Manuela Morais, Managing Partner of Morais Law, a WBENC-certified, woman-owned law firm specializing in U.S. immigration and nationality law, was an invited panelist at the Select USA U.S. Investment Growth Seminar in Porto, Portugal earlier this month. The 5-person panel on “Developing your U.S. market entry strategy” offered practical information on various topics ~ from legal, accounting and immigration to federal support and location selection. A native of Portugal and now a business owner herself, Ms. Morais shared expert insight in immigration law as well as discussed her own experience and unique perspective.

The full day program included a business lunch with the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, George E. Glass, and several economic development officers from the United States. The group discussed lobbying efforts for House Resolution 565 and the “Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing Our Success” (AMIGOS) Act, which would incorporate having Portugal in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrants on the contingency that United States nationals are treated similarly by the Government of Portugal. The day concluded with one on one meetings, in which Ms. Morais met with various businesses and entrepreneurs to discuss their U.S. immigration needs.

“It was an honor to be part of such an esteemed group of colleagues and speak on the opportunities for foreign businesses in the U.S. Sitting beside Mr. Glass at lunch was a true highlight and I gained many takeaways as part of the interactive discussion,” Morais says. “Thank you to Select USA for including me in this important program.”

Manuela Morais has been practicing law for nearly 20 years and represents corporate clients, their employees, and individuals before federal governmental agencies. Manuela graduated from Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, in 1993, and earned her J.D. at the Widener University School of Law in 1999. She is licensed as a practicing attorney in New Jersey and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Burlington County Bar Association. Prior to founding her own law firm, Manuela was Of-Counsel and managed the Immigration Practice at Blank Rome LLP as well as an Associate in the Immigration Practice at Pepper Hamilton LLP. She also served as a congressional aide to The Honorable Robert E. Andrews of New Jersey.

Morais Law is a WBENC-certified, woman-owned law firm specializing in U.S. immigration and nationality law. Clients include companies of all sizes and across industries, including small to mid-size regional firms to national and international Fortune 500 corporations. The firm’s main practice areas include visas (nonimmigrant and immigrant), consular processing, PERM applications, and naturalization. The firm also provides compliance and consulting services for employers to ensure their practices are in conformance with all applicable regulations, as well as assistance with government audits of their businesses. The firm’s principal office is located in historic Moorestown, New Jersey. For more information, visit moraislaw.com or call (856) 222-0130.