An attorney with the firm since 2006, Ms. Barker became partner in 2016. 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
