Leigh Ganchan provides business immigration and employment advice to a diverse range of clients from major global entities to emerging startups across the energy, tech, healthcare, and aerospace and defense industries. Leigh is certified in Immigration and Nationality law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a certification only available to lawyers that have substantial, relevant experience in immigration law. Leigh has been consistently ranked in Chambers USA Immigration rankings since 2009. Chambers USA reported that “Leigh Ganchan is “a thought leader” who is praised by clients for her “depth of knowledge” in the immigration space. She is particularly highlighted for her handling of worksite investigations.”
Leigh regularly helps employers maintain a global workforce, providing innovative solutions that empower businesses to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Leigh is recognized for an ability to create tailored immigration strategies that align with each client’s unique business realities while ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. Leigh has a proven track record of successfully guiding clients through intricate immigration processes, even in cases involving exceptional complexity across multiple federal agencies. Leigh’s expertise extends to areas such as:
- Providing comprehensive business immigration advice and strategically navigating all temporary and permanent work visas to meet business needs.
- Creating multijurisdictional I-9 & E-verify compliance programs, managing preventative & government audits, and negotiating fine reductions and settlements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Delivering a full suite of immigration strategies for healthcare organizations and providers including relevant immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions, and J-1 Waiver advocacy at the federal, state and regional levels.
- Consulting with investors and entrepreneurs to analyze business plans and/or corporate restructuring and evaluate alignment with visa categories.
- Engaging in deliberative liaison meetings with Department of State, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice and proactively advising clients of upcoming policy changes and potential program risks.
- Coordinating cross-practice employment and immigration solutions involving areas such as multi-state wage transparency laws, PERM labor certification, department of labor wage compliance, and export control compliance requirements.
Leigh relies on in-depth knowledge of clients’ businesses to provide tailor-made immigration management solutions based on current business and industry conditions and business goals. Staying attuned to clients’ evolving needs and adapting strategies ensures that immigration needs are met efficiently and effectively.
Early in her career Leigh gained insight into the enforcement side of immigration law during her tenure as an Assistant District Counsel for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. She maintains active knowledge in this area as a member of the AILA Verification and Documentation Liaison Committee, which liaises with various DHS and DOJ components on USCIS/ICE employment verification policies, I-9 documentation requirements, E-verify, Homeland Security Investigations enforcement, OCAHO, and Immigrant and Employee Rights Section Anti-Discrimination policies.
Leigh has a strong track record of professional leadership. Leigh was one of the founding officers of the State Bar of Texas Immigration Law Section and served as the Chair for the section. Leigh has served as the Chair AILA’s Latin America and Caribbean Chapter (LACC), which addresses legal issues relating to the Latin America jurisdiction. She also served on the Board of Governors for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Both positions provided abundant opportunities to contribute to the advancement of the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice.
Leigh was Editor-in-Chief of the 2007 edition of AILA’s Handbook on Immigration for Entertainers, Artists, Athletes and served as Associate Editor for the Second Edition. Leigh is frequently invited to speak on immigration management and legal issues. She regularly addresses professional and industry groups providing bespoke training on the full range of immigration legal concerns facing employers.
