Sharon R. Mehlman, Partner

P: (858) 642-0420 x 373
F: (858) 642-0431
smehlman@larrabee.com

Sharon Mehlman is an AV rated attorney, whose practice includes a broad range of business immigration matters for corporate entities.  Her practice focuses on corporate immigration matters for the high-tech, biotech, computer gaming, multimedia and telecommunications industries including recruitment and retention of foreign nationals, implementation of strategies for the overall immigration process, and I-9 audits and training. 

Sharon became interested in employment based immigration while working in a brain research institute prior to becoming an attorney.  She enjoys the challenge of practicing in an area of the law that is constantly changing.  She is also committed to working with the government to make the overall immigration process easier and more efficient for all users, and to making immigration attorneys better advocates for their clients.  She has been a very active member of the liaison committees for the national immigration bar for many years. In that capacity, she has met frequently with USCIS executives and staff to discuss legal and procedural issues, the state of the current immigration system, and to make suggestions for improvement.   Sharon also works with immigration attorneys nationwide on best practice issues. She is a frequent lecturer, locally and nationally, on employment based immigration topics including USCIS and Service Center issues, H petitions, PERM labor certifications and I-9 issues.

Sharon Mehlman is a graduate of the University of San Diego, School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate degree. Prior to law school, Sharon completed her undergraduate work in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. She joined the firm in 1998 and has over 12 years of experience in the field of immigration law. Prior to joining the firm, Sharon worked in the Human Resources area in the scientific research industry.
 
Memberships                

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers (ABIL)
Athena San Diego

Recognition

AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated*
2011 Super Lawyers - San Diego
International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers
International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers
Who’s Who Legal:  California
Best Lawyers in America
Chambers and Partners 
2006 San Diego Daily Transcript Top Attorney – Finalist
2009 San Diego Daily Transcript Top Attorney – Nominee
San Diego Magazine – Best Lawyers
AILA Presidential Commendation Awards for Outstanding Liaison work – 2008, 2009, 2010

Selected Immigration Bar Service

Past Chair, AILA National Interagency Committee
Past AILA-USCIS Lockbox Liaison
Past Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary – San Diego Chapter of AILA
Past Chair, California Service Center (CSC) Liaison committee - AILA
Past Chair, Service Center Operations Liaison Committee - AILA
Past Chair, USCIS Benefits (USCIS HQ) Liaison Committee - AILA


*Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.