Attorneys & Staff

Sarah Tobocman is a shareholder who joined the firm in 1999. Ms. Tobocman is chair of the Immigration practice. 

Practice Areas

• Assist multinationals, financial management and banking organizations, healthcare systems, technology companies, hotels/resorts, professionals, and individual investors to fulfill their immigration needs
• Facilitate the transfer of international personnel to the United States for employment
• Advise employers on compliance with U.S. immigration laws, procedures and maintaining a legal workforce
• Assist foreign investors to live and work in the United States

Education

• University of San Francisco, J.D., 1979
• University of California at Berkeley, B.A., with honors, 1976
• Centro de Estudios Colombo-Americanos, in association with Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, 1974

Professional Associations & Memberships

• South Florida Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1-year term; Board of Governors, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1-year term, President
• Immigration Committee, International Law Section of The Florida Bar, 3-year term; Executive Council, International Law Section of The Florida Bar, 6-year term; Continuing Legal Education Committee, The Florida Bar, 1-year term, Co-chair
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Immigration Task Force, 1-year term, Co-chair
• The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County, International Advisory Committee
• National Association for Health Care Recruitment

Honors

• AV rated as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell, since 1998
• Chambers & Partners, Leaders in Their Field,
  Immigration, 2009-10
• The Best Lawyers in America, Immigration Law, 2009-10
• South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer, 2006-10
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-10
• South Florida Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2003
• The Award for Outstanding Service, International Law Section, The Florida Bar, four terms
• Special Counsel for the Florida Bar in Indirect Criminal Contempt Proceedings for the Unauthorized Practice of Law
• Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship

Webinars, Seminars & Presentations

Ms. Tobocman frequently lectures and writes articles on immigration topics, including managing the sponsorship of foreign personnel, and I-9 employment eligibility verification work site compliance issues.

Human Resource Professionals

• "Recruiting Foreign Workers: How to Remain Competitive and Ensure Compliance in a Climate of Increased Government Scrutiny," Staffing Management Association (SMA of South Florida), a Special Interest Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 2010
• "Hiring, Documenting and Terminating of H-1B Workers in a Climate of Increased Government Scrutiny," Moderator, Webinar presented by The Employment Law Alliance (ELA), March 2010
• "Fraud, Forms and the Feds: Ensuring a Legal Workforce in the New Age of Worksite Enforcement,” Gunster Yoakley Employer Forum, Jacksonville, FL., June 2008
• “Employers’ Immigration Essentials,” Surviving the Storm, Gunster Employment Recruitment and Retention Forum, The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach, Nov. 2007
• “Ensuring a Legal Workforce in the New Age of Worksite Enforcement,” Memorial Healthcare System, South Broward Hospital District, Oct. 2007
• “I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Update,” Lee Memorial Health System, Sept. 2007
• “2007 HR Legal Update,” with Joe Santoro, National Association on Healthcare Recruitment, Denver, Colorado, Jul. 2007
• Organizer and Speaker, Private Luncheon Seminar on Employment Eligibility Verification Compliance, with Assistant General Counsel, Employment Practices Division, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. at Gunster Yoakley, Feb. 2007
• Organizer and Panel Moderator on “Maintaining a Legal Workforce,” Business/Employer Immigration Seminar, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Feb. 2007
• “Immigration Legislation and Workforce Enforcement,” North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 2007
• “Crucial Issues in Employment-based Immigration – What is your Action Plan?” Economic Forum of Palm Beach County, Jul. 2006
• “Obtaining Permanent Residence Through Employment-based Sponsorship,” National Business Institute, Miami, FL, Sept. 2006
• “Fraud, Forms & the Feds—I-9’s and Avoiding Fines, Penalties and Complaints for Immigration-Related Discrimination,” South Broward Hospital District/ Memorial Healthcare System, Hollywood, FL, May 2005
• “Healthcare Facility Compliance with Immigration & Employment Laws in the Post September 11th Environment—Areas of Risk You Cannot Ignore!” American Association of Healthcare Administrative Managers, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Aug. 2003
• “Avenues to Obtaining Workplace Visas; Fraud, Forms and the Feds—I-9’s and Immigration-related Discrimination,” Smiths Group North America Human Resources, Valleybrooke, PA, June 2002
• “Visa Options for Healthcare Personnel and I-9 Employment Eligibility,” Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville, FL, Aug. 2001
• “New Avenues to Obtaining Workplace Visas,” Employment Law Seminar, Gunster Yoakley, Mar. 2001
• “Deja Vu—Using U.S. Immigration Laws to Tackle the Nursing Shortage—I-9’s Still Here After All These Years,” Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters, Orlando, March 2000
• “Fraud, Forms and the Feds: I-9 Preparation and Avoiding Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination,” Gunster Yoakley, Feb. 2000
• “Managing the Sponsorship of Alien Workers in Light of Recent Changes to the Immigration Law,” Office Depot, Inc., Corporate Headquarters, June 1999
• “Managing the Sponsorship of Alien Health Care Workers in Light of Recent Changes to the Immigration Law,” Florida Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration and the Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters, Second Annual Co-sponsored Conference and Exhibition, May 1999
• “Immigration Law Update,” Florida Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration and the Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters,” First Annual Co-sponsored Conference and Exhibition, Key West, FL, May 1998
• “Preventing Employer Sanctions through a Program of Employer Compliance,” Human Resources Association of Broward County, Ft. Lauderdale, Sep. 1992
• “Preventing Employer Sanctions through a Program of Employer Compliance,” International Personnel Managers Association, Miami Chapter, 1992

