Kimberley Best Robidoux, Senior Associate

Kimberley Best Robidoux, Senior Associate

F: (858) 642-0431 [email protected]

Kimberley “immigrated” to San Diego from the East coast and joined Larrabee Albi Coker LLP in 2004. She thrives on working with companies and individuals to strategically develop solutions to address their immigration concerns. Her practice also focuses on assisting companies with their onboarding and retention of the best and the brightest from around the world, as well as with the implementation of immigration policies and procedures. Her experience with the nuances of employer I-9 and E-verify requirements has resulted in the successful defense of employers against I-9 compliance audits. Kimberley also enjoys partnering with employers to conduct "in-house" audits with respect to worksite compliance matters – it is always extremely important to keep employers out of trouble or prepare them for a government audit. Kimberley also thoroughly enjoys working with individuals to guide them through the family-based immigration process and finds it extremely rewarding and gratifying when clients become permanent residents and U.S. citizens.

Many immigration matters are transactional and practicing immigration law – a legal field that is all about people – isn’t fun unless you get out of the office and spend time with clients. Kimberley gets out of the office to visit clients and give presentations to management and foreign national employees, as well as speak about immigration issues at various conferences and gatherings with colleagues and government agency personnel.

Prior to her work at LAC, Kimberley assisted clients with employment and family based immigration matters at Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC in Boston, Massachusetts and immigration and employment law matters at Krupin O'Brien LLC in Washington, D.C. Before sitting for the bar, she also enjoyed working as a paralegal in Washington, D.C. in the areas of immigration, labor, and employment law.

While attending the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, the Federal government was beginning to address drug testing issues in the workplace. Kimberley was fascinated with the subject area and went on to focus on workplace drug testing laws as a research analyst at a non-profit in Washington, D.C. The desire to focus more on the implementation aspect of such laws led Kimberley to join a law firm as a paralegal where she assisted not only with employment law matters but also prepared many immigration cases for the transfer of hospitality industry employees around the globe. Her enjoyment of the nuances of the immigration process and working with individuals from all over the world led her to spend more of her time on immigration law following law school. As an attorney practicing in this area for more than 18 years, she continues to enjoy the challenge of keeping up with the ever-changing immigration laws and policies in order to better assist her clients, both corporate and individual.

When Kimberley isn’t devoting her complete attention to immigration matters, she is participating in and training to fast walk half marathons, watching her nieces and nephews at their sporting events, hiking, making homemade liqueurs, enjoying craft beers and good wine with family and friends, and, when possible, refinishing furniture. 

Professional Activities

American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Office, Washington, D.C.

Member (1997 to Present)

Committee Co-Chair, Distance Learning Committee (2014 to Present)

Committee Member, Distance Learning Committee (2013 to 2014)

Committee Member, California Service Center Liaison Committee (2012 to 2014) Board of Governors Member (as San Diego Chapter Chair) (2011 to 2012) Committee Member, I-9 Regulation and Reform Comment Committee (2009)

American Immigration Lawyers Association, San Diego Chapter

Member (2004 to Present)

Chair, Executive Committee (2011 to 2012) Vice Chair, Executive Committee (2010 to 2011) Treasurer, Executive Committee (2009 to 2010)

Committee Co-Chair, Media & Advocacy Committee (2013 to Present)

Co-Chair, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Liaison Committee – San Diego (2012 to 2013)

Co-Chair, American Immigration Council’s 5th Graders Creative Writing Contest Committee (2009 to Present) Chair, Social Security Administration and Department of Motor Vehicles Liaison Committee (2008 to 2012) Committee Member, Creative Writing Contest for 5th Graders Committee (2007 to 2009)

Committee Member, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Liaison Committee (2007 to 2011) Committee Member, Media & Advocacy Committee (2010 to 2013)

Chair, Consular Corps Liaison Committee (2006 to 2009)

Day Coordinator, 2007 AILA California Chapters Conference (November 2007) Committee Member, U.S. Consulate, Tijuana Liaison Committee (2006 to 2007)

Committee Member, State Workforce Agency Liaison Committee (2005 to 2006)

Athena San Diego

Associate Member (2009 to 2014)

Member, Mentoring Committee (2011 to 2014) Member, Signature Series Committee (2009 to 2011) Member, Forum for Executive Women Group (2009 to 2014) General Mentor (2011 to 2014)

