GregL.Berk

Partner
LANGUAGES
Chinese
LINKEDIN
Greg Berk

Overview

Greg Berk has more than 25 years of experience advising clients on all facets of U.S. immigration law. He assists employers with hiring and retaining talented foreign nationals requiring work visas.

As leader of the firm’s immigration team, he works extensively with HR professionals, in-house counsel and business leaders to develop effective immigration strategies that support their objectives.

Greg strives to simplify complex issues and takes pride in providing practical advice to help employers solve issues regarding work visas, I-9s, E-Verify and related matters.

His practice covers all aspects of employment-based immigration law including B-1 visitors, E-2 investors, E-3 professionals, F-1 students, H-1B professionals, J-1 interns/trainees/scholars, L-1 intra-company transfers, O-1 individuals with extraordinary ability, P-1 athletes and performers, R-1 religious workers, I-140 immigrant petitions based on all categories and EB-5 investor petitions.

Greg is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is the author of  Immigration Checklists and Practice Pointers: A Quick Reference Guide on Visas and I-9s, Second Edition,  published in 2025 by the American Bar Association for general counsel and HR managers. He is also co-chair for Immigration Policy for the ABA Immigration & Naturalization Committee.

In his spare time, Greg enjoys spending time on the California coastline and swimming.

Credentials
Education

J.D., Western State University College of Law

M.B.A., George Washington University

B.A., California State University

Admissions

California

Memberships

Vice Chair for Policy, Immigration and Naturalization Committee, International Law Section, American Bar Association

Member, International Law and Labor & Employment Law Sections, American Bar Association, 2019-Present

Member, Immigration Law Subcommittee, State Bar of California, International Law Section, 2013-Present

Past Chair, Immigration Law Subcommittee, State Bar of California, International Law Section, 2013-2015

Advisor Emeritus, Executive Committee, State Bar of California International Law Section

Executive Committee, State Bar of California International Law Section, 2011-2015

Member, Orange County Bar Association Lawyer - Referral Advisory Committee, 2006-2010

Orange County Bar Association Education Committee, 2010-2012

Member, World Affairs Council of Orange County, 2022-Present

Member, Long Beach – Qingdao Sister City Organization, 2004-Present

Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 1999-Present

Board of Directors, Southern California Sister Cities International Organization, 2011

Chair, Orange County Bar Association Immigration Section, 2005 and 2010

Member, AILA National EB-5 Investors Committee, 2008-2009

Thought Leadership

"Preparing for Potential Immigration Enforcement in the Workplace," California Chamber of Commerce, February 26, 2025

"Workplace Raids and I-9 Audits: What Employers Need to Know," The Workplace Podcast, January 31, 2025

"US Immigration Trends: Realities and Choices,” World Affairs Council of Orange County, October 6, 2022

"PERM Practice Pointers to Avoid Malpractice," Orange County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section Webinar, March 1, 2022

"PERM Best Practices in Light of COVID," 34th Annual AILA California Chapters Conference, November 19, 2021

"Planning Your U.S. Visa for the 2022 Rebound," Sheppard Mullin Webinar, May 11, 2021

"Immigration Issue Spotting for Practitioners that are New to the Field of Immigration Law," American Bar Association Webinar, March 5, 2021

"A Quick Run Around the I-9 & Visa Track," Santa Barbara Human Resources Association (SBHRA), January, 15, 2020

"The Nuts and Bolts of Drafting a Job Description," Orange County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section Meeting, March, 5, 2019

“The H-1B Dragon,” Orange County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section Meeting, June 6, 2017

"STEM OPT and What it Means for Your Practice," American Immigration Lawyers Association Southern California Chapter, April 27, 2016

"Nonimmigrant Visas and I-9’s," Pincus California Immigration and Nationality Law Specialist Exam Course, September 10, 2015

"Student Visas - The Basics and Beyond," State Bar of California International Law Section Webinar, August 12, 2015

"Ethical Traps and Pitfalls for the Immigration Lawyer," Orange County Bar Association, May 5, 2015

"First Things First: I Need a Visa to Stay Here!" Founder's Workshop at Runway, January 15, 2015

"Nonimmigrant Options for Smaller Businesses - E, L, and H," Web Seminar, November 6, 2014

"Employment and Immigration Compliance Issues for International Corporations in the United States," State Bar of California Annual Meeting, September 14, 2014

"Slaying the Dragon: Understanding the 1,200-Page U.S. Senate CIR Bill," Orange County Bar Association, Immigration Law Section Meeting, November 2013

"Hot Topics in Immigration Law: The Latest in EB-5 Investment and Preparing Your Practice for Comprehensive Immigration Reform," Panel Discussion, 2013 State Bar of California's Annual Meeting, October 2013

"I-9’s, E-Verify and the Latest Immigration Benefits," California Landscape Contractors Association, Orange County Chapter, April 2013

"Immigration Session - Fundamentals of Employment Law Seminar," Sterling Education Services, March 2013

"Visa War Stories and Consular Processing," 2012 State Bar of California Annual Meeting, October 2012

"EB-5 Investors Immigration 101 Seminar," Pincus Professional Education, October 2012

"Immigration & Legislative," California Restaurant Association, September 2012

"Overview of U.S. Immigration Options," State Bar of California, September 2012

"The World Is a Big Playground: Cross Over Issues Involving Foreign National Clients in Family Law, Estate Planning, and Immigration," State Bar of California Webinar, Panel Speaker, July 2012

"Presentation on B-1 business visitor visas – opportunities and challenges," Southern California International Sister Cities Regional Conference, January 2011

  • "Top 10 Mistakes in Handling I-9 Forms," Society for Human Resource Management, March 2015
  • "International Migration to the U.S.," The California International Law Journal, Vol. 20, No. 1 & 2, Spring/Summer 2012
  • "Reforming Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Breaking the Congressional Stalemate," Orange County Bar Association Magazine, March 2011
  • "Immigration Options for Investors and Entrepreneurs," Contributing Author, American Immigration Lawyers Assoc (AILA), 2006
  • Immigration Concepts: A Primer for Law Students and Paralegals on the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, Copyright 2004; Compilation of materials written to assist students in understanding the complexities of immigration law