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Kathie Gaber has more than three decades of experience representing and advising domestic and international corporations and individuals regarding business immigration and related employment issues. Kathie is valued for her immediate responsiveness to her client’s needs, as well as her honest evaluation of their options and viable paths to realizing their objectives. Known for her straight-talk approach, Kathie is committed to going above and beyond for every client she serves.

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Kathie represents clients in acquiring nonimmigrant and immigrant visas in a variety of categories, including investors, multinational transfers, specialty occupation workers, extraordinary artists and performers, students and researchers, among others. She also assists clients in acquiring U.S. citizenship and conducting immigration audits, as well as counseling on the immigration ramifications of mergers and acquisitions and other immigration-related employment issues. Her clients consist of publicly traded and privately owned corporations and individuals located throughout the U.S. and on six continents. She has represented companies from a variety of industries including transportation, construction and equipment, food, banking and financial, healthcare, high tech and automotive.

As Co-Chair, Kathie manages more than 15 attorneys and paralegals who collectively file approximately 2,500 petitions and applications with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the State Department (DOS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) each year. In addition, she is a frequent speaker on immigration issues for clients and organizations and has been quoted in print and on air for National Public Radio. Kathie has also been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Illinois Super Lawyers “Top Women Lawyers,” and Leading Lawyers.

Prior to joining the firm, Kathie was employed with the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as a General Attorney in the Chicago District Office, and as Assistant General Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel in Washington, D.C. She also represented the INS as Appellate Counsel before the Board of Immigration Appeals in Falls Church, Virginia.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Emory University, J.D., 1985
  • University of Michigan, B.B.A., 1981 and B.A. Speech Communication, 1982 (Evans Scholar)

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Languages

  • Croatian
.
Experience

Experience

Non-Immigrant Visa Applications: Extensive experience with E-1/E-2 investor visas, Blanket L and Traditional L visas used by multinational corporations throughout the world in transferring employees to the United States.
Immigrant Visa Applications: Extensive experience on employment based categories for multinational executives and managers.
Mergers & Acquisitions and Other Corporate Restructurings: Advises employers and corporations on the immigration ramifications of corporate changes in ownership to minimize the corresponding visa impacts.
Worksite Compliance: Conducts audits on immigration law compliance issues including labor (wage) requirements, I-9 Employee Identification and Work Eligibility Verification audits and document retention requirements.
Immigration Related Investment Strategies: Works closely with individuals/corporations entering the United States for the first time to advise on the optimal legal structure and immigration law issues to ensure appropriate staffing of newly established entities.

Education and Training: Regularly conducts seminars, workshops and informational sessions for organizations and clients on a multitude of immigration law policy, practice and strategy issues.

Memberships

Memberships

American Bar Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Evans Scholars Bar Association
Georgia State Bar Association
Professional Activities
Legal Updates/Client Advisories
Update on the June 22, 2020 Proclamation
On June 22, 2020, the President issued a Proclamation (Proc. 10052) which suspended the entry of certain H-1B, H-2B, J-1 and L-1…
Speaking Engagements
Alliott Group FEM EMEA Global Mobility Summit 2019 - Participated in a Panel Discussion on Overlooked International Assignments: Marijuana, Visa Issues & Family Rights, November 20-21, 2020
11.20.19
Alliott Group FEM EMEA Summit 2018 - Participated in a Panel Discussion on the Topic "Conquering the Compliance 'Kraken' with the Power of Medum Sized Firms", November 8-9, 2018
11.8.18
2017 Alliott Group Worldwide Conference – "The Impact of the Trump Administration on Immigration into the United States", October 18-21, 2017
10.21.17
110th Swiss Machine Tool Society Meeting, 2017 Immigration Climate and Potential Changes to the H, L and E Visa Programs, April 21, 2017
4.21.17
Events
Complimentary Webinar: A Chameleon's View of the Ever-Changing U.S. Immigration Policies
10.1.20
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the name of protecting the health of U.S. residents and preserving U.S. jobs, several…
2018 Annual Complimentary Immigration Law Update Seminar
3.2.18
8:00 am - Registration and Breakfast 8:30-11:30 am - Presentations Continental breakfast will be provided
News
Masuda Funai Hosts 2024 Immigration Seminar
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. hosted its annual Immigration Seminar on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the DoubleTree Hotel in…
Masuda Funai Hosts 2023 Immigration Seminar
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. hosted its annual Immigration Seminar on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at the DoubleTree Hotel in…
Masuda Funai Ranked as Best Law Firm and Three Attorneys Selected as Best Lawyer for 2022 by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers recently released the 2022 “Best Law Firms” rankings and gave Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell…
Kathleen Gaber Spoke at a Virtual Event "Business Immigration & Global Mobility in 2021: What's Next?"
On February 23, 2021, Kathleen Gaber, Principal at Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., participated in a panel discussion “Business…
Masuda Funai Ranked as Best Law Firm and Seven Attorneys Selected as Best Lawyer for 2021 by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers recently released 2021 “Best Law Firms” rankings and gave Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd…
Kathleen Gaber Appointed to the Alliott Group's North American Regional Advisory Committee
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. is pleased to announce that Kathleen Gaber has been appointed to the Alliott Group's North American…
Masuda Funai Hosts 2020 Immigration Seminar
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. hosted its annual Immigration Seminar on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at the DoubleTree Hotel in…
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. Joined over 140 International Colleagues from 39 Countries in Madrid for Alliott Group's Worldwide Conference
Kathleen Gaber and Gregory Wright, Principals of Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. recently traveled to Madrid to attend the Worldwide…
Bryan Funai, Kathleen Gaber and Fazila Vaid Authored an Article in the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
The article "Employment-Based Permanent Resident Petitions" featured in the 2019 Immigration Law Edition of the Illinois Institute for…
Masuda Funai Hosts 2019 Immigration Seminar
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. hosted its annual Immigration Seminar on Friday, February 15, 2019 at the DoubleTree Hotel in…
Kathleen Gaber Elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
Masuda Funai is pleased to announce that Kathleen Gaber, Chair of the Immigration Practice Group, has been elected a Fellow of the American…
Kathleen Gaber Selected to Crain's Custom Media's "Chicago's Notable Women Lawyers"
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. is pleased to announce that Kathleen Gaber has been selected to Crain’s Custom Media’s “Chicago’s…
Masuda Funai Providing Pro Bono Work to The Joffrey Ballet for More Than a Decade
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., through the efforts of Kathleen Gaber, has been assisting the world renown Joffrey Ballet to bring…
Masuda Funai Hosts 2018 Immigration Seminar
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. hosted its annual Immigration Seminar on Friday, March 2, 2018. Approximately 100 executives…
Publications
Distinctions

Distinctions

  • American Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • Leading Lawyers, 2003-2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2023
  • Illinois Super Lawyers - Top Women Lawyers, 2005-2006, 2012