Society for Human Resource Management

Member, San Diego Chapter (2009 to 2013)

Member, San Diego SHRM Law Day 2013 Committee (2012 to 2013) Member, National (2009 to 2013)

Member, San Diego SHRM Holiday Party Committee (2011 to 2012)

Member, 2010 SHRM Sessions Host Conference Committee, SHRM National Convention, San Diego, California (June 2010)

Presentations

Faculty Member, “Preparing and Updating the H-1B Public Access File—Not as Simple as It Looks,” AILA 2014 Annual Conference, Boston, MA (June 18-21, 2014)

Speaker, “The Trials and Tribulations of L-1 and E-1/E-2 Visa Applications,” ProVisors’ International Business Affinity Group, Irvine, CA (May 13, 2014)

Faculty Member, “Tools for Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Reorganization,” AILA Audio Seminar (April 22, 2014)

Faculty Member, “What’s Trending? 2013 RFE Series, Part I: H-1B and L-1 RFEs,” AILA Webinar (November 14,

2013)

Speaker, “The New Form I-9: Now, the Most Difficult Two-Page Form in America,” San Diego Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management, Carlsbad, CA (June 26, 2013)

Faculty Member, “Visa Strategies for Consultants: Is there Hope?,” AILA Teleconference/Web Conference (May 30, 2013)

Speaker, “EB-5 Immigration Program: The ‘Million Dollar Green Card’ & E-2 Nonimmigrant Treaty Investor”, ProVisors’ Corporate Deal Professionals Affinity Group, San Diego, CA (June 5, 2013)

Speaker, “The New Form I-9: Now, the Most Difficult Two-Page Form in America,” San Diego Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management, San Diego, CA (May 15, 2013)

Speaker, “The New Form I-9: Now, the Most Difficult Two-Page Form in America,” HR GPS Monthly Employment Perspective, San Diego, CA (April 24, 2013)

Speaker, “The New Form I-9: Now, the Most Difficult Two-Page Form in America,” San Diego Employers Association, San Diego, CA (June 19, 2013 and April 16, 2013)

Speaker, “The New Form I-9: Now, the Most Difficult Two-Page Form in America,” LMAC Webinar, San Diego, CA (April 5, 2013 and March 22, 2013)

Faculty Member, “Challenges for Multinationals – Nonimmigrant Visas for Key Employees,” 25th Annual AILA California Chapters CLE Conference, San Diego, CA (November 8-10, 2013)

Faculty Member, Practice Roundtable, “Special Treatment for Certain Countries: TN, H-1B1, E-3,” AILA 2012 Annual Conference, Nashville, TN (June 13-16, 2012)

Speaker, “Labor Certifications – Understanding the Processing Timelines and Defining the Minimum Requirements,” LMAC Immigration Roundtable, San Diego, CA (June 6, 2012)

Speaker, “Navigating the Department of Labor Prevailing Wage Maze,” LMAC Immigration Roundtable, San Diego, CA (December 13, 2011)

Faculty Member, “This Isn’t Your Senior Attorney’s H-1B Environment,” 24th Annual AILA California Chapters CLE Conference, San Francisco, CA (November 10-12, 2011)

Speaker, “I-9 Compliance Issues,” LMAC Workshop, San Diego, CA (February 24, 2011)

Faculty Member, “How to Keep Fraud Out of Your Office and What to Do When It Sneaks In,” 23rd Annual AILA California Chapters CLE Conference, Monterey, CA (November 11-13, 2010)

Speaker, “Department of Labor’s (DOL) Labor Condition Application (LCA),” LMAC Webinar, San Diego, CA (December 3, 2009)

Speaker, “General Principles of the H-1B Petition,” New Members Division Monthly Meeting, San Diego Chapter of AILA, San Diego, CA (January 28, 2009)

Faculty Member, “ICE Update,” 21st Annual California Chapters CLE Conference, San Francisco, CA (November 13-15, 2008)

Faculty Member, “Immigration Reform (or not)…What are the implications for…,” 8th Annual Resort Conference, Coronado, CA (April 16-18, 2008)

Faculty Member, “Career Opportunities and Legal Responsibilities in Hiring Foreign Workers in California,” National Business Institute Seminar, San Diego, CA (September 28, 2005)

