Biography
As a member of Robinson+Cole’s Immigration Practice Group, Jennifer Shanley focuses her practice on U.S. immigration law, with an emphasis on business immigration matters.
Immigration
Jennifer helps multinational companies, in particular, companies in the Manufacturing and Aerospace industry, as well as Financial companies, staff their U.S. offices by obtaining appropriate immigration status for employees. Her efforts allow research organizations, academic institutions, and manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies, including some Fortune 100 companies, to retain key business people, scientists, researchers, and other professionals. She obtains both temporary and permanent immigration status for key workers. Her practice encompasses all business-related nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions. Jennifer frequently handles multinational intracompany transfers, transfers for individuals with specialized knowledge, as well as petitions for outstanding researchers and individuals with extraordinary ability. She has helped secure immigration approvals for hundreds of employees, helping business clients attract and secure top talented individuals across a range of industries. While doing so, Jennifer uses her Six Sigma Green Belt certification to streamline the immigration process for clients, in order to decrease process variation and increase value.
Employment Eligibility – Verification and Compliance
Jennifer counsels employers on the Immigration Reform and Control Act and related issues, including employment verifications, I-9 matters, and E-Verify. She also provides guidance with export control regulations.
Jennifer regularly writes about immigration-related topics. Her recent article, "H-1B and Beyond: What are the Options for Hiring Foreign Nationals?" published in Industry Week, discusses the most common work-authorized status categories through which manufacturers can sponsor foreign nationals to fill at least some of the unprecedented 800,000 job openings. She also co-authored the piece “How Fund Managers May Increase the Likelihood That H 1B Sponsorship for Quants and Data Scientist Employees Will Be Approved," published in Hedge Fund Law Report.
Pro Bono
Jennifer is committed to pro bono service. She recently assisted with the firm’s successful effort to secure the required immigration status for a dancer from Bolivia by demonstrating that he was one of the top ballet dancers in his field. The successful petition permitted the Bolivian dancer to join a ballet company in New York.
In addition to her practice, Jennifer is committed to serving her community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, and is actively involved in Women United, serving on its Engagement Committee and as the Chair for the New Member Subcommitteeas well as Special Olympics Connecticut. Jennifer is also active in the professional Women in Manufacturing Association, and as a member of Robinson+Cole’s Women’s Committee, which promotes the success of women lawyers and its Safety & Health Committee, which promotes the safety and health of the firm’s employees.
Jennifer was selected as a Rising Star to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2019 to 2022. She also recognized as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2021, and is a recipient of the firm's Community Service Award.
Prior to joining Robinson+Cole, Jennifer served as a law clerk to the Honorable F. Herbert Gruendel of the Connecticut Appellate Court. While attending law school, she served as the business managing editor of the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal. She also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Janet C. Hall at the United States District Court, District of Connecticut.
Jennifer earned her J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law, summa cum laude, and received her B.A. from Fordham University, also summa cum laude.