Ian D. Wagreich has joined the U.S. law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice in Chicago. With more than 20 years of experience, Wagreich provides counsel to multinational corporations, hospitals, nonprofit institutions, universities, professional athletes, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs in all aspects of immigration and nationality law.

“Ian is widely recognized as one of the leading immigration attorneys in the United States,” said Tom Luetkemeyer, who co-leads the Hinshaw’s Labor & Employment practice. “With tightening restrictions on immigration, many of our global and U.S.-based clients have a greater need for knowledgeable counsel on the various legal issues related to hiring skilled workers. Ian’s experience adds significant depth to our employment capabilities and we’re excited to have him join our team.”

Formerly a partner with Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Wagreich advises companies and individuals on the full scope of business-related immigration matters, including nonimmigrant working visas, labor certification, investment related immigration and employer sanctions. He also advises clients on the international transfer of personnel and corporate compliance initiatives, and assists employees with obtaining employment-based U.S. permanent residence and citizenship. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is a frequent speaker on immigration topics at universities and legal seminars.

Wagreich also has a niche practice in representing professional athletes, artists and musicians who have reached the top of their field. Much of their work requires their teams traveling globally, which presents significant immigration challenges on a recurring basis.

Wagreich decided to make the move to Hinshaw because of the firm’s national footprint, highly regarded and active employment practice and the opportunity to grow his immigration practice in other U.S. markets, particularly in the health care and higher education sectors.

“n today’s world, you have to be constantly vigilant in monitoring the courts and the administration because immigration law changes at the speed of a tweet, posing a huge challenge for so many of our clients,”Wagreich said. “The firm’s sophisticated multinational companies are facing complex challenges of finding and hiring talented, highly educated and skilled employees from around the globe due to current immigration issues related to the pandemic and increased government restrictions.”

Wagreich began his legal career at Baker & McKenzie in 1996. Previously, he practiced at Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC before joining Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym. He received a B.S. in political sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Ian also has a diploma in International Practice from the Center for International Legal Studies in Salzburg, Austria.

He serves on the AILA U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) HQ Benefits Policy Committee and is also chair of the International Medical Graduate Taskforce Government Liaison Committee, a group that is dedicated to improving the pathways that international medical graduates who have completed their training in the U.S. must follow to become authorized to provide desperately needed health care services in the U.S.. Widely recognized for his contributions to the field of immigration law, he received the Joseph Minsky Beacon of Light Award from the Chicago Chapter of AILA in 2014 and has received AILA President’s Commendations . In addition to his professional affiliations, he is a former member of the Board of Trustees for the American Immigration Council.