Ellen Freeman

Ellen Freeman is founding partner of Ellen Freeman Immigration Law Group, PLLC.  Her practice focuses on the needs of business, manufacturing, academia, emerging technology, healthcare and the arts.  With over twenty years of experience in all facets of employment-based immigration, Freeman has been recognized for her expertise by Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who in Corporate Immigration.  She is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.  Freeman is an elected board member of the Board of Governors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and served on the Editorial Board for Immigration Law for Law 360.  Ellen is the Chair of the Global Migration Section of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and serves on its Business Immigration Taskforce. Ellen Freeman Immigration Law Group, PLLC is woman-owned small diverse business certified by both WBENC and Pennsylvania SBC.  

With over 20 years of practice in all facets of employment-based immigration, Ellen works with growing organizations to advise on U.S. immigration law, strategy, compliance and training. On March 1st, 2019, Ellen started her own firm, Ellen Freeman Immigration Law Group, PLLC, a full-service immigration law firm.  Her depth of experience fully supports clients moving through the complex steps of business growth and shifting employment strategy, including formation of corporate entities, establishment of U.S. operations and applications for temporary visas through permanent residence. Ellen extends her leadership and counsel as a business partner and problem solver for her clients in the areas of biotech, IT, health care and education. Her immigration experience includes global mobility, outbound immigration, IRCA, I-9, LCAs, employment-based petitions, PERM labor certification applications, immigrant visa petitions, consular processing and adjustment of status filings. Ellen excels at J-1 waivers for foreign medical graduates and priority worker preference petitions.   Ellen served as a member of the Welcoming Pittsburgh Advisory Council to the Mayor of Pittsburgh, an initiative aimed at attracting immigrants to the region. She is the Pennsylvania Ambassador as part of the American Immigration Council’s AILA Ambassador Program.  

EDUCATION •            University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., 1999) •            University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (M.P.I.A., 1999). Certificate in International Corporate Environments, Cross-Cultural communication. •            Odessa National University (M.A. Russian)

BAR ADMISSIONS •            Pennsylvania – 1999 •            New York – 2009

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), National Board Member, Elected Director, 2018-2021 AILA Global Migration Section, Chair 2020 – 2021, Vice Chair, 2018 – 2019, Steering Committee 2013-2019;  Consular Liaison Committee, Chair, 2017-2018; Business Immigration Issue Development Team 2018- Present; AILA 2018 Annual Conference, Fundamentals Track Chair AILA 2019 Midyear Conference Committee, Business, Track Chair; Business Taskforce, 2017-Present; AILA 2018 Fall Conference Planning Committee Member; Rome-EMEA District Chapter 2018 Spring Conference Committee, Member; 2016 Annual Conference Committee, 2015-2016; Business Immigration Committee, 2014-2015; AILA Board of Governors, Pittsburgh Chapter Chair, 2009-2011, 2014-2015; AILA Fundamentals Conference Committee, Chair, 2014; Rome District Chapter, Spring Conference Committee, 2013-2014; AILA Students & Scholars Committee, 2012-2013; Distance Learning (CLE) Committee, Chair, 2011-2012; Member, 2016-2017; Foreign Medical Graduates Task Force, 2009-Present   Allegheny County Bar Association, Women in the Law Division Council, 2018-present; Arts and Law Committee, 2009-present; Immigration Law Committee, Chair, 2009-2011, 2014-2015 Pittsburgh Human Resources Association, Learning and Professional Development Committee, 2008-2011  

HONORS & AWARDS Best Lawyers in America, Immigration Law, 2019 - Present;  Pittsburgh Business Times, Women of Influence, 201B Leadership Pittsburgh, Class XXXV, 2018-2019 Global Pittsburgh, Immigrant Entrepreneur Award for Immigrant Professional Excellence, 2017     Who's Who, Corporate Immigration, 2015-Present Martindale-Hubbell@, AV Preeminent, 2008 - Present  American Immigration Lawyers Association, Certificate of Achievement, 2008, 2011 COMMUNITY United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Women's Leadership Council, Executive Committee, 2017 - Present (Spotlight article) Executive Women's Council of Greater Pittsburgh, Secretary, 2017 - 2020 University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Center for International Legal Education, Advisory Board, 2018 – Present City of Pittsburgh, Welcoming Pittsburgh Advisory Council, 2014-2015 World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, Education Committee Member, 2010-2012   Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Cardozo Society, Chair, 2010-2011 and Co-Chair 2009-2010; Blue Knott Pittsburgh, Vice President, 2008-2010; Wechsler Leadership Development Institute, 2008-2009; Jack Buncher Leadership Program, Jerusalem, Israel, 1992