Lori T. Chesser
CONCENTRATION
Lori Chesser is a senior shareholder of the Davis Brown Law Firm and the chair of the firm's Immigration Department. She has a background in finance and corporate law, but has been practicing primarily in immigration law in Des Moines for 20 years.
As an immigration lawyer, Lori represents individuals and companies in employment-based
immigration applications for both temporary and permanent positions,
assists in making visa applications, trains and advises companies on I-9
compliance and audit response, and helps plan immigration strategy for
business owners and entrepreneurs. She also assists in family-based
immigration, including fiancé(e) visa applications and marriage-based
and other family-related immigration issues. Finally, she advises
clients on maintaining permanent residence and applying for
naturalization, and works in conjunction with the firm's tax and estate
planning departments to optimize immigration status for financial
planning purposes.
Lori has been active in immigration advocacy and as a liaison with
the federal government regarding immigration issues, as well as in the
Des Moines community:
- She co-founded the American Immigration Lawyers Association Iowa/Nebraska Chapter, and was its first Chapter Chair. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the US Citizenship & Immigration Service Benefits Policy Liaison committee.
- She was involved in advocating for the opening of the Des Moines
Suboffice of the Immigration Service so that Iowa residents would not
need to travel to Omaha for their immigration applications.
- She served on numerous AILA national committees, including the
Nebraska Service Center Liaison, USCIS Benefits, Immigration Reform and
Media, helping to bring areas of concern to the government's attention,
assisting on individual cases, and forming strategy.
- She co-founded the Iowa Immigration Education Coalition,
a non-profit organization committed to providing factual information
and education to people across Iowa regarding immigration law and
policies.
- She helped organize and maintain local and state-wide grassroots advocacy groups to push for positive immigration law reform.
IMMIGRATION Law blogs
Deferred Action Resources
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
- AV Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell. An AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
- The Best Lawyers in America 2003-2013, Immigration Law
- President's Commendation, American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA), 2012
- Immigrant Champion Award, Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit, 2011
- Chambers USA, Labor & Employment: Immigration, Iowa Ranked Band 1, 2013
- Pro Bono Award, Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations, 1999
- Business Record's Forty Under 40, Class of 2002
- Client Distinction Award by Martindale-Hubbell. An honor given to attorneys who demonstrate superior communications ability, responsiveness, quality of service and value for money as voted on by clients.
- Mary Louise Smith Human Rights Award, Des Moines Human Rights Commission, 2007
- Business Record's Women of Influence Award, 2008
- Footsteps Award, Diocese of Des Moines, 2009 - For work in social action
SEMINARS, LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS
She is a frequent speaker at continuing education and advocacy programs on immigration issues, both locally and nationally. Below are some recent and upcoming presentations.
- Overview of Immigration Law, Just Faith program on Immigration, Trinity United Methodist Church, Sunday, January 24, 2010
- Immigration Law & Economics (with Dr. David Swenson, Iowa State University), Drake University Choral Program Series, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010
- Immigration Issues in Education, Iowa Culture and Language Conference, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
- Immigration Law and Policy Discussion, "On the (L)edge" (radio show), Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2010
- Immigration Update, 18th Annual Legal and Legislative Conference, Presented by Central Iowa SHRM and The Iowa State SHRM Council, February 23, 2010, West Des Moines, Iowa
- Immigration Law and Policy, Des Moines Women's Club, Wednesday, March 31, 2010
- What All Lawyers Should Know about Immigration Law, Dubuque County Bar Association, Tuesday, April 13, 2010
- An Exploration of America's Immigration Past, Present and Future, Ray Society, Wednesdays in April 2010
- Panelist, American Immigration Lawyers Association web seminar, "Audit Workshop Part II-Defending an Employer in an LCA Audit," Tuesday, June 8, 2010
- "Arizona law and policy implications," Women for a Stronger America, Wednesday, June 2, 2010
- Guest, the Meria Heller Radio Show, Phoenix, Arizona, Wednesday June 9, 2010
- Guest, the Fallon Forum radio show, Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, June 10, 2010
- Guest, Lee Davis " Breakfast Club" radio show, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Guest, Scott Vorhees radio show, KFAB Omaha, Nebraska
- Iowa State Bar Associations' Trade Regulation and Corporate Counsel seminar, "Immigration Policy and Rule of Law: The Grand Canyon?", September 10, 2010
- Heartland Area Education Agency & Des Moines Area Community College, Immigration Forum Panelist, October 5, 2010
- Participant, President's National Export Initiative Roundtable, Pella, Iowa, February 3, 2011
- Speaker, Legal Support Professionals of Greater Des Moines, "Immigration in Today's Society", Des Moines, February 9, 2011
- Speaker, Drake University showing of "Papers", Des Moines, February 11, 2011
- Speaker, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, "The Changing Face of Trial Advocacy" - Immigration Law, Des Moines, February 24, 2011
- Speaker and member of conference organizing committee, AILA EB5 Investors and Regional Centers Conference, Las Vegas, March 12, 2011
- Participant, Rosenfeld Program U.S. Immigration Policy Symposium panel discussion, Grinnell College, April 13, 2011
- Speaker, "I-9 Update and Training: New developments in Compliance and Enforcement" webinar, June 14, 2011, sponsored by the Employers Council of Iowa, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Kaplan University and Iowa Works
- Speaker, "Immigration Law and the I-9 Form" at Addressing Top Challenges of Small to Medium Size Businesses Lunch & Learn, October 11, 2011, sponsored by the Employer's Council of Iowa and the Greater Des Moines Partnership
- Speaker, "The Obstacle Course to Citizenship; The Immigrant Journey", February 7, 2012, Iowa International Center
- Speaker, "Juvenile Immigration Issues & DREAM Act", June 20, 2013, State Public Defender’s Criminal Law Seminar
community
Lori is active in the community, currently serving as Chair of the Iowa Immigration Education Coalition and President of Nexus Business Women's Executive Alliance. She is also active nationally, currently serving as Vice-Chair of the American Immigration Council Board of Trustees, and as Co-Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association's USCIS Benefits Committee. Lori's history of service includes Polk County Women Attorneys (Past President), Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute (1993 class member), and several non-profit boards, the Iowa International Center (President '07-'08), and Catholic Charities (President '06).
Memberships
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American Bar Association
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American Immigration Lawyers Association
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Iowa State Bar Association
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Polk County Bar Association
Alma Maters
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University of Georgia School of Law, 1987
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Western Illinois University, 1984
Bar Admissions
Articles