Former Seyfarth immigration team joins Vialto Law, firm linked to PwC spinoff

In another sign of the emergence of alternative business structures for U.S. legal services, a group of 29 attorneys and other immigration professionals have departed Seyfarth Shaw LLP for Vialto Law, a global mobility consultancy.

"Increasingly, clients are looking for integrated solutions combining legal, mobility and technology services," Mahsa Aliaskari, who was a co-chair of the immigration practice at Seyfarth, said in an interview. "The traditional law firm model is not always the best fit for that approach anymore."

Vialto Partners, a spinoff of PwC, established Vialto Law LLP as a separate entity in 2023. The Big Four accounting firms have shown the strongest interest in expanding into legal services. Until recently, nonlawyer ownership of legal services firms was prohibited in the United States. Arizona, and to a lesser extent Utah, have begun allowing such ownership under regulated "alternative business structure" models. KPMG Law US, a KPMG subsidiary, now operates in Arizona under those rules.

California, by contrast, has shown no interest in loosening its restrictions. Earlier this year, lawmakers enacted Assembly Bill 931, which prohibits California lawyers from sharing contingency fees or profit-sharing arrangements with ABS firms owned or controlled by nonlawyers--particularly when the nonlawyer entity is based out of state.

Immigration legal services are especially attractive to ABS firms because of global demand. The nine attorneys and 20 other professionals leaving Seyfarth, which has a strong immigration practice, is significant.

Aliaskari, who lives in Long Beach, is the only lawyer of the group based in California. She is licensed to practice in Virginia but does not hold a California law license. She said the move was driven by Vialto Law's broader global platform and its ability to integrate legal and mobility services on an international scale.

"Our team manages immigration portfolios for organizations across industries, including life sciences, retail, financial services, manufacturing, technology and others," Aliaskari said. "We handle a full spectrum of matters -- from standard employment-based visa sponsorships like H-1Bs and green cards to complex immigration advice related to workforce restructurings and mergers and acquisitions. I also advise and represent clients on immigration compliance matters, including I-9s, as well as DOL and DOJ investigations."

Asked whether the move reflects a broader trend of immigration lawyers leaving traditional law firms for alternative legal service providers, she noted that the field is evolving quickly.

"Companies are looking for creative, compliant ways to move talent efficiently and strategically on a global scale," she said.

Sharan Kundi, partner and leader of Vialto's global immigration practice, said the new group was a strategic step in the firm's growth.

"This integration underscores Vialto's investment in defining the future of global work," Kundi said. "By bringing in some of the best people in the profession, we're better positioned than ever to help clients navigate change, manage risk, and unlock the opportunities of working across borders."