BAL is proud to announce that Lynden Melmed has been appointed chair of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Board of Trustees. MPI is a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that provides research and analysis on immigration and integration policies. As Partner and head of the Government Strategies team at BAL, Lynden is well-suited to provide the organization with strategic guidance and leadership.

Read more in the announcement released by MPI:

WASHINGTON — The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Board of Trustees welcomes its new chair, attorney Lynden Melmed, and new secretary, law professor Cristina M. Rodríguez, who assume their offices this month. Cecilia Malmström and Malcolm Brown remain vice chair and treasurer, respectively, as the board moves into MPI’s 25th anniversary year.

“It is a particular honor to become chair as MPI enters a milestone year,” said Melmed, who is a partner with BAL (Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP). “MPI’s voice is more essential than ever for the immigration policy conversation in the U.S. and internationally.”

Melmed serves on the management committee of BAL, a global immigration firm, and oversees the firm’s government strategies practice. He previously served as chief counsel of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Prior to that, he was special counsel to Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), who at that time was chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship.

Rodríguez, who is the Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law at Yale Law School, will become dean of the law school as of February 1.

Melmed assumes the chairmanship from Roberta Jacobson, a former U.S. ambassador and assistant secretary of state, who will remain on the board.

“All of us at MPI thank Roberta greatly for her skillful service as chair and we are delighted that we will be able to continue to rely on her strategic counsel and vision,” MPI President Andrew Selee said. “And we look forward to working with Lynden and the trustees to ensure that MPI is best positioned to inform policy conversations with pragmatic ideas and deep comparative knowledge in ways that can help achieve outcomes in the best interests of all sectors of society.”

DALLAS, Jan. 13, 2026 — BAL, the world’s most innovative corporate immigration law firm, is proud to announce the acquisition of Ladik Law Firm, a powerhouse sports and entertainment immigration firm. The addition of Steve Ladik and his team to BAL’s renowned Sports and Entertainment Practice adds deep expertise supporting individual athletes, teams and leagues at the amateur and professional levels.

“We are proud to welcome Steve, his team and clients to the BAL family,” said Jeremy Fudge, CEO at BAL. “Steve’s incredible relationships and expertise will supercharge our industry-leading Sports and Entertainment Practice. As a previous BALer, Steve knows firsthand the exceptional experience BAL can provide his clients and the unique technological gains only BAL can currently provide.”

Nationally recognized for its sports practice, the Ladik Law Firm has offered immigration-related counsel and representation to professional athletes, teams and leagues in a variety of sports, including tennis, golf, soccer, squash, basketball, baseball, figure skating, hockey, football, and track and field. Steve also counsels the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, the National Football League and its teams, and the Texas Rangers baseball organization.

“At a time when global mobility requires rapid response and the ability to track constantly shifting laws and regulations, BAL expands the resources available to athletes and support staff who are traveling for training and competition,” said Steve Ladik, owner and founder of Ladik Law Firm. “While I had many options to consider, BAL stood apart with the most skilled, creative and passionate experts emphasizing exceptional service.”

“Steve’s expertise is a perfect complement to our Sports and Entertainment Practice,” said Gabriel Castro, BAL Sports and Entertainment Practice leader. “His experience in areas like sailing, football, hockey, basketball and golf demonstrates his ability to deliver across all elements of global sports.”

With a series of recent acquisitions, including talent from Seyfarth Shaw, Erickson and Newland Chase, BAL is entering 2026 with an expanded breadth of services and deeper bench of talent, ready to support the immigration needs of organizations of all sizes. At a time of increasing volatility, BAL is uniquely positioned to respond to rapid changes as an immigration-focused firm with a collaborative structure. This integration of Ladik Law is the most recent example of leading immigration attorneys assessing the immigration law market and choosing BAL as the firm best positioned to help them and their clients succeed.

About BAL

Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 170 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization. At BAL, we pursue the exceptional.

DALLAS, Jan. 6, 2026 — BAL, the world’s most innovative corporate immigration law firm, promoted Tiffany Derentz, Kyle Klaudt, Eileen Lohmann and Maura Travers to partner, further strengthening its leadership team during a time of dynamic growth.

Tiffany Derentz, based in Washington, D.C., is a former senior adviser at the U.S. Department of State and a member of BAL’s Government Strategies team, where she provides counsel on complex immigration matters. Derentz is recognized as the nation’s foremost authority on legal matters involving U.S. consulates and a leading specialist in mega sporting events.

Kyle Klaudt, based in Dallas, is a key architect of BAL’s best practices and training resources, developing innovative solutions that streamline processes, improve efficiencies and increase visa approval rates for clients. He also plays a key role in advising clients during mergers and acquisitions by conducting immigration due diligence, assessing visa impacts, coordinating global counsel and developing tailored onboarding strategies.

Eileen Lohmann, also based in Washington, D.C., is a legislative and government policy expert who advises clients on corporate immigration compliance, including Form I-9 and E-Verify obligations. Lohmann serves as counsel to the leading business trade associations and has helped multiple companies navigate high-stakes investigations that intersect law and politics.

Maura Travers, based in Boston, has deep experience guiding organizations across industries and at every stage of growth in immigration program management. She offers particular insight into the complex needs of health care clients, including workforce planning, regulatory compliance, and highly nuanced visa and sponsorship issues. Travers is recognized for her collaborative, team-based approach and for building strong, trusted relationships with clients and teams.

