Kelly R. Rourke

Kelly Rourke assists employers with administrative law matters, focusing her practice primarily on employment-based immigration.

She helps clients meet critical staffing needs by obtaining nonimmigrant status for foreign workers and securing and maintaining legal permanent residence for foreign nationals. She handles nonimmigrant petitions, applications for labor certification, adjustment of status and naturalization filings, consular processing matters, motions to reopen, and motions to reconsider and counsels clients Form I-9 and E-Verify matters.

Kelly offers management teams analytical, practical, and timely advice on employment matters, including occupational safety and health, employment-related discrimination complaints, and Wisconsin’s Concealed Carry Law.

Member, American Bar Association

Member, State Bar of Wisconsin

Michael Best’s Women’s Development Group, Milwaukee Office Lead

Board Member, Teens Grow Greens, Milwaukee, since 2024

Board Member, Fondy Food Center, Milwaukee, 2011-2019

Chair, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Wisconsin Chapter, 2020-2021

Board of Governors, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2020-2021

Obtained L-1A, L-1B, and EB-1C multinational manager green card approvals for confectionery manufacturer, allowing the company’s experienced foreign national employees to assist in the opening of a new U.S. plant.

For an international dairy products producer, obtained E-2, E-3, L-1A, L-1B, H-1B, and TN approvals for dozens of executives, managers, and specialists required to be in the United States to handle a comprehensive SAP transition.

Secured R-1 and green card approval for numerous religious workers in various denominations; developed creative solutions for these workers due to sudden green card backlog.

Secured O-1 and EB-1A approval for an individual with extraordinary ability in a specialized area of electrical engineering.

Obtained L-1 Blanket certification for multiple international manufacturing corporations.

Obtained H-1B cap-exempt approval for a non-profit museum by demonstrating it qualifies as a non-profit research organization.

Obtained H-1B cap-exempt approval for a non-profit K-12 school by advising it to enter into a formal agreement with an institution of higher education.

Assisted an employer in obtaining PERM labor certification approval after previous Department of Labor denial, using BALCA appeal process.

In a pro bono case, obtained U visa approval for a victim of domestic violence.

In several pro bono cases, obtained U.S. citizenship for individuals requiring exceptions to the English language and civics testing requirements.

Defended employers in the healthcare, higher education, and retail industries in discrimination claims based on race, sex, national origin, age and disability status.

Defended manufacturers and retail businesses against claims of occupational safety and health violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Marquette University Law School

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

2009

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Bachelors of Arts (B.A.)

2001