Important Updates
Important Updates
June 9, 2025 | FranceFrance: Shortage Occupations List Updated
June 10, 2025 | GermanyKiplinger: Retire in Finland and Live the Nordic Dream
June 9, 2025 | United StatesBloomberg: UK’s Visa Crackdown Leaves City of London Immigrants in Limbo
June 9, 2025 | China, UzbekistanChina/Uzbekistan: Reciprocal Visa Exemption in Effect
June 9, 2025 | United StatesFragomen Appoints Partner Daniel Brown to Lead its WorkRight U.S. I-9 Technology Solution
June 9, 2025 | FranceFrance: Shortage Occupations List Updated
June 10, 2025 | GermanyKiplinger: Retire in Finland and Live the Nordic Dream
June 9, 2025 | United StatesBloomberg: UK’s Visa Crackdown Leaves City of London Immigrants in Limbo
June 9, 2025 | China, UzbekistanChina/Uzbekistan: Reciprocal Visa Exemption in Effect
June 9, 2025 | United StatesFragomen Appoints Partner Daniel Brown to Lead its WorkRight U.S. I-9 Technology Solution
June 9, 2025 | FranceFrance: Shortage Occupations List Updated
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cynthia-l.-shearn

Partner

Cynthia Shearn

cynthia-l.-shearn
cynthia-l.-shearn
  • People

Partner

Cynthia Shearn

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

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  • English

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Email

[email protected]

T:+1 312 499 2818

F:+1 312 346 1970

Chicago, IL

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

333 W Wacker Dr 15th Floor

Chicago IL 60606

United States

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Get in touch

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  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 312 499 2818

F:+1 312 346 1970

Chicago, IL

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

333 W Wacker Dr 15th Floor

Chicago IL 60606

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 312 499 2818

F:+1 312 346 1970

Chicago, IL

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

333 W Wacker Dr 15th Floor

Chicago IL 60606

United States

Connect via Linkedin
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With nearly 30 years of dedicated immigration law experience, Cindy understands the positive impact listening can have on both clients and colleagues alike. Using this skill, she strikes the delicate balance of helping clients achieve their business goals while successfully creating and organizing their effective immigration programs, representing multinational corporate clients in a range of industries, including management and technology consulting, logistics and supply chain, transportation, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Since being appointed Managing Partner of Fragomen’s Midwest practice at the beginning of 2023, Cindy has also taken on a managerial role in overseeing both the region’s practice and client relationships—successfully listening to and advocating for her colleagues and employees. In each of these capacities—both as an immigration lawyer and as a people manager—Cindy serves as a trusted advisor and true partner by recognizing that it is her responsibility to understand their needs and provide the space to communicate them.

Cindy has always been innately focused on helping others—in fact, this focus is what propelled her into a career in immigration law. As an international relations major in college, she knew she was interested in human rights and global issues. During her first year of law school, she was granted an opportunity to blend these passions by helping an individual and her family with an asylum application. She filed the application, attended their interviews and eventually celebrated when they were granted asylum—realizing she found her calling to pursue a career an immigration law.

Passionate about inclusivity, Cindy previously served as Chair and currently serves as Co-Chair of Fragomen’s U.S./Canada DEI Committee, helping to lead its expansion across the entire region. She is an active Fragomen and community volunteer, including through her pro bono work conducting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and naturalization clinics and providing services to immigrant families at the detention center in Dilley, Texas. She also serves as a board member of the British-American Business Council’s Chicago Chapter.

Passionate about inclusivity, Cindy previously served as Chair and currently serves as Co-Chair of Fragomen’s U.S./Canada DEI Committee, helping to lead its expansion across the entire region. She is an active Fragomen and community volunteer, including through her pro bono work conducting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and naturalization clinics and providing services to immigrant families at the detention center in Dilley, Texas. She also serves as a board member of the British-American Business Council’s Chicago Chapter.

Education

  • American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 1996
  • Boston University, B.A., 1991

More from Cynthia

Admissions

Bar Admissions: Illinois

Practice Limited to Federal Immigration & Nationality Law

Awards

Listed in Chambers USA, 2024

Listed in The American Lawyers’ Midwest Trailblazers, 2022

Listed among Crain’s 2020 Notable Women Executives Over 50

Phi Beta Kappa, 1991

Harold C. Case Scholar, 1991

Professional accomplishments

Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Chicago Chapter

President, Canada-U.S. Business Council Chicago

Member, Chicago Bar Association

Member, Board of Directors for the British-American Business Council, Chicago

Experience

Manages high volume U.S. immigration practice for global consulting, technology and outsourcing company to facilitate the transfer of professional employees from around the world to the United States.

Publications and lectures

Speaker, “Navigating Automotive Industry Headwinds: Impacts on Global Immigration Strategies.” Fragomen, Webinar, 4 February 2025.

Speaker, immigration related topics during conferences presented by the Council for Global Immigration and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Speaker, “Has The Mobility Industry Opened Pandora's Suitcase? Part II - Business Travel Immigration Compliance.” Minnesota Employee Relocation Council, St. Paul, Minnesota, 13 July 2021.

Featured, “People on the Move.” Crain's Chicago Business, 5 August 2019.

Featured, “Shearn takes reigns of Fragomen office in Chicago.” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 1 August 2019.

“Off the “Fast” Track? The Effect of Corporate Downsizing on Labor Certification Strategy and Procedure,” 4th Annual AILA New York Chapter Immigration Law Symposium Conference Handbook, 2001.

