Sarah leads our Immigration group that advises employers across the globe, including a number of Fortune 500 companies, on global talent management and cross-border employment issues. The immigration practice has three primary focuses: developing strategic immigration policies for employers consistent with their global talent acquisition and retention goals; supporting our clients immigration sponsorship for their employees; and advising our clients on compliance with immigration-based regulations. Sarah's experience includes:
- Counseling employers on strategies for sponsoring employees for both immigrant and non-immigrant visas
- Representing employers before the various agencies of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor
- Advising companies through audits to determine compliance with DOL and USCIS laws governing employment of global talent
- Guiding athletes, artists and musicians through immigration process for temporary visas and permanent residency
- Developing I-9 policies and providing I-9 training
- Performing I-9 audits
- Counseling employers on use of E-Verify
- Developing immigration related policies, such as how sponsorship decisions will be made
- Conducting due diligence to determine immigration issues within corporate transactions
Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for more than 5 years.
Focus Areas
- “USCIS Proposes Fee Exceeding $103,000 for Initial H-1B Petitions,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, August 2026
- “Green Card Processing Inside the U.S. Just Got Harder: USCIS Narrows Path for Adjustment Status,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, May 2026
- “Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Lottery,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, February 2026
- “Federal Judge Pauses Termination of TPS for Haitian Nationals,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, February 2026
- “H-1B and H-4 Applicants Face Visa Appointment Delays Under Expanded Social Media Review,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, December 2025
- “Additional USCIS Guidance on $100,000 H-1B Fee,” Thompson Hine Transition: A Presidential Change Update, October 2025
- “Trump Administration Continues to Target the H-1B Visa Program, Now Proposing to Favor Higher Paying Positions,” Thompson Hine Transition – A Presidential Change Update, September 2025
- “Executive Order Imposes New $100,000 Fee Per H-1B Worker,” Thompson Hine Transition – A Presidential Change Update, September 2025
- “CHNV Parole Program Terminated: What Employers Need to Know,” Thompson Hine Transition – A Presidential Change Update, June 2025
- “DHS Implements Foreign National Registration Requirement,” Thompson Hine Transition – A Presidential Change Update, April 2025
- “HSI Worksite Enforcement Actions: Employer Rights and Responsibilities,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, February 2025
- “Updates on FY 2022 H-1B Registration, the Selection Process and Required Wages,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, February 2021
- “New Rule Could Bring Substantial Changes to H-1B Program,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, January 2021
- “Directive Barring Foreign National Students from Studying Online Reversed,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, July 2020
- “Presidential Proclamation Extends Green Card Limitations and Reduces Temporary Visas,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, June 2020
- “Presidential Proclamation Limits Green Card Issuance in Effort to Reduce Job Competition,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, April 2020
- “International Student Internships,” Thompson Hine Compliance Check 2020, September 2019
- “Untangling Trump’s Immigration Policy in the Business World,” Crain’s Cleveland Business, July 2017
- “USCIS Announces Increased H-1B Audits Under Trump Administration,” Thompson Hine The Law@Work Newsletter, Spring 2017
- “Travel Considerations for Employers and Universities in Light of Executive Order,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, February 2017
- “Planning for H-1B Cap Season Under the Trump Administration,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, January 2017
- “Companies Should Prepare for Possibility of More Than 700,000 Young Employees Losing Work Authorization,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, December 2016
- “Deadline Approaching for STEM Graduates Within Their 17-Month Optional Practical Training Extensions to Apply for Additional Extension,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, July 2016
- “Plan Now for H-1B Cap Season,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, January 2016
- “Changes from DOS & USCIS Create Uncertainty & Confusion for Those Pursuing Permanent Residency,” Thompson Hine The Law@Work Newsletter, Fall 2015
- “Employment Eligibility Closer for Some H-1B Professionals’ Spouses,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, February 2015
- “Plan Now for H-1B Cap Season,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, February 2015