“At a time when immigration law is becoming more complex, strengthening leadership across the firm ensures we remain at the forefront of the industry,” said Jeremy Fudge, CEO at BAL. “Tiffany, Eileen, Kyle and Maura exemplify the excellence and innovation that define BAL, and their leadership will help us continue to deliver unparalleled service to our clients.”

These promotions build on BAL’s recent growth, including in 2025 the addition of new partner Jason Rogers, who joined BAL from Newland Chase; nearly 50 team members from Erickson Immigration Group in Tysons, Virginia; and in 2024 more than 90 team members from Seyfarth Shaw.

BAL’s reputation as the top choice in the market for legal immigration talent is driven by its investment in professional development and its commitment to providing opportunities for growth and promotion. Its collaborative structure and immigration-focused expertise set it apart from franchise competitors and private equity-backed firms, ensuring clients receive cohesive, high-quality service.

About BAL

Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 170 countries, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization. At BAL, we pursue the exceptional. To learn more, visit bal.com.

DALLAS, October 2, 2025 — BAL, the world’s most innovative corporate immigration law firm, is thrilled to announce that Justin Parsons and his acclaimed team of more than 50 immigration professionals are joining BAL from Erickson Immigration Group. This addition supercharges BAL’s legal capabilities, accelerates its innovation roadmap and further elevates its unwavering delivery of exceptional client service.

“Justin and his team established a remarkable practice built on trust and meaningful client relationships,” said Jeremy Fudge, Chief Executive Officer at BAL. “Their integration into BAL will accelerate the firm’s innovation and provide Justin’s clients with access to more resources, a proven infrastructure and the full force of BAL’s legal expertise to counsel clients during this tumultuous time.”

“For the benefit of my clients, my team and myself, I’m thrilled to join BAL,” said Parsons, former co-owner and partner at Erickson Immigration Group. “After careful evaluation of the immigration landscape, it is abundantly clear that BAL is the best place for my clients and my team to thrive.”

Parsons and his team will join BAL’s 13 existing offices and significantly strengthen the firm’s presence in Northern Virginia; they represent remarkable clients in financial services, cloud computing, cybersecurity and more.

“In today’s challenging immigration landscape, BAL uniquely possesses the culture, infrastructure and focus on the client experience that’s necessary to help organizations power human achievement,” said Frieda Garcia, Managing Partner at BAL. “We warmly welcome Justin and his team to BAL, where their expertise will further elevate how we deliver the exceptional for our clients and our people.”

With more than 45 years singularly focused on immigration law, BAL is driven by its mission to provide an experience that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. The firm is led by Jeremy Fudge, CEO, and Frieda Garcia, Managing Partner. BAL’s diverse client base includes corporate immigration programs of all sizes in life sciences, financial services, AI, aerospace, technology, manufacturing, medical research, energy, professional sports and more.

About BAL

Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 170 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization. At BAL, we pursue the exceptional.

DALLAS, April 29, 2024 — BAL, the world’s most innovative corporate immigration law firm, is thrilled to announce that six nationally recognized partners of Seyfarth Shaw’s immigration practice will join BAL this summer. Acclaimed partners Russell Swapp, James King, Gabriel Mozes, Sharon Cook, Michelle Gergerian and Jason Burritt along with many of their legal and operations team members will join BAL this summer in the largest realignment in the immigration industry in years.

“We are excited to have Russ, Jim, Gabe and their talented teams join BAL,” said Jeremy Fudge, CEO at BAL. “This move further demonstrates that our oneBAL model, which prioritizes collaboration over internal competition to ensure clients always receive superior resources and insights, is a magnet for talent in the industry. BAL’s unique operational structure and commitment to continually invest in our technology, people and client relationships is transforming how corporate immigration services are delivered.”

Seyfarth’s immigration practice, ranked Band 1 in the Legal 500, is the top-rated group in the large multi-practice law firm model. In bringing on these Seyfarth partners, BAL further elevates itself as the industry’s unrivaled powerhouse of legal knowledge, innovation and customer service. To accommodate this expansion, BAL will open a new office in Atlanta, marking the firm’s 13th office across the United States.

“I’m truly grateful to Seyfarth for the past two decades; it has been an incredible journey to build the most outstanding immigration practice inside an Am Law firm,” said Russell Swapp, founding partner and co-chair of Seyfarth’s Global Mobility practice. “We had many options, but BAL stood apart as the most skilled, creative and passionate legal minds ready to better our clients’ experience and advance our industry.”

“We have a remarkable cultural and organizational fit and a shared commitment to investing in our employees and using technology to enhance our incredible legal experts,” said Frieda Garcia, Managing Partner at BAL. “At BAL, we are revolutionizing how our clients secure the talent they need to change the world.”

Both firms have a shared commitment to making the transition of personnel and clients to BAL as seamless as possible, with minimal disruption to ongoing client matters. “This move aligns with the strategic vision of both Seyfarth and the immigration group. We all agreed that their practice would be best positioned at a boutique immigration-only firm with a different model and platform than ours,” said Lorie Almon, Seyfarth Chair and Managing Partner. “We extend our gratitude to our colleagues who are leaving for their service to Seyfarth and for their contributions over the years, and we wish them continued success in their new endeavor.”

BAL has operated for more than 43 years and is driven by its mission to provide an experience that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. The firm is led by Jeremy Fudge, CEO, and Frieda Garcia, Managing Partner. BAL’s diverse client base includes corporate immigration programs of all sizes from the most innovative companies in life sciences, aerospace, technology, manufacturing, medical research, energy, professional sports and more.

About BAL 

Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 185 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization. At BAL, we pursue the exceptional. To learn more, visit BAL.com.