Leonard J. D'Arrigo

Leonard J. D’Arrigo ("L. J.") is a Partner and Leader of the Immigration Practice at Harris Beach Murtha in Albany, New York. He focuses on corporate and professional immigration, navigating a comprehensive range of employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant petitions. This includes NIW, Outstanding Researcher, Extraordinary Ability, and Multi-National Manager categories, among others, as well as all family-based immigration processes.

L.J. is a dedicated member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, actively participating in its national Department of Labor Liaison Committee. He frequently speaks about business immigration matters at local and national levels. The committee, composed of select AILA member attorneys, collaborates with the Department of Labor (DOL) to discuss policy issues and trends, preparing practice pointers and tracking issues related to temporary and permanent labor certification applications.

L.J. supports a variety of U.S. and foreign employers, including multi-national corporations, healthcare organizations, religious institutions, and universities, in acquiring visas for skilled or professional foreign national employees. He has considerable experience assisting hospitals, technology companies, AI companies, and research institutions in sourcing highly skilled labor to drive growth within the healthcare, education, and technology sectors. He helps clients comply with employment verification and record-keeping requirements under the Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986.

L.J. conducts I-9 and other audits of required employment records, advises on document retention and correction requirements, and offers training on I-9 record management. He also assists with immigration law compliance issues post corporate mergers and acquisitions.

L.J. is involved in processing H-2B and H-2A visas for agricultural and seasonal employers across various industries. He provides guidance on compliance issues and advises attorneys, congressional leaders, and organizations on H-2 legislation and compliance. Based on DOL statistics, his practice is one of the largest attorney-managed H-2A and H-2B practices in the country.

As a speaker, L.J. contributes to Immigration/Employment-related conferences and seminars, including those hosted by the American Immigration Lawyers Association and other organizations. He is frequently cited in media discussing immigration issues impacting employers nationwide.

In 2023, L.J. was appointed to the Third Judicial Department of New York State Supreme Court's Attorney Grievance Committee, which addresses complaints of professional misconduct against attorneys licensed in New York. This committee plays a critical role in maintaining professional standards among the vast number of attorneys within the Third Judicial Department.