An attorney with the firm since 2006, Ms. Barker became a partner in 2016 and a Shareholder in 2026. She practices exclusively in immigration and nationality law. Ms. Barker has successfully assisted families, individuals, corporations and universities with a wide array of immigration processes, and has developed particular expertise in employment-based immigration. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and currently serves on the Executive Board for the Chicago Chapter. She has appeared as a featured speaker at conferences and contributed to articles on various immigration topics. Ms. Barker also serves on the AILA national liaison committee with U.S. Customs and Border Protection- OFO and has served in a liaison capacity with CBP for the Chicago port of entry since 2010.
Ms. Barker began her work in the immigration field in 1999 as an Americorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) at the Political Asylum Project of Austin in Texas (now known as American Gateways).
- University of Maine School of Law, J.D., Cum Laude, 2006
- Grinnell College, B.A., 1999
- State of Illinois, 2006
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2006
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Chicago Chapter
- Chicago Chapter, Executive Board member, 2017-present
- Vice-Chair, AILA National Customs and Border Protection Liaison Committee, 2021- present
- Chair, Customs and Border Protection Liaison Committee (Chicago), 2011-2017
- Fall Conference Planning Committee, 2010-2011; 2011-2012
- Co-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee- 2009-2010
- AILA National Conference, "Introduction to the L-1 Intracompany Transferee," June 23, 2017
- AILA Fall Conference, "CBP updates from Pearson Airport" September 2016
- AILA Midwest Regional Conference, "CBP & DOS Conversation," March 14, 2016
- AILA National Conference, "CBP, You Have to Let Me Know—“Should I Stay or Should I Go?” Issues in Maintaining LPR Status," June 2015
- International Educators of Illinois Annual Conference, "H-1B Tips & Tricks," March 2015
- International Educators of Illinois Annual Conference, "Changes in H-1B Petitions: Amendments, Maintenance of Status and Related Issues," March 6, 2014
- AILA Chicago Chapter Meeting, "Changes in Employee Work Locations," November 11, 2013
- International Services Office at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, "Planning for the Future: A Guide for Foreign Students & Researchers," May 9, 2013
- AILA Chicago Chapter Conference, "The Gray Areas: Resolving Selected Problems in Business Immigration," Panel Moderator, November 17, 2011
- Chicago Bar Association, “Nonimmigrant Visas Basics” February 17, 2011
- AILA Employment Immigration Workshop, “I-140 Petition Update,” Discussion Leader, November 18, 2010
- AILA Midwest Regional Conference, “Responses to RFE, Appeals to the AAU, and Federal Court Action,” Discussion Leader, April 9, 2010
- AILA Employment Immigration Workshop, “Going to Battle on an H-1B Petition With the Service,” Panel Member, October 21, 2009
- Kempster, A., Barker, N., Corcoran, T. “H Nonimmigrants,” Navigating the Fundamentals of Immigration Law, 2010-2021 Editions.
- Spanish
