James Larsen is the Senior Employment Counsel at the Austin office of Farm Law PC, where he provides innovative solutions to complex immigration and employment challenges for domestic and multinational corporations.
Prior to joining Farmer Law PC, James was Of Counsel at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, an Am Law 100 law firm and one of the largest labor and employment practices in the United States, where he represented multiple Big Five tech giants, the largest bank in the United States, and other companies in the healthcare, construction, and hospitality industries, among other areas.
James joined Farmer Law PC to partner with corporations not traditionally served by Big Law for the opportunity to design, introduce, and implement domestic and global immigration programs as viable solutions to their historic labor shortages.
Over the course of his fifteen year legal career, James has practiced on the frontier of immigration law. While in law school in Iowa, in 2008 he authored, “Clearing the Immigration Hurdles: Challenges in Reforming the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program” and went to work for the in-house legal department of the Iowa-based company that successfully secured federal government classification of construction on a farm as agriculture for immigration purposes. This helped cement the H-2A visa program as an essential immigration tool for securing thousands of visas for much-needed workers the construction industry.
Upon moving to Texas in 2014, James pioneered efficient methodologies for large-scale immigration compliance audits and guided employers in the conversion from paper-based records to electronic Forms I-9 and E-Verify. While working in Austin, he introduced the concept of BATCH processing to a client on the East Coast with one of the largest green card programs in the country, streamlining the PERM labor certification process and expediting permanent residency for foreign nationals by several months.
James presents frequently at conferences and seminars to human resources professionals on immigration and compliance matters. His unique litigation portfolio includes representing multiple employers before the Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (formerly the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices), responding to investigations by the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, resolving Wage and Hour audits, developing strategies to address worksite enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and navigating compliance with state and federal law relating to immigration and employment.
A graduate of Brigham Young University and Drake law, he is licensed in both Iowa and Texas and advises clients on federal immigration and employment related matters in all 50 states.
James lives with his wife, four children, and German Short-haired Pointer in Leander, Texas, the fastest growing city in the United States. A political strategist and former lobbyist, James was the founder of Keep Leander Connected, the grassroots community group that was successful in passing a ballot measure to preserve Leander’s sixty-four mile round trip light rail to downtown Austin. He remains actively engaged in promoting the responsible growth of central Texas communities and currently serves on the steering committee for the Leander Independent School District’s Facility Advisory Committee. James enjoys taking care of the longhorns and horses at the Pioneer Living History Farms, where he and his family are volunteer animal feeders.
The attorneys at Farmer Law PC understand the value of a diversified workforce and are adept at navigating every facet of immigration law. We offer comprehensive solutions for all of your labor shortages. Our team locates honest, accomplished workers to provide employers with exceptional talent from every corner of the globe.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.
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