Financial Management & Banking

• “Immigration Laws and Their Impact on Foreign Financial Institutions in the United States,” International Banking Operations and Technology Conference, Key Largo, FL, Apr. 1999

High-Tech Industry

• “Recruitment and Retention of Alien Hi-Tech Workers—What You Need to Know About U.S. Immigration Laws,” American Electronics Association, Boca Raton, Oct. 1999

Healthcare Systems

• “Fraud, Forms and the Feds: Ensuring a Legal Workforce in the New Age of Worksite Enforcement,” St. Vincent’s Healthcare, Jacksonville, FL., June 2008
• "Healthcare Immigration Essentials 2007-2008,” Lee Memorial Health System, Fort Myers, FL, Aug. 2007
• “Immigration Update: Recruitment and Retention of Foreign Healthcare Workers in 2007,” Florida Hospital Association, Orlando, Mar. 2007
• “Healthcare Immigration Essentials 2007-2008,” South Broward Hospital District, Fort Lauderdale, Jul. 2007
• “Immigration Update: Recruitment and Retention of Foreign Healthcare Workers,” South Florida Nursing Shortage Consortium, Jul. 2006
• “Immigration Update: Recruitment and Retention of Foreign Healthcare Workers in 2006,” Advance New magazines Forum on Healthcare Recruitment, Fort Lauderdale, Jan. 2006 and Tampa, FL, Apr. 2006
• “How to Recruit Foreign Healthcare Professionals and Comply with U.S. Immigration Laws in the Post-September 11th Environment,” South Broward Hospital District/Memorial Healthcare System, Hollywood, FL, May 2005
• “If It’s July, It Must be Visa Screen—Coping with Increased Regulation of Healthcare Recruits,” National Association of Healthcare Recruiters, Pittsburgh, PA, Jul. 2004
• “Immigration Updates,” Florida Hospital Association, Orlando, FL, Mar. 2004
• “Spotlight on Human Resources and Healthcare, Immigration Issue,” South Florida Healthcare Human Resources Association, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Dec. 2003
• “Recruiting Allied Healthcare Processionals from Abroad and Creating a Customized Foreign Recruitment Program,” HCA North Florida Division, Tallahassee, FL, Dec. 2002
• “Recruitment of Registered Nurses from Abroad,” PPR Travel, Inc. Jacksonville Beach, FL, June 2002
• “Step up to . . . New Changes to the Immigration Laws,” National Association for Healthcare Recruiters, Albuquerque, NM, Jul. 2001
• “Staying Ahead of the Curve . . . New Changes to the Immigration Laws,” Florida Hospital Association, Orlando, FL, Apr. 2001
• “Using US Immigration Laws to Your Organization’s Advantage,” Preferred Healthcare Staffing, Ft. Lauderdale, Jun. 2000
• “Do You Want to Live and Work in the U.S.?” Health Careers Interaction 2000, Ontario, Canada, May 2000
• “Recruitment of RNs from Abroad—Using the U.S. Immigration Laws to Tackle the Nursing Shortage,” South Florida Healthcare Consortium, Ft. Lauderdale, Jan. 2000
• “Managing a Healthcare System’s Immigration Needs,” South Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters, Ft. Lauderdale, Oct. 1999
• “Immigration Update,” Image 99: Healthcare Recruitment Hits 25 in the Big Easy, National Association of Health Care Recruiters Conference, New Orleans, LA, Jul. 1999
• “Changes in Immigration Policy Affecting Healthcare Facilities,” North Broward Hospital District, Ft. Lauderdale, Mar. 1999
• “A New Era of Immigration Law and Policy: Highlights of Recent Changes for Human Resources Professionals,” presented to Consortium of Healthcare Facilities, Jacksonville, FL, May 1997
• “Immigration Law Update” (beginning and advanced levels), Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters, Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March 1996
• “Immigration Law Update,” West Central Florida Health Care Recruiters Association, St. Petersburg, FL, Aug. 1994
• “Employment of Foreign Allied Health Care Professionals Under the U.S. Immigration Law,” South Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters, Boca Raton, FL, Aug. 1993
• “Immigration Issues,” Legal Update, Florida Association for Hospital Personnel, Administration, Annual Conference, May 1991
• “Nonimmigrant Visas for Foreign Allied Health Professionals—What Every Recruiter Should Know,” Florida Association of Healthcare Recruiters, Second Annual Meeting, March 1991

