islands.
• Articles Editor, Villanova Law Review
• Order of the Coif, Villanova University School of Law

Professional and Civic Activities:

• E-Verify Liaison Committee, American Immigration Lawyers Association (2008 - present)
• Vice-Chair, Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (2008-present)
• Treasurer, Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (2007-2008)
• Secretary, Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (2006-2007)
• Member,  American Immigration Lawyers Association (1994- present)
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Philadelphia Bar Association