ATTORNEY SPOTLIGHT
Kerri Griggs
Partner, Head of Immigration Practice
Alston and Bird, LLP

Practice Areas
Immigration
Education
Harvard University
Bar Admissions
Georgia
PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Field of Expertise
Kerri is a renowned for her expertise and exceptional track record in the field of immigration law. With an almost 100% approval rate for complex business immigration cases, including those that receive RFEs, NOIDs, NOIRs, and audits, Kerri-Ann has established herself as a trusted advisor for clients navigating the complex immigration processes.
Kerri-Ann provides strategic solutions for corporate clients, addressing global workforce needs, international employment, cross-border transactions, and compliance. Her extensive knowledge encompasses a wide range of corporate immigration matters, including immigrant and non-immigrant visa options, employment-based visas, permanent residency sponsorship, and investment visa options. She is adept at managing the impact of mergers and acquisitions on non-immigrant workers, ensuring Form I-9 and employment verification compliance, and handling government investigations involving citizenship status or national origin discrimination. Kerri’s prowess in navigating complex immigration issues, defending clients in immigration-related government investigations, and in providing effective solutions has earned her a reputation as a leading immigration expert.
In addition to her corporate expertise, Kerri-Ann is actively involved in humanitarian work, assisting individuals fleeing war-torn areas or persecution to resettle safely in the United States. Her dedication to humanitarian causes underscores her commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those in need.
Advice to New Attorneys in Your Field of Expertise
Do not be intimidated by the seeming instability and chaos that has been associated with Immigration Law in recent years. Immigration Law, unlike some other areas, is not confined to statutes and regulations. Much of what governs day-to-day practice is the administration’s policy, and in more recent years, executive orders and agencies’ interpretation and application of the orders. As a practitioner, it can feel like a roller coaster. Stay the course by mastering the statutory and regulatory framework. Keep abreast of changes in the policy and law (as multitudinous as they are). Learn your clients’ businesses - work with HR, mobility teams, and in-house counsel to translate corporate hiring and transfer needs into a sustainable foreign national workforce retention strategy. In an era of mounting instability, clients crave certainty (which is impossible to provide), but they value the trusted advisor who can foresee the obstacles and provide solutions far in advance of them surfacing.