Hospitality Industry

• "Immigration Update—Using U.S. Immigration Laws to Recruit and Retain Needed Workers in the Hospitality Industry—I-9’s Surprising Answers to Frequently Asked Questions” Hospitality Human Resources Association, Miami, FL, March 2001
• “Fraud, Forms and the Feds: I-9 Preparation and Avoiding Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination,” Greater Miami Society of Human Resource Management Workshop, Miami, Oct. 2000

International/Investors

• “What You Need to Know About U.S. Immigration Laws,” American Chamber of Commerce in Italy seminar for visiting investors, Miami, 2007
• “What You Need to Know About U.S. Immigration Laws,” The Beacon Council Trade Mission to Spain, Valencia, Spain, Mar. 2006
• “What’s Next?—What You Need to Know About U.S. Immigration Laws,” Kaplan Educational Center’s Immigration Seminar, Coral Gables, Oct. 1999
• “Investor Visas and The U.S./Canada Free Trade Agreement,” Foreign Investment in Florida Real Property and Business Seminar, The Florida Bar Midyear Meeting, Jan. 1990
• “Immigration Law,” The Union of French Persons Abroad, Key Biscayne, FL, 1985

Presentations in Spanish

• “Lo Que Necesita Saber sobre las Leyes de Inmigración de los Estados Unidos,” Trade Mission to Spain, Beacon Council of Miami-Dade County, Mar. 2006
• “Enmigración y Visas,” The University of Miami School of Law Seminar for Colombian Lawyers, Apr. 1998
• “Globalización, Inmigración, y Visas,” Nuevas Vertientes Profesionales, Interamerican Accounting Association, Santiago, The Dominican Republic, Dec. 1995

Entertainment Industry

• “Highlights of the Legal Requirements for the Temporary Employment of Alien Entertainers in the United States in the 1990’s,” Interamerican Co.—Production Market ’91 and Conference, Miami, FL, Apr. 1991
• “Immigration Considerations for Foreign Entertainers Seeking to Enter the United States,” Interamerican Co-Production Market Conference, Miami, FL, Oct. 1989

Teaching Immigration to Other Lawyers

• “Healthcare Immigration Update,” 17th Annual Immigration Law Seminar, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Chapter, Oct. 2003
• “Documentation for Medical Professionals,” 8th Annual Immigration Law Conference (shared topic), American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Chapter, St. Petersburg, FL, Aug. 1994
• Moderator, 15th Annual Immigration Law Update, Continuing Legal Education, The Florida Bar, Miami, Feb. 1994
• Moderator, 14th Annual Immigration Law Update, Continuing Legal Education, The Florida Bar, Miami, Feb. 1993
• “The H-1A Category for Registered Nurses,” 13th Annual Immigration Law Update, Continuing Legal Education, The Florida Bar, Feb. 1992
• Steering Committee, Immigration Law Update Seminar, Continuing Legal Education, The Florida Bar, Feb. 1990, 1991
• “New Hiring Requirements Affecting U.S. Employers and General Immigration Considerations for the Business Client,” Florida Law Update, Continuing Legal Education, The Florida Bar, 1988

International Students

• “Immigration Update for Pharmacology Professionals,” University of Florida Pharmacology Department, Gainesville, FL, May 2006
• “What You Need to Know About US Immigration Laws,” Florida International University, July 2002
• “What You Need to Know About US Immigration Laws,” University of Miami, Aug. 2001; Feb. 2001

Religious Organizations

• “Post 9/11 Update—Protecting your Status as a Religious Worker or Seminarian in the United States,” Diocese of Palm Beach, Nov. 2002
• “Sponsorship of Ministers of Religion and Religious Workers” Diocese of Palm Beach, Jan. 2001 and Nov. 1999
• “Visa Classifications for Religious Workers,” The Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, Miami, 1992

