Scott W. Wright

Government Audits, Investigations & Enforcement

Scott represents and advises employers on a national basis who are subject to I-9 audits and other immigration-related investigations and enforcement actions involving several federal agencies, including:

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• Department of Justice (DOJ), Immigrant & Employee Rights (IER) Section
• Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS)
• Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
• Department of State (DOS)
• Department of Labor (DOL)

Scott and his team have extensive expertise in advising and representing employers in connection with subpoenas, warrants, document production, witness interviews and other administrative and appellate processes involved with immigration- and visa-related matters before these agencies and other agencies.

Litigation

Scott regularly works with the attorneys of Faegre Drinker’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice to advise on litigation matters which involve immigration law issues.

Internal Investigations

Scott guides companies in managing internal investigations, in particular relating to allegations of potential immigration or visa-related fraud, identity theft, misuse of social security numbers and allegations of illegal employment.

HR Training

Scott regularly works with senior in-house lawyers and human resources executives to develop and implement company policies and best practices for I-9 processes, E-Verify, and protocol for internal fraud investigations. Scott has over 25 years of experience in providing training to human resources professionals, recruiters, hiring managers, business owners, and internal auditing personnel on I-9 completion and recordkeeping, including through the use of ‘live’ interactive webinars to reach attendees across the country.

HR Support & Counseling

Scott and his team partner with in-house lawyers and human resources professionals of companies throughout the country to provide fast, efficient, and practical advice to address urgent day-to-day I-9, E-Verify, and other immigration-complex issues that arise in the workplace. This work includes guidance on the many and fast-changing immigration-related policies being issued in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic by DHS, the State Department, and other agencies. Scott works with clients in the preparation and filing of petitions with USCIS to secure work visas in many different classifications, including for top global talent, for example, who qualify to work in the U.S. with O-1 Extraordinary Ability in the Sciences, Arts, or Business, L-1 Intracompany Transferee, and E-2 Treaty Investor visas.

Foreign Investor & Entrepreneur Advice

Scott advises businesses and investors on immigration, business and employment issues related to foreign investment options connected with the federal EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 regional centers, and temporary (E-1/E-2) work visas available through investment and the establishment of new businesses and corporate entities in the U.S.

M&A and Corporate Transactions

During corporate transactions, Scott conducts immigration compliance due diligence. Scott and his team have developed auditing tools that help buyers more effectively assess and address immigration compliance risks both pre- and post-closing. Scott also advises on the impact and employer responsibilities and consequences involved with reductions-in-force and company spin-offs. 

National Security-Related Compliance

Scott advises employers on a variety of federal agency rules involving national security and employee identity issues. This includes advising contractors on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security guidelines and representing employers who are subject to TSA investigations and potential sanctions. Scott also advises companies that are subject to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) overseen by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of DHS. To enhance his ability to advise clients regarding CFATS and federal chemical facility security requirements, Scott holds a Chemical-terrorism Vulnerability Information (CVI) Authorized User Certificate.

Personal Interests

In his spare time, Scott enjoys writing. His first work, a one act play, Regulation 18B: No Free Man, was performed in 2015 and 2016 in England and Wales, including at Windsor Guildhall and in the historic Hall at Gray’s Inn in London.