Overview

Punam’s practice focuses on Business Immigration law and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.  On the immigration front, Punam works with U.S. employers of all sizes, from start-up to large multi-national organizations, seeking to hire non-resident foreign professionals who need to obtain temporary or permanent immigration status in the U.S., as well as visas in countries around the world for their global workforce.  Her clients are from a wide range of industries and activities, including: health care, information technology, telecommunications, biotechnology, electronic component technology, insurance, financial and management consulting, think-tanks, hospitality, general manufacturing, non-profits and education. 

Punam is acutely aware of how important key employees are to an enterprise.  That is why she works directly with her clients to design and implement immigration strategies that help them navigate through an ever changing, complex legal framework of immigration law.  Punam identifies and implements successful programs for U.S. employers seeking to hire and retain international personnel, including senior leadership and other critical professionals or key personnel.   

Punam also develops cost and time efficient strategies to pursue high volume processing of immigration petitions and applications for employers who have a large number of foreign national employees. In addition to overseeing the preparation of non-immigrant and immigrant visa petition filings of all types, Punam regularly provides employment-related immigration compliance training to human resources and legal staff for her clients. She also effectively counsels clients through government investigations and enforcement proceedings, including Department of Justice actions, IER investigations, Department of Labor LCA audits, and Department of Homeland Security Form I-9 and E-Verify audits, and USCIS site visits. And, often these days, Punam provides clients with Congressional advocacy advice for changes in the law, which includes regular travel to Washington, DC for meetings with elected representatives and government agencies.  

On the DEI front, Punam partners with employers—both large and small—to review, develop, and implement DEI programs that will enable each business to achieve maximum performance. She assists employers in strengthening morale among team members and building confidence with customers, vendors, and the public at large. Punam’s team has deep DEI auditing capabilities, and are able to pinpoint areas for improvement in organizations’ operations where diversity, equity, and inclusion can be utilized as a competitive advantage. Putting DEI initiatives in place does not only provide an opportunity to significantly decrease litigation exposure, it can also help provide an advantage over competitors to increase the perspective and performance of an organization’s most valuable asset—its employees.  

Punam is a frequent speaker on both immigration and DEI matters.  She has published a foray of articles both on immigration topics (including multinational transfers, compliance, cross-border issues, layoffs, and general visas strategies)and workplace diversity and well-being topics. 

Honors & Recognitions

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Immigration Law (2023-2025)
  • Boston Magazine Top Lawyers™ - Immigration Law (2022-2023)

Professional & Civic Associations

  • Council on International Education Exchange (“CIEE”) 
    • Board of Directors, January 2022 to January 2028
  • Chief 
    • Member, December 2021 to present
  • Boston Bar Association Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Section 
    • Public Policy Chair, September 2020 to June 2021
    • Steering Committee, September 2019 to June 2021
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association National Committee
    • National Committee USCIS Case Assistance Committee: June 2021 to present

    • Customs Border Protection Committee Member, September 2020 to present
    • Business Committee Member, June 2013 to June 2015; September 2020-present
    • American Immigration Lawyers Association National Field Operations Committee Member
    • American Immigration Lawyers Association National Department of Labor (DOL) Committee Member, June 2007 to 2010
    • American Immigration Lawyers Association National United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Committee Member, June 2008 to 2009
    • New England Chapter of American Immigration Lawyers Association
      • Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair, September 2020 to present
      • Customs Border Protection Logan Airport Co-Chair, June 2007 to present
      • Rapid Raid Response Team for New England States (March 2017 to present)
      • Executive Office of Immigration Appeals ProBono Liaison Chair (June 2007 to June 2015)
      • Elected Executive Board Member, Immediate Past Chapter Chair-President (2007 to 2008)
      • Elected Chapter Chair-President (2006-2007)
      • Chair Elect (2005-2006)
      • Elected Board Member Vice Chair (2004-2005)
      • Elected Board Member, Treasurer (2003-2004)
      • Elected Board Member, Secretary (2002-2003)
  • "So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune."
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Education

Seton Hall University School of Law

  • J.D., 1997

Douglass College, Rutgers University

  • B.A. in Economics and Psychology, 1993

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Massachusetts

Languages

  • Hindi
  • Spanish
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