Television & Print Media

• “Fewer businesses look into hiring skilled foreign workers,” Miami Today, (quoted) Feb. 26, 2009
• "Attorneys Voice Concern about Employment Law Changes," South Florida Business Journal, Jan. 16-22, 2009
• “Senate Immigration Bill Falls Short of Raising the H-1B Cap,” South Florida Business Journal, (quoted) Jun. 2007
• “Proposed Immigration Reform is Lacking, Groups Say,” South Florida Business Journal, (quoted) Apr. 2007
• “Immigration Reform Bill Worries Employer, Lawyers,” South Florida Business Journal, (quoted) Mar. 2007
• “Nervous Employers re-examine Practices in Wake of Immigration Raids,” by Rebecca Riddick, (quoted) Law.com, Sep. 15, 2006
• “Feds Turn Up the Heat – As U.S. Cracks Down on Illegal Workers, South Florida’s Companies Face Loss of Cheap Labor, Criminal Charges,” Daily Business Review, by Rebecca Riddick, (quoted) Sep. 11, 2006
• “Immigration, Then and Now,” Ambassador Magazine, NIAF, (interview) Jul. 2006
• “Immigration Rules Hinder Recruitment of Foreign Nurses,” Daily Business Review, Oct. 5, 2004
• “Rules Make Recruiting Immigrant Nurses More Complicated,” South Florida Business Journal, (quoted) Aug. 27-Sep. 2, 2004
• “Primer Plano,” Univision, Jan. 2004; taped interview on GAO Report regarding immigration backlogs
• “El Tiempo,” CNN Español, 2003, live interview on changes to immigration rules (broadcast by satellite throughout Latin America)
• “New Rules Target Nurses from Afar,” The Herald, Aug. 14, 2003; quoted relating to foreign recruitment and nursing shortage
• “Las Maňanitas,” Telemundo, Sep. 9, 2002; live interview on post-September 11 immigration policies (broadcast by satellite throughout Latin America)
• “El Tiempo,” CNN en Espanol, July 18, 2002; live interview on September 11 immigration policies (broadcast by satellite throughout Latin America)
• “Navigating a New Sea of Rules,” The South Florida Business Journal, Aug. 2-8, 2002; quoted on changing immigration law and policy (circulation 30,000)
• El Nuevo Herald, (July 28, 2002)—quoted on changing immigration law and policy (circulation 102,921)
• “Nursing Home Uses Grant to Train Workers,” South Florida Business Journal, Feb. 8-14, 2002; quoted relating to foreign recruitment and the nursing shortage (circulation 30,000)
• “Miami Legal Community Offers Sound Advice to International Students,” The Beacon- Florida International University, Oct. 2002—discussed GYS workshop by Immigration Practice Group at FIU
• “Immigration and You,” WLRN, Miami, Nov. 1999
• “Employer Rights” guest appearance on “Employment Discrimination: A Closer View,” sponsored by Cable Tap and the Employment Discrimination Education and Outreach Program, Miami, FL, 1992

Publications

• "Immigration Law," National Association for Health Care Recruitment Handbook 2010, Co-author, April 2010
• "Verifying Employment Eligibility Enters the Legal Crosshairs,” South Florida Business Journal Book of Law, Co-author with Jay Carmichael, 2007
• “New Issues Emerge for Sponsoring Foreign RNs,” Legal Review, Co-author with J. Estrella and A. Olmedo Jan. 2006
• “Options and Considerations for Foreign National Executives, Professionals and Investors – How to Live and Work Temporarily in the United States,” Gunster Immigration Series, 2005
• “Immigration Law,” National Association for Healthcare Recruitment Handbook 2005, Co-author J. Estrella, Feb. 2005 (revised 2010)
• Gunster Electronic Immigration News Bulletin, Founder, author and contributor, 2003-present
• “What is the Best Way?—Strategies for Recruitment of Foreign Registered Nurses,” Health Care Matters, Bernard Hodes Group, Oct., Nov. and Dec. 2002 (three-part series)
• Immigration Law and Practice in Florida, The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Series, 2nd ed., contributing author and Steering Committee, 1987
• “US Immigration Options for Canadian Healthcare Professionals,” Health Care Careers & Information Handbook, 2001 ed., The Marskell Group, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• ‘Tell Me What I Need to Know!’ . . . Managing the Sponsorship of Alien Health Care Workers in Light of Recent Changes to the Immigration Law,” National Association for Health Care Recruitment Newsletter, May 1999
• “Employment of Nonimmigrant Aliens after IMMACT 90,” Co-author, The Florida Bar Journal, May 1992
• The International Transactions Manual, The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Series, contributing author on Immigration, Oct. 1988 

Languages

Fluent in Spanish; working knowledge of Portuguese

Civic & Community Service

• League of Woman Voters
• Legal Services of Greater Miami
• Appalachian Summer Project, American Friends Service Committee
• Legal Services of San Francisco, Social Security Unit
• Hispanic Parents Committee for Children's Rights in Education
• Minnesota Migrant Legal Services
• United Farm Workers

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2 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 3400
Miami, FL 33131-1897

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