Description

Update on immigration chaos in the time of COVID-19

Featuring: 
XXXXXTiffany Lam-Bentley, senior associate - attorney at law, BAL Global
XXXXXAngela Lopez, share holder and section head, Cowles & Thompson
XXXXXLisa Schwamkrug, attorney at law, The Law Offices of Lisa Schwamkrug

Moderator:  Elizabeth Purdy-Bergin, CEBS, vice president, Sleeper Sewell Insurance 

Tiffany Lam-Bentley is a Senior Associate in the Dallas office of Berry Appleman and Leiden LLP. For over a decade, Tiffany has provided strategic counsel to clients of all sizes on all aspects of business immigration. She works on a wide range of employment and family-based matters, including nonimmigrant visa matters, immigrant visa matters, and related matters.  Prior to joining BAL, Tiffany practiced business immigration law at a boutique immigration firm in North Texas, advising clients in the medical, education, technology, oil and gas, and financial services industries. She represented employers of all sizes in nonimmigrant matters as well as permanent residence matters such as International Managers, Outstanding Ability, Outstanding Researchers, and National Interest Waivers.  She also has several years of experience in the corporate global mobility field coordinating immigration benefits in the relocation industry.  Tiffany has spoken at public forums and published articles on her many areas of expertise.


Angela M. Lopez is a Shareholder and Section Head of the Cowles and Thompson Immigration Practice Group.  Angela has been practicing exclusively in the field of immigration law since 2002.  She has developed a large national practice representing numerous foreign nationals and their employers in obtaining temporary employment nonimmigrant visas and permanent residence.  She has represented numerous hospitals, healthcare systems, medical providers, university medical centers, physicians, and allied staff (nurses, physical therapists, and medical technologists). 

Angela began her career in 1989 as a Deputy District Attorney and Town Solicitor in Colombia, South America. In 1993, she worked with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Hampden County, as a Family Service Officer, gaining experience in Family Law, mediation and investigative services. In 1997, she was a founding partner in “Mediation Works,” a mediation center and dispute resolution service in Springfield, MA. In 1998, Angela relocated to Texas and completed her Masters in International and Comparative Law (LLM) at SMU in Dallas. During and after her Masters studies, she worked with Alcon Laboratories, a Fortune 500 Company, in their International Legal Department, assisting Alcon affiliates worldwide on a broad range of issues related to International Business transactions.

Lisa Schwamkrug  is an attorney and the owner of The Law Offices of Lisa Schwamkrug located in Richardson, TX.  She practices exclusively in the area of immigration law. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Dallas Bar Association (Immigration Law Section), and the State Bar of Texas (Immigration Law Section).  Lisa graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor's degree in Russian Language and Area Studies and a Juris Doctorate. She is fluent in Russian and has a working knowledge of German and Spanish, and some Japanese. 


Elizabeth Purdy-Bergin, CEBS,  has 20+ years of experience in the employee benefits industry.  She has prior experience in sales and marketing support for professional service firms as well as individual life and disability insurance.  In 2004, Elizabeth made a conscious decision to transition from an account executive (customer service) role to a broker (sales) role and subsequently joined Sleeper Sewell Insurance.  Her decision to change was based on a desire to be able to help clients achieve their objectives. She is past President of Richardson Rotary Club; Past President of the DFW Chapter of ISCEBS; active in Dallas Association of Health Underwriters, Richardson Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Richardson Alumni Association, North College Park Neighborhood Association and Restoration Anglican Church.