Lauren Sigg

Lauren M. Sigg

(she/her/hers)

Partner

Lauren M. Sigg

(she/her/hers)

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    Lauren Sigg practices in the area of U.S. immigration law, and she focuses on business immigration. She is a member of the firm’s Immigration Group.

    General Corporate Immigration

    Lauren helps multinational companies, organizations, and institutions staff their U.S. offices by obtaining appropriate immigration status for their employees. She represents a range of clients, such as manufacturing and technology companies, hospitals, and academic institutions. Lauren's assistance allows clients to retain valuable key business people, scientists, researchers, and other professionals, as she helps them obtain both temporary and permanent immigration status. While her practice includes all business-related nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions, she focuses on applications for Labor Certification, complex H-1B petitions, petitions for outstanding researchers and individuals with extraordinary ability, and naturalization matters. Lauren is a Six Sigma Green Belt.

    Immigration for “Cap-Exempt” Entities (Institutions of Higher Education, and Certain Other Non-Profit Organizations)

    Lauren represents colleges and universities with regard to their immigration needs, including filing cap-exempt H-1B petitions, providing advice regarding J-1 issues, and preparing/filing special handling green card cases. She also works with entities affiliated with institutions of higher education, including hospitals and health centers. Lauren has prepared and filed applications to waive the two year home residency requirement for physicians in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, which allows clients to attract and retain top talent.

    Employment Eligibility – Verification and Compliance

    Lauren counsels employers on the Immigration Reform and Control Act and all requirements for employment verification and documentation, I-9 form matters, and E-Verify. She provides advice and training regarding I-9 obligations, and has assisted with questions arising during I-9 audits completed both internally and based on government requests.

    Export Control

    Lauren also provides advice and guidance regarding import/export control issues and regulations, including compliance and enforcement issues. She advises clients on compliance with trade regulations, including Export Administration Regulations (EAR), provides clients with classification counseling, and assists them with I-129 certifications for immigration, compliance programs and training.

    Pro Bono

    Lauren is committed to doing pro bono work, and regularly assists those in need of immigration-related assistance. She recently assisted with filing an extraordinary ability petition for a professor, who is also seeking asylum in the U.S. She also helped a ballet school with its application to bring foreign students to the United States. She routinely has assisted with filing special immigrant juvenile petitions, to allow these juveniles to obtain U.S. permanent resident status. Lauren serves as a member of the Hartford Advisory Board for the Pro Bono Partnership. 

    Lauren has been listed as a Rising Star in Connecticut Super Lawyers® from 2013 to 2018. A frequent author on pressing topics in immigration law, she most recently co-authored "The H-1B Quagmire: Colleges and Universities Develop Programs to Combat H-1B Gridlock," and "Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs Have Visa Options," both published in the Connecticut Law Tribune.

     

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Enable biotechnology companies, educational institutions, and hospitals to retain valuable scientists, researchers, chemists, and professors by obtaining both temporary and permanent immigration status, including preparing Outstanding Researchers, Outstanding Professor, and Extraordinary Ability petitions.

      • Apply for and obtain permanent resident status for employees through the Alien Labor Certification process through the U.S. Department of Labor’s PERM system.

      • Successfully assisted German and Mexican-owned companies in their efforts to bring employees to the United States in E-2 status as managers and essential workers.

      • Helped hospitals and health centers in Massachusetts and Connecticut obtain Conrad 30 waivers of the two year home residency requirement for physicians, to allow the physicians to stay and work in the United States in medically underserved locations.

      • Assisted with filing J-1 applications through a Department of State designated entity to allow foreign nationals to come to the U.S. for training or internships. 

    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Selected as a Rising Star to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2013 to 2018.

