WR Immigration and Corporate Social Responsibility

Diversity, equity, inclusion & accessibility

 

 At WR Immigration, our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is a driving force behind our collective “journey forward” and the realization of our company’s mission. As we journey forward, we leverage innovation and excellence to establish and maintain an inclusive environment that empowers all employees and clients. Our goal is to enable individuals to reach their full potential and create the life of their dreams, wherever in the world that may be. 

We believe it is our corporate responsibility to foster an inclusive and respectful workplace that combines innovation, excellence, compassion, and empathy. By upholding respect for individuals and the law, WR Immigration continues to lead in immigration law and serve as a model for diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

 

As we journey forward, we strive to:

  1. Promote innovation and excellence to surpass the expectations of our teammates, clients, and relationship partners.
  1. Attract and retain exceptional team members by expanding the diversity of our talent pool.
  1. Promote and maintain work-life balance for team members.
  1. Enhance the workplace with a diverse and inclusive environment, founded on shared prosperity, integrity, trust and kindness. 
  1. Prioritize equal opportunity and cultivate a culture of respect in the workplace. 
  1. Engage in fundraisers supporting organizations committed to racial and social justice. 
  1. Host firm-wide learning experiences that foster dialogue about bias, gender expression, and respect in the workplace. 
  1. Provide training and support for women and minorities in the legal profession. 
  1. Recognize and appreciate the unique perspectives and experiences each teammate contributes to advance our mission and advocate for our clients. 
  1. Leverage our distinctive role as immigration advocates to amplify diverse voices and facilitate positive change through trust and inclusive collaboration.

Creating a better world through our firm, our community, and our work

To be at our best, we built a firm that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible for everyone at WR Immigration. Our work in the immigration arena provides us an opportunity to help people from all nations. As leaders, we know our role goes beyond our crucial work. We have built a firm that prioritizes opportunity for all.

Firm leadership

We believe that diverse leadership is critical to our firm’s success and have an exemplary record of promoting women and minorities. Our mentorship model ensures that attorneys of all backgrounds are supported, encouraged, and recognized for their unique strengths.

Inclusion by the numbers:

  • Women partners: 42%
  • Women in leadership: 46%
  • Minority partners: 35%
  • Minorities in leadership: 40%
  • Both women & minorities (partners): 50%
  • Both women & minorities (leadership): 53%

Diversity, equity, inclusion & accessibility committee

Our DEIA programs celebrate differences, build inclusivity, and lend support to our employees and communities. Core initiatives include:

  • Building equal opportunity and a culture of respect in the workplace through trainings, education, and fair employment practices;
  • Fundraising to support organizations committed to racial and social justice;
  • Hosting firm-wide learning experiences that create dialogue about bias, gender expression, and respect in the workplace;
  • Providing training and support to women and minorities in the legal profession through our involvement with the American Bar
    Association’s Women in Tech Summit, the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship, the Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Asian American Bar Associations, and more.

Learning & education

We strive to ensure a positive working environment by promoting a diverse, equitable, inclusive and collaborative workplace. We are committed to our role in the legal profession by educating, promoting, and maintaining a respectful and inclusive culture. We dedicate resources through talent development, management trainings, and a collegial, open forum.

Our DE&I proactivity is embedded in our culture, giving us the tools and environment to attract and recruit talent and advance the skills of our team within the legal community.

WR Immigration Cares about Accessibility

This website follows or exceeds ADA website-related suggestions, in hopes that all are able to access it.

WR Immigration gives back

We care about our role in the communities we serve

The firm has a strong history of pro bono work. In 2016, we launched WR Immigration Gives Back to extend service opportunities to everyone, including our legal support and professional staff. Enjoy reading the posts below about our initiatives!

