Immigration Counsel, Americas

This is a Full Time Job

PRIMARY LOCATION: Stamford - WWE HQ

POSITION TITLE: Counsel Immigration, Americas

DEPARTMENT: Legal

STATUS: Salaried (exempt)

REPORTS TO: VP, Head of Global Immigration| TKO

Position Summary:

Essential Functions:
• Provide advice on Americas immigration strategy for employees, talent and other Americas immigration matters for assigned TKO businesses.
• Prepare applications for employees and talent for the Americas region.
• Liaise with external counsel on strategy and the preparation of applications for employees and talent.
• Pro-actively manage and track visa milestones and manage the visa petition timeline.
• Assist with responding to requests for evidence or immigration appeals.
• Coordinate with TKO offices internationally regarding visa requirements for employees and talent and coordinate as appropriate with TKO international immigration team and/or external counsel.
• Oversee and manage visa processes internationally for event tours and other ad hoc international events
• Provide internal updates on the status of Visa processing. Keep all relevant stakeholders informed of any delays in the Visa process.
• Responsible for resolving any concerns regarding the Visa process and escalate to the Vice President, Head of Global Immigration immediately when necessary
• Work closely with the global mobility team on employee moves worldwide.
• Liaise with TKO businesses to provide commercial, pragmatic and salient advice and guidance on business opportunities.
• Advise on immigration aspects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.
• Advise the businesses on right to work requirements and prevention of illegal working for the Americas region, including I-9 compliance.
• Assist with the creation and implementation of immigration compliance processes, including immigration policies.
• Undertake and manage legal audit tasks, including the maintenance of documentation for inspection, including public access files.
• Ensure immigration case information for assigned TKO businesses in the Americas region is maintained on INS ZOOM immigration platform.
• Develop, implement and conduct training on immigration policies and programs to the businesses.
• Conduct legal research.
• Lead and oversee immigration and paralegals for the assigned TKO businesses in the Americas region, ensuring that all processing for their assigned events are completed accurately and timely.
• Other legal group administrative tasks, including maintaining schedules and databases, preparing immigration forms and applications at times of high volume, and providing ad hoc support to VP/Head of Global Immigration.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
• US qualified lawyer who has worked in a commercial environment.
• Strong knowledge of US immigration law and work authorization issues.
• Working knowledge of immigration laws and work authorization issues for the Americas
• Working knowledge of wider international immigration laws and work authorization issues (UK, EMEA, APAC regions)
• 10-15 years of experience in immigration matters, with previous experience in media, sport and entertainment immigration matters preferable.
• Previous experience in global immigration matters, specifically with large international event tours is preferable.
• Ability to effectively lead, manage and motivate a team of professional staff
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as necessary
• Ability to prioritize a varied and heavy workload with the ability to plan ahead.
• Able to work to deadlines with efficiency and accuracy.
• Able to communicate clearly and concisely with stakeholders of all levels both internally and externally.
• Ability to take responsibility and show initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; must be able to interact with a range of personalities and styles in a fast-paced environment and explain complex concepts to clients and colleagues without legal knowledge and with limited time and patience.
• Outstanding negotiation, drafting, analytical, and organizational skills.
• A proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Requirements:
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Requires close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Additionally, the ability to distinguish letters, numbers and symbols is necessary.
• Frequently required to sit, talk, type, and hear.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, bend, and reach.
• Must have the ability to use hands and fingers to operate, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Ability to reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Work Conditions:
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. The work environment is primarily indoors.

Important Notices:
• This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an Employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time. Duties and responsibilities can be changed, expanded, reduced, or delegated by Management to meet the business needs of the company.
• Employee is required to sign this document in the space provided below acknowledging receipt and comprehension of this job description

WWE EEO Statement: