Photo of Ian Macdonald

Ian Macdonald

Ian R. Macdonald Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group. He focuses his practice on developing, assessing and managing global mobility programs for multinational companies on a range of challenges affecting the movement of people capital domestically and internationally, including secondment agreements, benefits transferability, local host country employment concerns and immigration.

Ian and his team work closely with companies to manage and modify, where needed, corporate immigration programs to maximize efficiency, service and regulatory compliance levels. He is experienced with the full range of business immigration sponsorship categories (visas and permanent residence), anti-discrimination rules to reduce or eliminate risk of employment litigation, employer sanction cases, and I-9 and E-Verify compliance. Ian assists clients with establishing risk-based performance standards (RBPS) and Department of Homeland Security protocol, providing risk assessment assistance to corporations subject to Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) and assisting clients with ITAR/Export Control compliance within the immigration context.

Ian has developed strategic relationships abroad that he utilizes when working with clients to ensure compliance with foreign registration requirements. He is experienced with analyzing complex global mobility opportunities on country-specific matters to facilitate the transfer of personnel. Ian is also experienced in counseling employers on immigration strategy as well as immigration consequences of mergers and acquisitions, reduction in workforces, and furloughs.

Prior to joining the firm, Ian worked for the United Nations, various non-governmental think tanks and corporate law firms in London, Washington, D.C., New York and Atlanta.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that may reshape the H-1B registration and selection process. These changes, if finalized, would have implications for employers seeking

Continue Reading Proposed H-1B Changes: How Weighted Selection May Impact Employer Strategy

On Sept. 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued updated guidance directing that nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants (E, F, H, J, L, O, etc.) must generally schedule their visa

Continue Reading Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence — Implications for Employers and Employees

On Aug. 29, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued Policy Alert PA-2025-19, announcing a shift in how filing fees must be paid. Beginning Oct. 28, 2025, USCIS will no longer accept paper checks or money orders. Instead, all fees must be paid electronically, either by credit card using Form G-1450, or via ACH debit using the newly introduced Form G-1650.
Continue Reading USCIS Transitions to Electronic Payments: Preparing for the End of Paper Checks

Recent changes to the Foreign Affairs Manual offer crucial clarity for employers and foreign nationals in the hemp industry, ensuring that lawful hemp-related activities are no longer automatically treated as marijuana involvement for visa purposes. This update supports workforce mobility and reduces the risk of visa denials for those working in the fast-growing global hemp sector.
Continue Reading New Foreign Affairs Manual Guidance: Legal Hemp Activities No Longer Grounds for Visa Inadmissibility

In late August 2025, Department of State (DOS) guidance cables were released providing employers with valuable insight into how the June 2025 travel restrictions operate in practice.
Continue Reading Travel Ban Impacts on U.S. Employers and Foreign National Employees: New Insights from Recently Released State Department Guidance

Part 1 provided an overview of immigration policy changes included in the Spring 2025 DHS Regulatory Agenda and included considerations for employers. Part 2 discusses potential impacts to specific industries and additional employer considerations.
Continue Reading Spring 2025 DHS Regulatory Agenda: Immigration Policy Changes and Employer Considerations (Part 2)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published its Spring 2025 Unified Regulatory Agenda, outlining changes to immigration policies and enforcement procedures that may affect U.S. employers and their workforces.
Continue Reading Spring 2025 DHS Regulatory Agenda: Immigration Policy Changes and Employer Considerations (Part 1)

When ICE agents arrive at the workplace with a judicially issued civil warrant, employers face tough choices balancing cooperation with law enforcement and safeguarding constitutional rights. This post breaks down the legal distinctions between Blackie’s warrants, criminal warrants, and ICE administrative forms, explores recent court decisions, and offers strategies to help businesses prepare and respond appropriately to worksite enforcement actions.

Continue Reading ICE’s Use of Blackie’s Warrants in Worksite Enforcement: What Employers Need to Know