2022 marks our 10 year anniversary
The NNU story has true grassroots beginning. After a successful 10-year career as a US immigration attorney at prominent law firms in the US and the UK, Founder & Managing Attorney of NNU Immigration Nita Nicole Upadhye was ready for a change, a new kind of energy. She wanted to find an environment that sparked enthusiasm and fostered a sense of deep connection. She wanted to be inspired to bring her heart and soul into work every day and encourage others to do the same. She enjoyed the practice of US immigration law, but somehow the emotional connection was missing. When her mentor, a highly respected member of the legal world, encouraged her to set up shop, it was something she never seriously considered yet it was the catalyst for what is today a successful thriving London-based law practice. Nita dove in head-first, applying all of her life-skills and legal skills to the endeavor.
In the first few months, the ‘shop’ was her kitchen table in north London which quickly evolved into a small office close to the iconic (now former) US Embassy building on Grosvenor Square. There was no turning back.
In the preliminary stages her focus was on identifying exceptionally talented professionals who could support the firm’s mission of helping clients secure US work visas to enable them to pursue expansion opportunities in the US, form promising entrepreneurial ventures, or reunite with loved ones. She knew she could not run a business without exceptional people who could bring creativity and originality to carry out the mission of the firm.
Her next goal was to establish strong client connections. She wanted team members who would consider it a privilege be a part of a client’s journey. While we cannot pretend to understand the science behind artificial intelligence or the technical aspects of constructing billion-dollar data centers, we can strive to understand the perspectives and needs of the clients, identify the value and prosperity that their activity would bring to the US economy and translate that to the government agencies, coherently and cogently. Making clients feel like they are in safe hands and that we genuinely care about their success is a goal worth striving for.
The third pillar was employee engagement. She wanted to cultivate a culture where employees have the freedom to operate within well-delineated boundaries as well as opportunities to influence key decisions, such as which strategies to pursue or what internal systems to improve. The idea was that with both “voice” and “choice,” employees would value their work more and bond with peers and the company itself. Professionalism as well as personal expression are equally valued. As evidenced by many successful, high-spirited team events, outings and retreats the firm has hosted over the years, this ethos has been embedded in the firm’s culture.
Vision for the Future
As US immigration law and policy continues to evolve, the demand for US immigration services continues to grow, and the visibility of the firm expands, the future looks bright for the firm. The firm will constantly look at ways to adapt to the market, collaborate with other professional services firms globally, and pursue new opportunities while remaining true to the small, home-grown roots of the firm with its focus on operational efficiency, client experience and employee engagement.
NNU believes that foreign talent will continue to play a vital role in creating a diverse, dynamic, and growing U.S. economy and the firm wants to continue support people pursuing their American Dream for years to come.
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