Speaker, “Roundtable on Immigration,” San Diego Employers Association Monthly Meeting, La Mesa, CA (November 18, 2005)

Publications

“Due Diligence Checklist for Immigration-Related M&A Deals,” Practice Pointer, AILA (April 2014) (co-authored with Monica Lukoschek and Barbara Bower)

“ICE I-9 Audits: Are You and Your Clients Prepared?” Bender’s California Labor & Employment Bulletin (Vol. 2014, No. 4) (April 2014)

“B-1 (Business) and B-2 (Pleasure) Temporary Visitors,” Book Chapter, AILA’s Guide to Immigration Law for Paralegals (November 2013)

“E-3 Australian Specialty Occupation Workers,” Book Chapter, AILA’s Guide to Immigration Law for Paralegals (November 2013)

“Overview of Employment-Based Immigration: EB-2 and EB-3,” Book Chapter, AILA’s Guide to Immigration Law for Paralegals (November 2013)

“What’s Trending? 2013 RFE Series, Part 1: H-1B and L-1 RFEs,” Practice Pointer, AILA (November 2013) (co-authored with Robert H. Cohen and Ian Wagreich)

“Evaluating an Electronic I-9 Program – The Devil is in the Details,” Whitepaper (published by LawLogix, 2012) (co-authored with Sharon R. Mehlman)

“Form I-131, Application for Travel Document,” AILA’s Immigration Forms Toolbox, 2013

“Nonimmigrant Options for Consultants,” Practice Pointer, AILA (May 2013) (co-authored with Michael P. Nowlan and Andrew William)

“Negotiate with ICE – Reduce Those I-9 Fines,” Blog posting, The I-9 and E–Verify Blog/LawLogix (January 29, 2013) (co-authored with Sharon R. Mehlman)

“Challenges for Multinationals – Nonimmigrant Visa for Key Employees, 25th AILA California Chapters Conference Handbook, November 2012 (co-authored with Larry L. Drumm and Nita Itchhaporia)

“Completing Form I-131 – Application for Travel Document,” 2012 AILA Conference Handbook – Forms and Fundamentals

Practical Guidance for Establishing an Employer's I-9 Processes and Procedures. 24th AILA California Chapters Conference Handbook, November 2011 (co-authored with Sharon R. Mehlman)

“Issues to Consider in Reviewing I-9 Procedures and Compliance – What You Don't Know Can Hurt You,”

Immigration Options for Academics and Researchers, Second Edition (AILA Publication), Fall 2011 (co-authored with Sharon R. Mehlman)

“In search of fraudulent documents – Does the I-9 process really require employers to be enforcers?,” The I-9 and E– Verify Blog/LawLogix (November 28, 2011) (co-authored with Sharon R. Mehlman)

“Playing with ‘No-Matches’ – Don’t Get Caught Burned – How the Social Security Administration ‘No-Match’ Letters Fit into Worksite Compliance,” Blog posting, The I-9 and E–Verify Blog/LawLogix (September 25, 2011) (co-authored with Sharon R. Mehlman)

“Evaluating an Electronic I-9 Program – The Devil is in the Details” Blog posting, The I-9 and E–Verify Blog/LawLogix (September 12, 2011) (co-authored with Sharon R. Mehlman)

“This Isn’t Your Senior Attorney’s H-1B Environment: The Evolving H-1B Rules,” 24th AILA California Chapters Conference Handbook, November 2011 (co-authored with Kathleen L. Grzegorek, Angelo A. Paparelli) “How to Keep Fraud Out of Your Office and What to Do When it Sneaks In,” 23rd AILA California Chapters Conference Handbook, November 2010 (co-authored with Lisa I. Baker, Robert G. Nadalin and Lisa Spiegel) Awards

Listed in the San Diego Business Journal’s Best of the Bar 2014 Listed in “Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration 2014”

Listed in “2014 The Best Lawyers in America” for the practice area of Immigration Listed in “2013 The Best Lawyers in America” for the practice area of Immigration Listed in “2014 Southern California Super Lawyers” for the practice area of Immigration Listed in “Best Lawyers San Diego 2014”

Listed in “The International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers 2014 & The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2015”