- Co-author, “Don’t Forget Export Rules When Hiring Foreign Nationals,” Law360, April 2014
- “Settlement Highlights Need for Export Control Compliance when Hiring Foreign Nationals,” Thompson Hine International Trade & Customs Update, March 25, 2014
- “Plan Now for H1-B Cap Season,” Thompson Hine Immigration Update, January 2014
- Co-author, “Managing H-1B Employees In A Down Economy,” Employment Law360 website, December 2009
- “All Eyes are on Immigration Enforcement,” Scrap magazine, September/October 2007
- Presenter, “Layoffs, Furloughs & RIFs: What Employers Need to Know in an Uncertain Economy,” Thompson Hine Webinar, January 2026
- Presenter, “Expected Immigration Policy Shifts,” Thompson Hine Transition: A Presidential Change Webinar Series, Session One, December 2024
- “What Immigration Priorities Should Be Expected From the 2025 Presidential Administration,” Thompson Hine Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, November 2024
- Presenter, “Will the Biden Administration Unwind Immigration Policy Implemented by the Trump Administration?” Thompson Hine Webinar, February 2021
- Panelist, International Women’s Day event, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 2019
- Panelist, “Global Talent Mobility Business Briefing,” New York, NY, BritishAmerican Business, April 2013
- “Legal Perspectives,” Sino-American Business Summit, Miami University, West Chester, Ohio, September 2008
- Panelist, “Young Professional Leadership Summit,” Union Club’s Cleveland Business Leaders, July 2008
- “I-9 Compliance and National Origin Discrimination,” Lorman Education Services, Akron, Ohio, June 2007
- “The Do’s and Don’ts of Hiring: Selecting the Best Candidate While Avoiding Legal Pitfalls,” Thompson Hine’s Labor & Employment Law Update Seminar, June 2006
- “Current Status of Immigration Reform and What It Means for Employers,” Thompson Hine’s Labor & Employment Law Update Seminar, June 2006
- Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers list, 2026
- Selected for inclusion in the Lawdragon 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers, 2025-2026
- Named a Crain’s Cleveland Business Notable Women in Law 2024
- Elected to the CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Hall of Fame, 2022
- Selected to Law360’s Immigration Editorial Board, 2022-2024
- Named Crain’s Cleveland Business, 2021 Women of Note recipient
- Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Immigration, Ohio, 2023-2026
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019 to 2027 for Immigration Law
- Selected for Crain’s Cleveland Business‘s Forty Under 40 Class of 2016
- Young Philanthropist of the Year Award, United Way of Summit County, 2014
- Recognized in Crain’s Cleveland Business‘s “Who to Watch in Law,” 2013
- Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list, 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2017
- Women of Professional Excellence Award recipient, YWCA Greater Cleveland, 2009
Professional Associations
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
Community Activities
- Women’s Leadership Council, United Way of Summit County, member and chair, Mentoring Committee, 2011 to 2018
- Cleveland State University Foundation, board member, 2015 to present
- Ronald McDonald House of Akron, board member, 2013 to 2018
- Cleveland State University Alumni Association, board member, 2012 to 2018
- Torchbearers Akron, member, 2009 to 2011
- United Way of Greater Cleveland, Executive Campaign Cabinet, co-chair of GeneratioNext, 2004 and 2005
Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2002, summa cum laude,
graduated first in class; research editor, Cleveland State Law Review
- John Carroll University, B.S., 1999, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- USCIS Proposes Fee Exceeding $103,000 for Initial H-1B Petitions,
Immigration Update
, August 26, 2026 - Green Card Processing Inside the U.S. Just Got Harder: USCIS Narrows Path for Adjustment Status,
Immigration Update
, May 26, 2026 - Three Thompson Hine Partners Featured in 2026 Lawdragon 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers List,
Thompson Hine LLP
, May 9, 2026 - Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Lottery,
Immigration Update
, February 12, 2026 - Federal Judge Pauses Termination of TPS for Haitian Nationals,
Immigration Update
, February 3, 2026 - H-1B and H-4 Applicants Face Visa Appointment Delays Under Expanded Social Media Review,
Immigration Update
, December 9, 2025 - Six Thompson Hine Partners Named to Lawdragon’s 2026 List of 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers,
Thompson Hine LLP
, October 31, 2025 - Additional USCIS Guidance on $100,000 H-1B Fee,
Transition – A Presidential Change Update
, October 22, 2025 - Trump Administration Continues to Target the H-1B Visa Program, Now Proposing to Favor Higher Paying Positions,
Transition – A Presidential Change Update
, September 24, 2025 - Executive Order Imposes New $100,000 Fee Per H-1B Worker,
Transition – A Presidential Change Update
, September 22, 2025