VCs, Accelerators & Incubators
Immigration that keeps your founders building
We’re the immigration partner for the firms and programs that back global founders, so immigration never stands between your portfolio and its next milestone.
You back founders from everywhere. Their ability to stay in the U.S., raise, hire and scale depends on getting immigration right (often on a timeline that doesn't wait for a USCIS decision).
We work alongside venture firms, accelerators and incubators as a dedicated immigration partner. That means fast founder assessments, programming for your cohorts and portfolio, and counsel that understands both startups and immigration.
Your Attorney
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Michael Serotte
Founding Partner
Michael built his practice for immigrant founders, the people who kept getting advice designed for corporate HR departments. He understands how startups actually work: fundraising timelines, pivot cycles, and everything between a term sheet and a first hire.
That focus made him a natural partner to the institutions that back founders. Michael is immigration counsel to Stanford's StartX accelerator and a founding immigration partner at Unshackled Ventures. He has helped thousands of founders secure their own U.S. status and build the teams around them.
Venture Capital Firms
Your investments depend on founders who can stay in the country and build. We help you reduce immigration risk across your portfolio, from the first check through every round that follows.
Private Accelerators & Incubators
Your cohorts arrive from around the world on tight timelines. We make sure every founder can participate fully and stay in the U.S. long after demo day.
University Accelerators & Incubators
Student and faculty founders face immigration rules that most startup advice ignores. We help your program turn campus ventures into companies that can stay and grow in the U.S.
Venture Capital Firms
Whether a founder can legally stay and work in the U.S. is a real business risk. We help you spot it early with a quick review of a founder's options (before or after you invest).
Your investment can also strengthen a founder's visa case. Backing from an established venture firm is strong proof that a founder is exceptional, which several visa and green card options require. We use that backing to build the founder's application, then time it around the funding round.
As portfolio companies grow, we become their immigration team. We help them hire their first employees who need visas, enter the yearly H-1B work visa lottery, and plan green cards for key people, so your founders can focus on the company instead of government paperwork.
Private Accelerators & Incubators
International founders often arrive for a program without a clear plan for what comes next. A visitor visa allows some activities (like attending meetings), but not others (like working for the company). That’s an easy line to cross by accident, so we help you set expectations before the cohort starts.
We can offer office hours, workshops and one-on-one consultations for your whole cohort so each founder knows which visa fits their situation. For many, that's the O-1 (a visa for people with exceptional achievements). The traction, press coverage and funding a strong accelerator produces can help make that case.
After demo day, we stay with your alumni through fundraising, their first hires and their plans for permanent residence (a green card). Strong immigration support becomes part of what makes your program worth applying to.
University Accelerators & Incubators
University accelerators and incubators can join the same partner program we offer private programs. That includes office hours, workshops and one-on-one consultations for your founders (and continued support for alumni after the program ends). On top of that, we bring experience with the immigration questions unique to campus ventures.
International students face material limits on working for their own company. They also have options, including work programs during and after their degree (CPT and OPT), with extra time for science and technology graduates (STEM). We help students and program staff understand both, so a promising venture doesn't put a student's visa at risk.
Universities also open doors that private programs can't. The H-1B work visa is normally limited by a yearly lottery, but universities are exempt from that limit. With a properly set up university role, a founder can get an H-1B without the lottery while building their company. We help programs set up and run these roles correctly.
When a venture leaves campus to become its own company, we help its founders and faculty choose the right long-term option: an O-1 visa, an H-1B through their own company, or a green card they can apply for on their own, without an employer.
In their own words
I cannot say enough wonderful things about the entire team at Serotte Law, and how seamless they made my process in obtaining my nonimmigrant E1 Treaty Trader visa. I had the distinct pleasure of working with Rita Georges as my lawyer and Brenna Scanlon as my paralegal, both of whom offered incredible guidance through every step of the process. They both went out of their way to provide support not only outside standard business hours, but even during the Thanksgiving weekend when an urgent matter arose in my case. Danielle Roberts also played an important role supporting me throughout my journey and her dedication and timeliness were invaluable. Although the process was backlogged due to delays related to the pandemic, the entire team was continually in touch with me providing updates and any time I had a question (and there were many) I received a response almost instantly. Truly "white-glove", five star service from start to finish. Of note, the firm is especially skilled in working with entrepreneurs such as myself and was extremely detailed and meticulous in assembling my application package, leaving no detail to chance. In the instance I needed a referral to a business plan expert, they were quick to provide a recommendation with whom I also had an outstanding experience. Even for some unexpected issues in my case (namely, administrative processing) the entire team was both knowledgeable and supportive about what needed to be done such that I was ultimately successfully issued my E1. Your search for a law firm ends here.
Adam Haroun
Google Review
Prompt, efficient and proactive professionals, while being communicative and transparent every step of the way!! But most importantly, kind, compassionate and responsible. That is how I would describe Serotte Law(yers), in the true sense of every word!! I switched over to Serotte law 5 years ago, and as we all know switching law firms is a more tedious process than starting afresh, but Brenna made it seamless for me. Brenna Scanlon, their Managing paralegal is a highly qualified immigration expert, extremely well versed in her field of knowledge, and all of this while being a kind and compassionate human being. I don’t know of any other law firm that will call you after hours but these guys will. They will treat your sense of urgency as their own and that’s what stands them apart from the plethora of immigration lawyers out there!! Rita George’s, a highly capable and forthcoming lawyer, a solution finder, will guide you smoothly through every situation, every step of the way!! Immigration applicants tend to face many interrelated issues as well, but Serotte law guides you to the best of their ability there too, and if it’s not their forte they will refer you to the best of the best in the business - kinda like a concierge service!!! Thank you once again to team Serotte, Rita George’s, Brenna Scanlon, Danielle Roberts, Asia Battle, Mike Farrell, and everybody else for your able guidance and services.
KHANNA, Sahil
Google Review
I have had the pleasure of working with Serotte Law for the past 10+ years, and I cannot recommend their services highly enough. From the very beginning, they have provided exceptional support and guidance through every step of my US immigration journey. Initially, Serotte Law assisted me with obtaining and renewing my L-1A visas. Their deep understanding of immigration law and meticulous attention to detail ensured a smooth and successful application process. Over the years, they have consistently demonstrated their expertise and dedication, making what could have been a stressful experience remarkably manageable. Most recently, Serotte Law helped me achieve a significant milestone: obtaining my green card. Their unwavering commitment and personalized approach were instrumental in this success. The team at Serotte Law, specifically Rita Georges and Asia Battle, is not only highly knowledgeable but also incredibly responsive and compassionate, always taking the time to address my concerns and keep me informed. If you are seeking reliable and professional assistance for your US immigration needs, look no further than Serotte Law. Their proven track record, coupled with their client-focused approach, makes them the ideal choice. I am immensely grateful for their support and wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone navigating the complexities of US immigration.
Bryan Shapcott
Google Review
I have worked with quite a few immigration attorneys in the last 7 years, and the team at Serotte Law is one of the best I have encountered. As an immigrant that requires work authorization to live in the US, immigration is always on my mind, and I am always stressing about it to some degree. This changed after my firm hired the team at Serotte Law. They handled my H1B transfer, PERM, I-140, and H1B Extension applications flawlessly. They guided me and my company through every step of the process and make sure we were on-track to meet the deadlines. My timeline to procure the I-140 was pretty tight. As such, Susan and team wasted no time in getting all the document in order, and staying on top of the case in the last 18 months. I received regular status updates, prompt email responses, and complete transparency in the process at every step of the way. I would 100% recommend hiring this team for all your work based immigration needs.
Dhaval Bajaria
Google Review
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