Leigh Polk Cole

Telephone: 802-859-7035

E-Mail: lcole@dinse.com

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Blog: The Dinse Blog: Issues and Insight

Area of Practice Concentration:

Immigration

Description of Practice:

Ms. Cole, a director of the firm, advises clients in immigration matters relating to employment, education, research, investment and entrepreneurial business.

Employment

Ms. Cole advises clients on immigration compliance for employment of international professionals in the United States.

Education and Research

Ms. Cole advises colleges, universities and research institutes on immigration compliance for professors, researchers, staff, F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors and campus immigration policy and procedure.

Investors and Entrepreneurs

Drawing upon her experience in immigration, commercial transactions and securities compliance, Ms. Cole advises companies, investors and entrepreneurs doing business in the United States, including EB-5 projects, EB-5 investors, E-1/E-2 treaty traders and treaty investors, and companies transferring international executives, managers and critical personnel to the United States.

Prior Experience:

Ms. Cole joined the firm after practicing with Gravel and Shea in Burlington, Vermont from 1996 to 2000. Ms. Cole started her law practice in upstate New York with the law firm of O'Connell and Aronowitz in Albany and Plattsburgh, New York. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Cole was employed as a legislative analyst for small business economic development with the New York State Assembly and as a paralegal.

Education:

  • Albany Law School of Union University (J.D. 1991)
    —Editor-in-Chief, Albany Law Review, 1990 to 1991
  • Cornell University (B.A. 1985), Government; Agricultural Trade Policy
  • Philips Exeter Academy (1981)

Admissions:

  • U.S. District Court, District of Vermont
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
  • U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • New York Appellate Division, Third Department

Professional Affiliations:

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Vermont Bar Association
  • Member, New York Bar Association
  • Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
  • Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
  • Member, NAFSA: Association of International Educators
  • Best Lawyers (2010-2012)

Professional Activities:

  • The Dinse Blog: Issues and Insight: http://blog.dinse.com
  • Co-Instructor, NACUA online course, "The ABCs of F, J and H-1Bs: Immigration Basics for Colleges and Universities" (Nov.-Dec. 2011) 
  • Chair, Leadership Champlain, a division of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce (Director, August 2007 to present)
  • Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce (June 2011 to present) 
  • Director, Wake Robin Corporation, member, Finance Committee (August 2007 to June 2011)
  • Director Emeritus, Far Post Soccer Club, Inc. (Director, 2003 to present)
  • Creator and leader, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) Circle of discussion group on socially responsible business practices (January 2007 to December 2008)
  • Director, Lake Champlain Land Trust, 2001 to 2007 (term limit)
  • Senior Editor, Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook published annually by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (1999 to present)
  • Founding Director, South Hero Land Trust, 1996 to 1998
  • Leadership Champlain, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Class of 1998

Publications:

Chapter 4, Immigration, Annual Review of Higher Education Law & Policy: Major Developments from 2008 (Council on Law in Higher Education) (March 2009), www.clhe.org