Corporate Immigration Compliance in the Spotlight: Navigating I-9 Risks, M&A Due Diligence, and Workforce Mobility in a High-Scrutiny Era

Sarah A. Iyer | Honigman LLP

Sarah Iyer works with U.S. and multinational companies to navigate the complexities of U.S. immigration law and optimize their ability to enable talent-driven business growth. In addition to advising clients on a wide range of nonimmigrant visa and employment-based lawful permanent residence matters, Sarah provides proactive counseling on immigration and employment eligibility verification compliance, including I-9 forms and the E-Verify process, represents employers in I-9 audits and related inspection and audit proceedings, assists clients with conducting I-9 self-audits and setting up internal compliance programs and policies, conducts buy- and sell-side due diligence of employment eligibility verification and immigration compliance issues in mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions, and advises clients on avoiding immigration-related discrimination during the hiring process, including pre-hire immigration inquiries and export compliance assessments.

She also frequently speaks and provides training to clients on immigration topics, including nonimmigrant visas, PERM labor certification processes, I-9 and E-Verify compliance, and ICE and immigration enforcement preparedness planning. Sarah works with clients across a wide range of industries, including  the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, engineering, medical device, and management consulting sectors, as well as with private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies. Sarah is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and serves on the AILA National Verification and Documentation Liaison Committee as well as on various committees for the AILA Chicago Chapter.

John Mazzeo | Vertical Screen, Inc.

John W. Mazzeo is a seasoned legal professional specializing in employment eligibility verification and compliance, as well as identity verification and fraud prevention during the onboarding process. As Senior Director and Associate General Counsel – i9Success at Vertical Screen, Inc., he leads the company’s initiatives in designing and implementing electronic Form I-9 and E Verify solutions, ensuring clients meet stringent compliance standards. He also leads Vertical Screen’s advanced identity verification and fingerprinting businesses. The commonality among all of these: an intense desire to help businesses obtain compliance and mitigate risk by leveraging technology and expertise in identity verification and documentation.

Before his tenure at Vertical Screen, John served as Assistant Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS-ICE) in Philadelphia. In this role, he was instrumental in reviewing and litigating Form I-9 violations and worksite enforcement investigations across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware. Part of John’s duties included working alongside members of Homeland Security Investigations, the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Services on an interagency Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.

John’s expertise extends beyond his corporate responsibilities. He is an active member of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), where he serves as Vice-Chair of the Corporate and Securities Law Network. Additionally, he is Vice-Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Document and Verification Liaison Committee.

An accomplished speaker and author, John has presented on critical topics such as Form I-9 compliance, worksite enforcement, and identity verification. His insights have been featured in publications such as the HR Florida Newswire, AthleticDirectorU, ACC Docket, and HR Pulse. He has spoken at nationwide conferences, such as SHRM, AILA, ASHHRA, and HR Florida. He is frequently quoted by reporters from news outlets such as Bloomberg and BoxScore.

John holds a Juris Doctor from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Ursinus College.

Timothy C. D’Arduini | Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP

Tim is Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Washington, DC office and a leader on the worksite compliance team. He advises multinational clients on a range of employment eligibility verification issues, immigration-related fraud investigations, worksite enforcement actions, and global right-to-work requirements. He develops protocols and policies, and oversees internal audits of employer protocols that help mitigate risk. Tim also defends companies subject to administrative subpoenas, as well as in worksite enforcement actions (i.e., “raids”), including matters involving potential civil and criminal liability to employers. Tim integrates proactive compliance practices to help clients avoid penalties and maintain operational integrity. Known for his strategic and pragmatic approach, he partners with employers across industries to create sustainable compliance frameworks that support business objectives while meeting complex regulatory requirements.

I. Understand DHS/ICE legal standards for electronic form I-9 systems | 2:00pm – 2:20pm

II. Identify system vulnerabilities in electronic I-9 platforms and avoid common pitfalls | 2:20pm – 2:40pm

III. Prepare for and manage government audits of electronic systems and legacy I-9s | 2:40pm – 3:00pm

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

IV. Conduct effective due diligence during M&A to uncover immigration-related risks | 3:10pm – 3:30pm

V. Minimize successor liability and structure deals to reduce compliance exposure | 3:30pm – 3:50pm

VI. Preserve workforce mobility and visa sponsorship continuity through corporate transitions | 3:50pm – 4:10pm