Biography
Kelly D. Cobb is a partner in the Business Immigration & Compliance section of Jackson Walker’s Houston office. Kelly primarily focuses on U.S. corporate immigration law, including applications/petitions for all visa categories and paths to U.S. permanent residence and naturalization. She offers experienced counsel related to navigating the intricacies of ever-changing laws, regulations, and government processes in Immigration law.
She has more than 20 years of experience counseling clients in the development and implementation of strategic immigration policies and advising U.S. and international clients on immigration issues related to corporate restructuring, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and start-ups.
Kelly has in-depth experience working within Houston’s international energy sector, primarily focusing on large-volume corporate immigration, including management of both U.S. immigration and global migration. She has more than 20 years of experience counseling clients in U.S. Outer Continental Shelf compliance, particularly focusing on assisting international corporations in vessel exemptions, specialist work authorizations, crew member exemptions, and crew and specialist mobilization.
Education
B.A., Texas State University
J.D., South Texas College of Law Houston
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1997
Court Admissions
Supreme Court of Texas
- Representing U.S. and global corporations in obtaining work authorizations for entire vessel crew and specialists assigned to the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
- Managing PERM labor certification programs for large engineering and information technology companies sponsoring their employees for permanent residence
- Advising U.S. and international clients on immigration implications for complex corporate restructuring
- Partnering with clients to proactively address the issues related to maintaining and deploying an international workforce
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2010-2021
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Ranked for Immigration – Texas, 2006-2008, 2017-2022
- Recommended Attorney, The Legal 500: United States (Legalese Ltd.), 2013
- “Texas Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2009-2013
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers – Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters, 2005-2007
- Presenter, “Redefining Success: Knowing What You Want, Why You Deserve It, and How to Get It”, The Women in Legal & Corporate Leadership Summit: Houston (March 2020)
- American Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Texas Women Lawyers
- United Way Women’s Initiative
- United Way Young Leaders
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
- Tahirih Justice Center
- Women’s Business Alliance (WBA), Greater Houston Partnership