Colleen F. Molner
Partner
Colleen F. Molner has practiced immigration law since 2013 and is one of a limited number of attorneys certified as a Specialist in Immigration Law by the North Carolina State Bar.
She has extensive experience in preparing complex nonimmigrant and immigrant visa petitions and represents employers as well as employees in a variety of industries including, but not limited to, automotive, engineering, information technology and manufacturing.
In addition, she advises employers on compliance issues and best practices, and she conducts internal I-9 audits for employers.
Colleen has been named and selected to Who’s Who Legal, the Business North Carolina (BNC) Legal Elite list, and as a Super Lawyers North Carolina Rising Star.
As a native of Charlotte, Colleen enjoys traveling the world and previously studied abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy, at Lorenzo de’Medici, as well as for a summer in Dublin, Ireland, at the University College of Dublin.
Classes/Seminars
- Presenter, "So You Didn’t Win the Lottery – Options for Foreign Nationals Not Selected in the H-1B Lottery," AILA Carolinas CLE, May 2023
- Panelist, "YPWACC Drink About It: Immigration Panel," Young Professionals of the World Council of Charlotte, March 2023
- Panelist, "Experiential Education — Leadership and Professionalism for New Lawyers," Wake Forest University School of Law, March 2021
- CLE Speaker, “Everything the non-practitioner needs to know about Immigration Law,” Mecklenburg County Bar Annual Review, February 2019, February 2020, February 2021
- Speaker, “Immigration Law Panel,” Wake Forest University School of Law, February 2021
- CLE Speaker, “Key Immigration Topics for Employment and Business Lawyers,” Mecklenburg County Bar Employment Law Section, February 2020
- Speaker, “Immigration Law Overview,” University of North Carolina Charlotte, April 2017
- Speaker, “Nonimmigrant Visas, Immigrant Visas and Immigration Law During the Era of Trump,” International Assignment Consulting, March 28, 2017
- Speaker, “The Role of the Paralegal in Employment-based Cases,” AILA Carolinas Paralegal Conference, Wake Forest University School of Law, September 2016
- Speaker, “Oh Snap! H-1B Cap: FY2017 Overview,” Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm Webinar, December 2015
- Speaker, “Alternatives to the H-1B,” Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm Quarterly Webinar, June 2014
Honors and Awards
- Board Certified Specialist, Immigration Law, North Carolina State Bar
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, 2023
- Business North Carolina (BNC) Legal Elite 2020, 2023
- Elon University School of Law Wills Drafting Clinic Award to Commitment
- Super Lawyers, N.C. Rising Star designation, 2020 – 23
- Who’s Who Legal, Corporate Immigration Future Leader, 2019, 2021-22
- Who’s Who Legal, Corporate Immigration Lawyers, 2020
Published Works
- Immigration considerations for employers and employees during layoffs, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, March 2023
- The Visa Bulletin: Emerging trends, tips and other information about the State Department’s monthly publication, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, February 2022
- Status of COVID-19 related Form I-9 flexibilities, preparing for in-person reverification, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, May 2021
- Impacts of Mergers and Acquisitions on Nonimmigrant Visas and the Green Card Process, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, January 2020
- New Year Brings New Rules for High-Skilled Workers, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, November 2016
- Oh Snap H-1B CAP! All You Need to Know, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, December 2015
- When ICE Comes Knocking: Preparing for I-9 Inspections, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, July 2015
- Strategies for Opening a New Office in the U.S., Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, October 2014
- FDNS Site Visits, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm White Paper, July 2014
- The Science-Natural Resource Policy Relationship: How Aspects of Diffusion Theory Explain Data Selection for Making Biodiversity Management Decisions, Politics & Policy, June 2013
- Data Selection for Making Biodiversity Management Decision: Best Available Science and Institutionalized Agency Norms, Administration & Society, July 2012
Education
- Elon University School of Law, Greensboro, North Carolina (J.D. - 2013)
- North Carolina State University (B.A., magna cum laude - 2010)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- AILA Carolinas Chapter – Charlotte CBP Liaison
- AILA Rome District Chapter (Europe, Middle East, Asia) Distance Learning Committee – Member
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors, Mecklenburg County Bar, 2021 - present
- Mecklenburg County Bar
- Mecklenburg County Bar Law and Society Committee – Member
- Mecklenburg Country Bar Leadership Institute, Class of 2018
- Mecklenburg County Bar Law Day Committee – Chair, 2019 to 2021; Member, 2018 to 2019
- Mecklenburg County Bar Immigration and Naturalization Section – Vice Chair, 2019 to 2020
- Mecklenburg County Bar Leadership Institute Committee – 2019 to 2022
- North Carolina Bar Association
- North Carolina State Bar