      Recognized as a New Leader in the Law as part of Law.com and Connecticut Law Tribune's 2023 New England Legal Awards

    • Community Involvement

      Community Involvement

      Pro Bono Partnership
      Hartford Advisory Board

      Interval House
      Board of Directors
      Chair of Governance Committee
  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "What Employers Should Know About the Updated Form I-9," co-authored with Megan R. Naughton, published by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) (9/28/2023)

      "Constructing a Successful Workforce: Hiring and Retaining Foreign National Engineers," co-authored with Megan R. Naughton, published in the December newsletter of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (December 2022)
      • » more info

      "Hiring and Retaining Talent: Immigration for Educational Institutions," co-authored with Megan R. Naughton, published in University Business (9/23/2022)
      • » more info

      "The H-1B Quagmire: Colleges and Universities Develop Programs to Combat H-1B Gridlock," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Megan R. Naughton (10/21/2016)

      "Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs Have Visa Options," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Joshua S. Mirer and Megan R. Naughton (10/27/2014)

      "Employment And Immigration Law: The Annual Immigration Gold Rush," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Megan R. Naughton and Joshua S. Mirer (1/23/2014)

      "Maintaining A Green Card While Working Abroad," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored with Megan R. Naughton (10/18/2013)

      "Doctors Can Clear Immigration Hurdles," published in Connecticut Law Tribune (10/19/2012)

    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Feeling at Home with I-9s?" co-presented with Megan R. Naughton, R+C hosted webinar (8/24/2023)
      • » more info

      "I-9 Compliance in the Wake of the Pandemic," R+C hosted education webinar (5/24/2023)
      • » more info

      "Expanding the Civil Engineering Pipeline: Hiring non-U.S. Citizen Engineers and Students," co-presented with Megan R. Naughton, sponsored by the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (1/19/2023)
      • » more info

      "Hiring and Retaining Talent: Immigration Best Practices for Educational Institutions," as an R+C-hosted webinar (8/9/2022)
      • » more info

      "Immigration Strategies for Homecare and Hospice—State of the Market," co-presented with Leslie J. Levinson, during the R+C-hosted program (7/27/2022)
      • » more info

      "As the Ball Drops: Key HR Considerations, including Connecticut’s New Employment Laws and a Special Update on I-9 Compliance for Remote Workplaces," co-presented with Britt-Marie K. Cole-Johnson, Rachel V. Kushel and Abby M. Warren, an R+C-hosted webinar (12/13/2021)
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      "Education Roundtable: Complying with Immigration and Export Control Regulations with International Students and Staff," co-presented with Kathleen M. Porter, an R+C-hosted webinar (10/28/2021)
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      "The Trump Hangover: Takeaways and the Continuing Repercussions," to the Connecticut chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (1/21/2021)
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      "Compliance Issues When Employing Foreign National Employees or Contractors," co-presented with Megan R. Naughton, web conference hosted by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) (5/8/2018)
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      "Current Real Estate Issues and Trends," co-presented with Michele L. Maresca and George W. Watson III, co-moderator of monthly webinar series sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter of the Counselors of Real Estate and the University of Connecticut Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies (2010-2012)

      "Clean Water Act Update: Storm Water Permitting, Enforcement, and TMDLs," co-presented with Michele L. Maresca and George W. Watson III, Environmental and Utilities Practice Group Roundtable (2009)

    • News

      R+C in the News

      • October 3, 2023

        Megan Naughton and Lauren Sigg Provide Update to CBIA Regarding the New Form I-9

        • » more info
        • View article
      • September 22, 2023

        Kathryn Rattigan, Lauren Sigg and Anthony Vogel Recognized as "New Leaders in the Law"

        • » more info
      • October 6, 2022

        Lauren Sigg and Megan Naughton Author University Business Article on Hiring and Retaining International Talent

        • » more info
        • View article
      • April 19, 2022

        Robinson+Cole “Makes Its Mark” with Pro Bono Partnership 25th Anniversary Pledge

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        • View article
      • October 18, 2018

        51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

        • » more info
        • View article
      • May 23, 2018

        Megan Naughton and Lauren Sigg Offer Insights on Foreign National Compliance Issues

        • » more info
      • June 13, 2014

        Hartford Lawyers Promote AILA Immigration Contest

        • » more info
      • November 20, 2013

        R&C Lawyers Write Article for Connecticut Law Tribune

        • » more info
      • March 8, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorneys Author Chapter in Global Climate Change Special Pamphlet Series

        • » more info

      R+C News Releases

      • December 8, 2021

        Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners and Counsel

      • November 27, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Promotes Eight Lawyers to Counsel

      • October 17, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • October 18, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

        • » more info
        • View article
      • October 19, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

        • » more info
        • View article
      • October 17, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers

        • » more info
        • View article
      • May 7, 2012

        R&C Associates Spend Happy Hour with First Lady Cathy Malloy

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        • View article