Cynthia’s insights

June 6, 2025 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025Read more

February 18, 2025 | Meeting

Markets, Money & Migration: Decoding Trade, Taxes & Consumer Trends Under the New AdministrationRead more

October 16, 2024 | Conference

Global HR Executive Leaders Exchange | ChicagoRead more
More related insights

Cynthia’s insights

June 6, 2025 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025Read more

February 18, 2025 | Meeting

Markets, Money & Migration: Decoding Trade, Taxes & Consumer Trends Under the New AdministrationRead more

October 16, 2024 | Conference

Global HR Executive Leaders Exchange | ChicagoRead more
More related insights

Cynthia’s insights

June 6, 2025 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025Read more

February 18, 2025 | Meeting

Markets, Money & Migration: Decoding Trade, Taxes & Consumer Trends Under the New AdministrationRead more

October 16, 2024 | Conference

Global HR Executive Leaders Exchange | ChicagoRead more
More related insights

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 312 499 2818

F:+1 312 346 1970

Chicago, IL

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

333 W Wacker Dr 15th Floor

Chicago IL 60606

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Cynthia’s insights

June 6, 2025 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025Read more

February 18, 2025 | Meeting

Markets, Money & Migration: Decoding Trade, Taxes & Consumer Trends Under the New AdministrationRead more

October 16, 2024 | Conference

Global HR Executive Leaders Exchange | ChicagoRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
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Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 312 499 2818

F:+1 312 346 1970

Chicago, IL

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

333 W Wacker Dr 15th Floor

Chicago IL 60606

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Cynthia’s insights

June 6, 2025 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025Read more

February 18, 2025 | Meeting

Markets, Money & Migration: Decoding Trade, Taxes & Consumer Trends Under the New AdministrationRead more

October 16, 2024 | Conference

Global HR Executive Leaders Exchange | ChicagoRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Get in touch

Languages

  • English

Contact information

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 312 499 2818

F:+1 312 346 1970

Chicago, IL

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

333 W Wacker Dr 15th Floor

Chicago IL 60606

United States

Connect via Linkedin

Cynthia’s insights

June 6, 2025 | Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025Read more

February 18, 2025 | Meeting

Markets, Money & Migration: Decoding Trade, Taxes & Consumer Trends Under the New AdministrationRead more

October 16, 2024 | Conference

Global HR Executive Leaders Exchange | ChicagoRead more
More related insights

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Generic Insights

Media mentions

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Director Audrey Morew outlines how US retirees may apply for Finnish residency under the “residence permit on other grounds” route.

Learn more

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Bloomberg: UK’s Visa Crackdown Leaves City of London Immigrants in Limbo

Partner Louise Haycock explains how the UK’s decision to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain is creating uncertainty for international talent and increasing pressure on employers.

Learn more

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Fragomen Appoints Partner Daniel Brown to Lead its WorkRight U.S. I-9 Technology Solution

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Learn more

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Partner Daniel Pierce highlighted the challenges US universities face under new visa restrictions.

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Media mentions

Kiplinger: Retire in Finland and Live the Nordic Dream

Director Audrey Morew outlines how US retirees may apply for Finnish residency under the “residence permit on other grounds” route.

Learn more

Media mentions

Bloomberg: UK’s Visa Crackdown Leaves City of London Immigrants in Limbo

Partner Louise Haycock explains how the UK’s decision to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain is creating uncertainty for international talent and increasing pressure on employers.

Learn more

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Fragomen Appoints Partner Daniel Brown to Lead its WorkRight U.S. I-9 Technology Solution

Fragomen announces the appointment of Partner Daniel Brown to the position of Chief Executive Officer of WorkRight U.S., the firm’s I-9 employee verification technology.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Ranked in Chambers USA 2025

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Learn more

Media mentions

The Hollywood Reporter: Will Trump Torch L.A.’s Olympics?

San Diego Managing Partner Karine Wenger discussed the upcoming Olympic immigration landscape and potential challenges for international participants.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Standard: Could Social Media Silence Cost You a US Student Visa? Experts Weigh In

Partner Daniel Pierce notes that limited social media activity or private accounts could lead to greater scrutiny for international students applying for US visas.

Learn more

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Fragomen announces the opening of a new office in Cork, expanding its presence in Ireland to better support clients across the country's southern and western regions.

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Fragomen is ranked both nationally and locally in "Best Law Firms in Australia" by The Best Lawyers.

Learn more

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Global Mobility Lawyer Recognises Fragomen's Wout van Doren and Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders

Global Mobility Lawyer recognises Senior Immigration Manager Wout van Doren and Manager Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders.

Learn more

Media mentions

Khaleej Times: 30,000 jobs, AI growth: What Disneyland Abu Dhabi means for the UAE

Partner Shayan Sultan discusses how Disneyland Abu Dhabi could impact hiring, Emiratisation and immigration planning in the UAE.

Learn more

Media mentions

Space-Comm: The Rapid Expansion of the Space Sector, Expected to Reach a Value of $1.8 Trillion by 2035, Marks the Beginning of a New Era in Space Exploration and Innovation

Partner Charlotte Wills and Director Kelly Hardman co-hosted the Space Law Legal Symposium with DLA Piper, highlighting immigration’s role in space sector growth.

Learn more

Media mentions

Bloomberg: Harvard Dragged Deeper Into Trump's 'America First' Visa Fight

Partner Daniel Pierce highlighted the challenges US universities face under new visa restrictions.

Learn more

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