Profile
Kate Kalmykov is based in our New York and New Jersey offices and has close to two decades of experience in business immigration matters. Kate currently Co-Chairs the Global Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig. In this role, she works with employers of all sizes across a variety of industries in understanding and complying with the immigration laws relating to the hiring and retention of foreign talent. Specifically, her practice focuses on supporting clients and advising them on temporary and permanent residency immigration options for multi-national executive, business, scientific, and information technology personnel. In addition, her practice provides support to companies in the global transfer of personnel. Known by her clients for her out-of-the-box thinking, responsiveness and hands-on approach, Kate is often called upon to assist in developing immigration options and strategies in the most unique circumstances and to respond to complex Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) or to appeal denied cases. Likewise, she has also been instrumental in developing employer compliance programs for DOL related filings including H-1Bs and PERMs, as well as for I-9 employment eligibility verification. To this end, she develops and conducts nationwide I-9 compliance trainings and policy manuals for human resources personnel, advises on best practices for E-Verify employers, provides guidance on avoiding immigration-related unfair employment practices claims and has defended and minimized penalties in immigration-related government audits. Kate regularly works with professionals from the firm’s labor, employment, tax and benefits groups, to provide strategic planning on immigration issues within a cross-border framework.
Kate also has deep experience working on all aspects of the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Kate has worked with real estate developers, private equity funds, and other organizations on applications to designate new EB-5 Regional Centers, applications for pre-approval of EB-5 projects; having projects adopted by existing EB-5 Regional Centers; structuring projects to be EB-5 compliant, the sale of existing EB-5 Regional Centers, preparing template I-526 petitions and advice on structuring direct EB-5 projects. Pursuant to the requirements introduced under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, Kate works with EB-5 Regional Centers, EB-5 Projects, Overseas Migration Agents and Broker/ Dealers to develop internal programs for ongoing compliance and to prepare USCIS I-956, I-956F, I-956,G, I-956H, I-956K submissions. Kate has represented thousands of investors in obtaining their green cards through EB-5 regional center projects, as well as direct EB-5 investment opportunities. She also represented and structured the largest EB-5 offering in the Program’s history and has over the course of her career structured over $12 billion in EB-5 deals.
Within the field of immigration law, Kate is a well-known speaker and author. She is often called upon by various media outlets to comment on topics of business immigration law including the Real Deal, the Wall Street Journal, and Law360. Kate has appeared on numerous TV programs related to immigration law including CNN, the Stoler Report, Vietface TV, and China Business Network. Kate is also a prolific writer on the topic of immigration and has been published in immigration practice handbooks for the American Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, ILW, and in news periodicals that include the New Jersey Lawyer, the New York Law Journal, the New Jersey Law Journal, USA Today, GlobeSt.com, and the Commercial Observer. At the request of the American Bar Association, Kate co-authored the book “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Immigration Law,” a guide for non-lawyers on immigration law practice. She has sat on numerous bar association related committees including the American Immigration Lawyers Association EB-5 Practice Committee, the New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition and has chaired the American Bar Association’s, Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, Section of Administrative Law since 2011. Kate has been recognized in various legal surveys including Chambers Global, New York Super Lawyers, the New Jersey Law Journal who ranked as her as a “New Leader of the Bar,” (formerly 40 under 40) in 2012, NJBIZ “Best 50 Women in Business,” 2019, National Law Review, “Go-To Thought Leader: Immigration Law,” 2022, and Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2022.
Kate is devoted to pro bono matters and has spent extensive time helping clients fleeing conflict and persecution with asylum applications, applying for and obtaining Temporary Protected Status and Humanitarian Parole.
Concentrations
- EB5
- Defense in Department of Labor audits
- I-9 compliance
The attorney is providing legal services through and affiliated with Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a New York Limited Liability Partnership. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Capabilities
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Immigration Law, 2019-2025
- Listed, Lawdragon, 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers, 2023-2024
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2013-2024
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Labor and Employment - Immigration, 2015-2022
- "Other Key Lawyer," 2022
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Metro Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers, 2021-2024
- Rising Stars, 2012-2020
- Listed, Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2025
- Listed, National Law Review, "Go-To Thought Leader: Immigration Law," 2022
- Listed, NJBIZ "Best 50 Women in Business," 2019
- Listed, Lawdragon and Human Resource Executive® magazine, 2017-2022
- "40 Up and Comers in Employment Law," 2017-2018
- Honoree, The National Law Journal, "Trailblazer" Award, Immigration, 2018
- Team Member, Lexology’s Client Choice Award USA & Canada, United States: New Jersey, 2013
- Selected, New Jersey Law Journal, "New Leaders of the Bar," 2012
- Outstanding Subcommittee Chair, American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Immigration Litigation Committee, 2010-2011
- Education Committee Co-Chair of the Year/Conference Committee Co-Chair, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Washington D.C. chapter, 2007
A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- Lawyers Advisory Committee Member, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
- Founding Member, The EB-5 Immigration Coalition, 2014-2016
- President, Council of Jewish Émigré Community Organizations (COJECO), 2016-Present
- Board Member, 2013-2015
- Co-Chair, Southern California EB-5 Conference, Conference Committee, EB5Investors.com, 2013-2014
- Editorial Board Member, EB-5 Investor magazine
- Member, Law360 Editorial Advisory Board, Immigration, 2022-2023
- Board Member, Helping Hands for Ukraine, 2024-Present
- Board Member, Ukrainian Habitat Fund, 2022-Present
- Board Member, EB5 Investors & Uglobal Expos Panel Advisory, 2023-Present
- Member, New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition, 2021-Present
- Member, Asian American Bar Association of New York
- Member, American Bar Association
- Co-Chair, Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, Section of Administrative Law, 2011-Present
- Programs chair, Immigration Litigation Committee, Section of Litigation, 2010-2012
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Member, EB-5 Committee, 2017-2018
- Member, Annual Conference Planning Committee, 2010-2012
- Member, Distance Learning Committee, 2011-2012, 2021-2022
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, New Jersey chapter
- Member, New Jersey Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Liaison Committee, 2012-2014
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, New York chapter
- Member, New York United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), District Director Liaison Committee, 2012-2014
- Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2009-2011
- Secretary, New York United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), District Director Liaison Committee, 2009-2011
- Member, Corporate Practice Committee, 2008-2014
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Washington D.C. chapter
- Chair of the Year, Education Committee, Conference Committee, 2007-2008
- Member, China General Chamber of Commerce
- Gala Committee, China – U.S. Economic Finance and Investment Dialogue and CGCC Annual Gala, 2014
- Member, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)
- Member, United States Council for International Business
- Member, New York Bar Association
- Member, New Jersey Bar Association
- Member, Membership Committee, International Medical Graduate Taskforce
Credentials
- J.D., American University Washington College of Law, 2005
- M.A., International Affairs, American University, 2005
- B.A., International Studies, magna cum laude, American University, 2002
- New York
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Russian, Fluent
News, Insights & Events
Kate is a contributor to the EB-5 Insights Blog 
and the Inside Business Immigration Blog