All The Moving Parts: Immigration Law with Courtney Noce

Immigration is a delicate and complex process. It takes a lot for one to let go of one version of life, reallocate it to the past and move forward in pursuit of a new story. A brighter future.  Personal factors aside, the nuts and bolts of immigration are complex and nuanced and certainly necessitate professional support. This is exactly where Courtney Noce excels.

Co-Chair of the Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig, Noce specializes in U.S. business immigration, global immigration, compliance and enforcement. Noce represents a plethora of clients, ranging from tiny, burgeoning startups to well-established and gargantuan multinational companies. Though her clients work in all kinds of industries, Noce is particularly experienced when it comes to supporting clients in the retail industry.

Noce attributes her success to having a number of strong mentors in her life and career – starting with her own father. “He was an entrepreneur and he really helped mold my thoughts and my approach to running a business,” says Noce. “He taught me the importance of investing in one’s team early on and continuously.”

It doesn’t hurt that Noce has traveled, studied, worked and lived in a multitude of countries. She has hands-on experience when it comes to communicating with different cultures. Having spent time in Canada, France, and Italy, Noce is fluent in Italian, proficient in French and has basic Spanish skills.

Now, Noce is taking on the mentor role herself at Greenberg Traurig and has been recognized within the film for doing so. The self-described “lifelong learner” believes strongly in passing the torch through her leadership, mentorship and teamwork.

Lawdragon: How did you first become interested in developing an immigration practice?

Courtney Noce: I actually fell into immigration work, mainly because I spoke multiple languages. Now I truly cannot imagine doing anything else.

LD: What are some aspects about this work that you find professionally satisfying? What keeps you excited about it?

CN: There are a lot of aspects that I enjoy. I love that immigration law allows us to work with and help both companies and individuals. I practice in an area of law where I see the result of our team’s hard work every day and it is very rewarding.

LD: Are there any trends you are seeing in your practice in terms of the types of matters keeping you busy these days?

CN: I see a real need for high-level strategic advice and compliance work. Given the current economic climate, global events, and “new normal” after the pandemic, proactive planning and program management are critical to managing a global mobility program.

LD: Can you describe a recent matter that you’ve handled?

CN: I recently advised a large technology company on strategies to avoid interruption of work for global employees impacted by reductions in force.

LD: What do you enjoy about this work?

CN: I truly enjoy this type of work because it is client specific and every situation is slightly different. You have to approach each case with fresh eyes and take into account all the unique business and legal considerations. It keeps us on our toes and also gives our team of attorneys an opportunity to strategize as a group, which is always rewarding.

LD: Did you have any jobs between undergrad and law school?

CN: Before going to law school, I worked in economic development. During that time I supported companies considering expanding or opening operations in the state of Georgia. I learned a lot about the factors companies consider in making strategic global expansion decisions. I also worked frequently with attorneys and became interested in the legal side of international business.

I see a real need for high-level strategic advice and compliance work. Given the current economic climate, global events, and “new normal” after the pandemic, proactive planning and program management are critical to managing a global mobility program.

LD: So, is this the type of practice you imagined yourself practicing while in law school?

CN: No! I actually really loved tax law, if you can believe it. I really loved the problem solving involved in that type of work. I externed with the IRS and thought I would become a tax attorney. Immigration law also requires complex problem solving and is federal in nature so perhaps that is what drew me to the practice.

LD: Did you have a mentor who really helped shape the course of your professional life?

CN: I am quite fortunate to have had the support of several mentors who played a significant role in my development and continue to mean a great deal to me. I would say my very first mentor was most certainly my father. He was an entrepreneur and he really helped mold my thoughts and my approach to running a business. He taught me the importance of investing in one’s team early on and continuously. His wisdom offered a great example for me – and still does.

LD: Is there a matter or client in your career that stands out as a “favorite” or one that is more memorable for certain reasons?

CN: I have to say, my favorite matters have been for designers. They are so talented and the cases are beautiful to review.

LD: And how would you describe your own style – as a lawyer?

CN: I am very team focused, very partnership focused. The growth and success of our internal team is extremely important to me. I also view every client relationship as a long-term partnership.

LD: What are some of the leadership challenges you face as a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig?

CN: Recruiting and maintaining top talent is always a challenge, for everyone. Our team genuinely enjoys working together, so choosing the right people to continue to grow this work family is a critical focus for me. It’s a delicate ecosystem and the balance is so important.

LD: There are many high-quality firms out there. What do you try to “sell” about your firm to potential recruits – how is it unique?

CN: I believe mentorship at all levels is critical, because it is a relational rather than transactional function that fundamentally strengthens all parties involved. Effective mentorship allows everyone to share and bolster their unique genius, and in this case, those efforts only benefit our clients. We have a top-notch team of attorneys and business professionals and support internal growth, learning and advancement. Greenberg Traurig is a place where team members can come for a long, fulfilling and rewarding career and we grow and change as a practice as the team’s needs grow and change, enabling us to continuously bring fresh approaches to the evolving and complex challenges our clients face.

LD: What do you do for fun when you’re outside the office?

CN: I like to stay active outside of the office and have two young boys who keep me on the move. My favorite activities right now are probably hiking, pickleball and water sports.

LD: Are you involved in any pro bono or public interest activities? Please tell us what you find meaningful about your time serving them.

CN: One of the amazing things about working in immigration, especially at a firm like Greenberg Traurig, is the opportunity to take on pro bono matters in a supportive environment. For instance, Greenberg Traurig has designed and supported large scale/firm-wide pro bono initiatives to aid Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, and helping with those matters was very rewarding. I am very proud of the impact our immigration team had on those programs.

LD: If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be doing now?

CN: If I weren’t a lawyer I would be a cheesemonger and have my own little cheese shop. You likely would find me munching on marzolino and gorgonzola dolce regularly!