Shannon A. Donnelly

Partner

As co-head 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 Excellence 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.
Partner with multiple clients to evaluate remote work policies in a post pandemic world. Review immigration, tax and employment considerations, as well as countries with friendly remote work permits and visas.
Partner with multiple global enterprises to evaluate impact of Russia/Ukraine war on Ukrainian and Russian employees. Team with Ukraine taskforce to evaluate movement of impacted talent globally considering special streams for displaced Ukrainians, and relocation of Russia based operations.

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