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Banks in Arkansas and throughout the country have experienced substantial asset growth in recent years.  The Annual Report of the Commissioner of the State Bank Department in 2017 listed 80 state-chartered banks with combined total assets of approximately $85.2 billion (average of $1.065 billion per bank).  In June of last year, the annual report listed 74 state-chartered banks with total assets of $147 billion (average of $1.986 billion).  With increased size comes additional oversight. 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  recently announced the H-1B cap visa registration process for the 2024 Fiscal Year. Registration will open March 1 at noon eastern time and is set to close on March 17 at noon eastern time. Accordingly, employers should have all relevant information prepared ahead of time. USCIS has simplified the registration process from previous years, now requiring very basic information about the employer and the prospective employee and a $10.00 registration fee.

Oscar was a highly respected partner and attorney who joined the firm in 1970, where he practiced labor and employment law. His vast experience included advising clients on the National Labor Relations Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and the Wage and Hour Act. Before joining the firm, Oscar was a Field Attorney for the National Labor Relations Board’s 26th Region in Memphis.

Kat Hodge is Senior Counsel in the Labor and Employment Litigation Practice Group, having litigated employment cases for the defense and plaintiff’s bar. She joined the firm after serving as a Supervisory Trial attorney for the EEOC, where she supervised trial attorneys and managed litigation filed in complex employment discrimination cases in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

It's no surprise that the FTC's noncompete proposal has caused a stir. Wayne Young shares some of his insight on the subject in the article, "Noncompete Proposal Generates Concerns," published in Arkansas Business.

Jim was an accomplished trial lawyer who began his legal career at the firm in 1977 and served on the Management Committee and as the partner in charge of recruitment for many years. He developed a national reputation for his expertise and success in the courtroom. Jim had a distinguished career and focused his practice on complex business litigation and personal injury defense matters. A go-to lawyer for many heavy hitters in the industry, Jim represented major product manufacturers and suppliers, defended a major pharmaceutical company in the largest case in Arkansas history to date, as well as several high-profile matters.

Temporary work visas present a unique opportunity for employers to employ qualified, diverse workers in the United States. Our firm has helped employers find solutions to staffing issues through employment based non-immigrant visas and navigate the work sponsorship process. The most common and accessible to employers are the H-1B, TN, and L1 visas discussed briefly.