POSTPONED I What To Do When ICE Comes Knocking – Transatlantic Employers & Immigration Enforcement in the U.S.

Program Postponed: Please note that WHAT TO DO WHEN ICE COMES KNOCKING, originally scheduled for October 23, 2025, has been postponed. A new date will be announced soon.

Companies employing foreign nationals including European employees, European companies with operations and staff in Florida as well as businesses run by European nationals on work visas or green cards could face increasing scrutiny from U.S. immigration enforcement.

This program will equip HR leaders, legal counsel, and business executives with practical guidance on how to prepare for and respond to potential ICE audits or workplace visits. It will also offer practical “translation” for Europe-based leadership of European companies who may underestimate the importance of adapting to the U.S. legal culture, particularly around immigration and compliance.

Experts will walk you through what triggers enforcement actions, how to protect your company and your workforce, and what every employer should have in place before a knock at the door.

With a focus on businesses operating in Florida, this session offers actionable insights, compliance tips, and a chance to connect with peers navigating similar challenges.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

• Increased enforcement: what has changed?
• How ICE raids are conducted, step by step, types of warrants used
• Employer best practices (for different employee levels) during a raid
• Employer preventative measure to mitigate risk, I-9 compliance, worksite enforcement response plan, compliance review of employment practices
• Real-life impact of these developments on labor shortages, project delays, increased costs and staffing challenges.

SPEAKERS

• David Adams, Counsel I Cozen O’Connor
• Scott Bettridge, Chair Immigration Practice I Cozen O’Connor [Moderator]
• Ranieh Rounce, formerly Senior Director, People I Virgin Voyages
• Additional speakers TBA

EVENT SCHEDULE
9.00AM – 9.30AM: Arrival & Registration
9.30AM – 10.30AM: Program
10.30AM – 11.00AM: Networking

LOCATION
Cozen O’Connor
Southeast Financial Center
200 S. Biscayne Blvd – Ste. 3000
Miami, FL 33131

REGISTRATION
EACC Member: free
Guest with Promo Code: free
EACC Non-Member: $30

SPEAKER BIOS

David ADAMS focuses his practice on corporate immigration law. He has experience advising multinational corporate clients, including dozens of Fortune 500 companies on a variety of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, PERM, permanent residency, I-9, and consular processing issues. David provides enterprise-wide advisory services to support corporate clients on a programmatic level and works alongside clients’ legal departments, mobility groups, HR, talent acquisition, and business stakeholders to help them understand policy changes, assess the impact of these changes to their workforce, and modify their immigration program accordingly. David is a father of 4 wonderful children that keep him very busy outside of work, but in the rare moment he is free, you can find him on a golf course somewhere.

Scott BETTRIDGE chairs Cozen O’Connor’s Immigration Practice and represents both corporate and individual clients in all aspects related to U.S. immigration law. Scott’s corporate clients include major global organizations in the financial services, hospitality, fashion, media, IT, energy, agriculture, insurance, and health care sectors, along with organizations specializing in professional services, athletics and private club industries. Scott also represents individuals with entrepreneurial options, as well as with family-based immigration matters. He also represents both regional centers and individual investors in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Scott is based in Cozen O’Connor’s Miami Office.

A seasoned HR executive, Ranieh ROUNCE has over 20 years of senior leadership experience across global industries, including cruise, banking, luxury retail, and hospitality. As Senior Director of People at Virgin Voyages, she leads HR strategy for more than 5,000 employees worldwide, driving initiatives in talent acquisition, compensation, crew relations, policies and benefits.

Her career highlights include launching a global recruitment tour in 27 countries, building award-winning DEI initiatives, and introducing innovative solutions like AI-driven hiring platforms and virtual reality onboarding. A Certified Professional Coach and sought-after speaker, Ranieh is recognized for blending strategic vision with people-centric leadership, transforming organizations while championing inclusive, high-performance cultures.

Program kindly hosted by