Scott Bettridge has joined Akerman Senterfitt as a shareholder in the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group in Miami where he will focus on corporate and individual U.S. immigration matters.

Bettridge works with a diverse set of global clients, including multinational organizations and investors in the financial services, IT, energy, fashion, insurance and healthcare sectors. He concentrates his immigration practice in global workforce mobility issues, including due diligence considerations and risk management assessments for mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, downsizings and start-ups. His practice includes all aspects of corporate U.S. immigration, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence, labor certification, EB-5 issues and I-9 review and compliance. Additionally, Bettridge represents individuals in family-based immigration and citizenship matters.

“Scott is a talented immigration lawyer with years of experience representing employers with multinational workforces,” said James Bramnick, chair of Akerman’s Labor and Employment Practice Group.” His diverse skillset in international employment law is of tremendous value to Akerman clients and enhances our ability to assist them in managing complex employment issues triggered by cross-border transactions.”

Bettridge joins Akerman after serving as an office managing partner at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP.

The Akerman Labor & Employment Practice Group defends employers in virtually every major industry throughout the United States in all types of employment litigation, including class and collective actions, under federal, state, and local employment laws and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The group also represents employers in connection with employment law compliance, labor relations, ADA public access, workplace safety, global workforce issues, immigration, and non-compete or trade secret issues.