AILA Publications
Now Available: AILA's Focus on Immigration Practice Under AC21
Written by Eleanor Pelta and A. James Vázquez-Azpiri
practice areas
practice accolades
Recognized as leading firm for immigration law in Chambers USA (2011–2012)
The American Lawyer Magazine's Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment Law Finalist 2004, Winner 2006, Finalist 2008, Finalist 2010, and Finalist 2012
Listed in the highest tier for National Labor and Employment Practice in Chambers USA 2012
Ranked in the top tier by The Legal 500 for Labor and Employment Litigation, ERISA Litigation, Labor-Management Relations, and Workplace and Employment Counseling (2012)
Ranked, National Tier 1: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor & Employment by U.S. News and Best Lawyers (2011-2012)
Ranked #1 for "Most Prestigious" Labor and Employment Practice, Vault 2012 Associate Survey
honors + affiliations
Listed, Tier 1, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2007–2012)
Listed, Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers (2010–2012)
Member, American Immigration Lawyers' Association
Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
Listed, Who's Who Legal: California 2007
Listed, Who's Who in America
AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
bar admissions
- California
- San Francisco
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One Market, Spear Street Tower
San Francisco, CA 94105-1596
Phone: 415.442.1343
Fax: 415.442.1001
A. James Vázquez-Azpiri is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Labor and Employment Practice. Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri focuses his practice on business immigration law, assisting corporate clients with hiring and retaining foreign employees with regard to labor certifications, specialty occupation petitions and intra-company transfers. Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri is also a leading expert on immigration law compliance in the context of mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring. Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri helps clients think and work proactively by providing them with traditional compliance policy reviews and audits, case management and litigation technology and international executive travel and foreign resident worker visa processing.
From San Francisco, Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri is part of our cross-practice Global Workforce team that provides integrated cross-border advice, counseling, and strategic planning across the spectrum of labor, employment, benefits, and immigration issues.
From 2007 through 2012, Chambers USA has recognized Morgan Lewis as a leading firm for immigration law, based on the views of clients, peers, and other industry professionals. Chambers called Mr. Vazquez-Azpiri "a very talented immigration practitioner" and "straightforward, responsive, and cordial."
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri was a partner at a prominent San Francisco-based firm. Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri has also served as an adjunct attorney for the United States Commission on Immigration Reform. Over the years, he has been acclaimed for his pro bono work and has been a recipient of both the C. Arthur Friedrich Award from the International Human Rights Law Group and the Wiley W. Manuel Award from the California State Bar.
Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri earned his LL.M. at Harvard Law School in 1995, after receiving his J.D. from the New York University School of Law in 1992. While at the NYU School of Law, Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri served as article and note editor for the Journal of International Law and Politics. He was also awarded an M.A. from Princeton University in Romance languages and literature, as well as an M.A. from the University of St. Andrews, with First Class Honors in modern languages. He is fluent in Spanish.
Mr. Vázquez-Azpiri is admitted to practice in California.
education
- Harvard Law School, 1995, LL.M.
- New York University School of Law, 1992, J.D.
- Princeton University, 1987, M.A.
- University of St. Andrews, 1985, M.A.