As a senior member of the firm’s immigration and global mobility team, Shannon Donnelly counsels clients on global corporate immigration issues and provides legal and strategic advice related to the movement of global talent, global immigration policies, and compliance best practices. Shannon works with clients to facilitate the mobility of key foreign executives and managers, specialized knowledge, and professional employees. This includes regular work with global employers to help manage business traveler programs, coordinate counsel on immigration, tax, employment requirements of remote work, and compliance with right to work provisions globally.
Extended Profile
Recognized as one of Chambers USA's “Leaders in Their Field” and recommended by The Legal 500, Shannon counsels on the immigration implications of corporate restructurings and change management, as well as reductions in force. She also provides integrated cross-border advice, counseling, and strategic planning on immigration issues.
Shannon’s clients come from a variety of industries, with a focus on the financial industry technology, economic consulting, manufacturing, healthcare, and media sectors.
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Shannon was a partner in the global immigration and mobility practice of another global law firm, resident in Washington, DC, serving as head of the practice in that office. She serves as a relationship partner and service manager for a variety of organizations with US and global business needs.
Selected Representations
Led compliance projects and due diligence initiatives related to change management and pre- and post-acquisition from both the buy and sell side
Team with Immigration Center of Excellent to draft and implement a comprehensive immigration compliance policy for the company's US operations, as well as policies and best practices related to I-9 compliance and business travel
Worked with an audit committee and compliance officers to assess third-party vendor and internal compliance with governing B-1 visa and overall immigration protocols, creating a best practice framework and certification for annual auditing
Education
American University, Washington College of Law, 1999, J.D.
American University, School of International Service, 1999, M.A., International Affairs/Politics
Middlebury College, 1996, B.A., International Politics & Economics; Spanish
Admissions
District of Columbia
New York
Awards and Affiliations
Recognized, Leading US Corporate Employment Lawyer, Lawdragon 500 (2020)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2019)
Ranked, Immigration, District of Columbia, Chambers USA (2015–2020)
Recommended, Employment: Immigration: Business, The Legal 500 UK (2021)
Recommended, Labor and Employment: Immigration, The Legal 500 US (2012, 2013, 2018–2020)