Women’s History Month: Inspiring Immigration Stories at WR Immigration | Josune Aguirre Gamez

Celebrate Women’s History Month with WR Immigration as we continue our “My Immigration Story” campaign, featuring the exceptional journey of Senior Associate Josune Aguirre Gamez. Last year, WR Immigration began our “My Immigration Story” campaign to showcase the exceptional accomplishments of our team members. In honor of Women’s History Month this year, we’re continuing to […]

Celebrating Black History Month: WR Recognizes Two Important Figures

Here at WR Immigration, we strive for the pursuit of knowledge and a cultivation of an environment of diversity and inclusion. This foundation informs every aspect of our services as immigration professionals, and we prize a dedication to these pursuits in every employee. This Black History Month, we want to continue our learning by showcasing […]

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Continues: WR Recognizes Two Important Figures

WR Immigration continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions of two more trailblazers from within the community. Today we bring to light the exceptional political and economic accomplishments of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Maria Contreras-Sweet. Starting her life in America as a seven-year-old refugee from Havana, Cuba, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen emerged as a powerful […]

WR Immigration Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month: And the Oscar Goes to…Rita Moreno

Puerto Rican-born and New York-raised, Rita Moreno started her career early on Broadway at the age of 13, performing “Skydrift.” Since then, she has become a household name over the decades, starring in over 40 films and captivating audiences with her portrayal as Anita in the 1961 West Side Story. Moreno’s role in West Side […]

Gender at a X-Road in Global Mobility

Pride month takes place in June, and marks a celebration of the achievements, culture, and activism of the LGBTQ+ community.  This June, WR Immigration is proud to be standing with the LGBTQ+ community by leading efforts to combat discrimination, violence, and disruptions for transgender, non-binary, and gender persons as they pursue career growth and opportunities […]

Celebrating Juneteenth, the End of American Slavery

Juneteenth has long been celebrated by the African American community, but only recently became a federal holiday (June 2021).  Short for June Nineteenth, the holiday celebrates the end of 245 years of slavery in the United States, beginning in the British colony of Virginia in 1619.  With regards to its origins, Juneteenth marks the arrival […]

My Immigration Story with Miki Kawashima Matrician – Being the Bridge

This May, WR Immigration is celebrating the outstanding contributions of our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) partners.  Miki Kawashima Matrician is a partner at WR Immigration’s Boston office and a Japanese immigrant from Nara, Japan.  Having experienced the immigration process herself, Miki seeks to provide a bridge between the complex, labyrinthian immigration process and […]

My Immigration Story with Naveen Rahman Bhora – Lessons in Compassion

This May, WR Immigration is celebrating the outstanding contributions of our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) partners.  Partner Naveen Rahman Bhora quickly stands out as a leader in the field, having cultivated an international reputation for her expertise in U.S. immigration matters.  Her accomplishments include scores of publications on advanced immigration topics, presentations at […]

Invitation to Reflect on Buffalo Mass Shooting 

The following is an open to letter that was sent last week to our entire WR Immigration staff from the DEIA committee. We share it here in hopes that its invitation might also prove fruitful to all WR Immigration circles. Dear WR Immigration Family,  We are heartbroken by the mass shootings that have occurred over […]

AAPI History Quiz – Continue the Learning

This May, WR Immigration is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. For nearly two centuries, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been important contributors to American society, culture, and the economy. AAPI is an umbrella term that includes cultures and ethnicities from the entire Asian continent (including East, Southeast and South Asia). […]

WR Immigration Shortlisted for Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards

Chambers and Partners has announced its nominations for the North American Diversity & Inclusion Awards and WR Immigration is proud to announce that we have been nominated! Managing Partner Bernie Wolfsdorf is in the running for Pro Bono: Lawyer of the Year while WR Immigration has been nominated for Pro Bono: Outstanding Firm. We are […]

Protecting Migrant Workers – Obtaining Temporary, Seasonal Work Authorization Through the H-2 Visa Program

Want to learn more about the H-2 Visa program? Register for our upcoming H-2 webinar, and keep reading below! What is a migrant worker?  There is much confusion over the role that migrant workers play in the United States, and unsurprisingly several conflicting definitions are used for this important labor group. In the context of […]