Olivia McMillan McLaren (formerly practising as Olivia Sanson) is a U.S. qualified attorney admitted to the bar of the State of New York, whose legal practice focuses on U.S. immigration and nationality law.
Olivia has been selected for inclusion in the 2015-2019 Who's Who in Corporate Immigration publication, which provides a listing of the leading corporate immigration lawyers in the world, and as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for the New York Metro area in 2014 and 2013, as published in the New York Times Magazine.
Since its inception in 2014, Olivia McLaren, Ltd. has been selected as Best U.S Immigration Law Services Provider 2023 by SME News’ UK Legal Awards, as Immigration Law Firm of the Year -Scotland (Edinburgh) in the Scottish Prestige Awards 2022, for International Advisory Experts Award - Immigration Law in Scotland 2020, Best Immigration Law Firm 2019, SME News’s Scottish Enterprise Awards, Best Boutique Immigration Law Firm - UK, Corporate Insider Business Excellence Awards 2019, Best in Immigration Law Services, Corporate LiveWire Global Awards 2017, Best Boutique Immigration Law Firm in the United Kingdom by Corporate LiveWire (2015 and 2016) and as Best Boutique Foreign Law Firm in the 2015 UK Corporate Excellence Awards by Corporate Vision.
Our Story
After working in U.S. immigration and nationality law in New York City for a decade, Olivia moved to Edinburgh in 2014 to join her husband, a native of Scotland. Olivia has Scottish heritage herself, with ancestors emigrating from the Knapdale area to North Carolina in the early 19th century.
Olivia M. McLaren
CURRICULUM VITAE - OLIVIA MCLAREN
HIGHLIGHTS
Committed to strengthening ties between Scotland and the United States through active participation in the American-Scottish Foundation. Operating a law firm in Edinburgh, Scotland, to provide advisory services for businesses and individuals requiring support in the U.S. immigration process.
EXPERIENCE
Olivia McLaren, Ltd., Edinburgh, Scotland
Principal, July 2014 - present
The American-Scottish Foundation, New York, NY
Board of Directors, 2019 - present; 2012-2016; International Advisory Committee, 2016 - present
New York Law Journal, New York, NY
Co-Columnist, Immigration Law Column (bimonthly), 2012-2014
Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP, New York, NY
Associate, July 2007 - July 2014
Practice concentrated in immigration law, assisting foreign nationals and their employers in obtaining benefits under the immigration and nationality laws of the United States. Among other things, benefits include citizenship, lawful permanent residence, and temporary visas for work or personal visits. Represented individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Courts and on appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Administrative Appeals Office. In addition, involved in federal court litigation to pursue immigration benefits.
Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein, P.C., New York, NY
Associate, 2005-2007
Practice concentrated in family-based immigration law and deportation defense.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP, New York, NY
Law Clerk/Attorney, 2004-2005
Prepared immigration cases for research scientists and world renowned mathematicians, doctors, musicians and artists.
Catholic Charities Department of Immigrant and Refugee Services, New York, NY
Legal Intern, Summer 2003
Provided research support for asylum and temporary protected status (immigration law) cases.
Professor Neil Vidmar, Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC
Research Assistant, 2002-2003
Provided research support for a motion to change venue in a prominent American terrorist case, and analyzed data for the Arizona Jury Project.
EDUCATION
Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC
LL.M., International and Comparative Law, May 2004
Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC
J.D., May 2004
Duke-Geneva Institute in Transnational Law, Geneva, Switzerland, Summer 2002
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
B.A., with high honors, History, May 2001
Thesis: “Land and Labor in the Making of Haiti”
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, “19th-Century British History,” Summer 1999
Stanton College Preparatory School, Jacksonville, FL, 1994-1998
BAR ADMISSIONS AND RECENT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Admitted to the Bar of the State of New York, 2005
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (2005-present)
Member, AILA National Board of Publications (2020-present)
Member, AILA National Online Course Review Committee (2021-present)
Member, AILA Rome District Chapter Department of State Liaison Committee (2022-present)
Member, AILA Rome District Chapter Nominating Committee (2021)
Member, AILA Rome District Chapter Practice Management Committee (2016-2017)
Member, AILA New York Chapter Citizenship Day Committee (2007-2014)
Member, AILA New York Chapter Corporate Practice Committee (2010-2012)
Member, New York City Bar Association (2017-present)
Participant/Attendee, Scottish Parliament CPG on USA (2019-present)
PUBLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS, AND PRESENTATIONS
Moderator, “Third Country Nationals Overseas Chapter Webinar” RDC EMEA segment, AILA Global Migration Section (February 22, 2023)
Speaker, E-2 Visa Panel, AILA RDC EMEA Conference, Paris, France (November 2022)
Speaker, MBM Commercial Event “Blueprint for US Expansion” (November 16, 2022)
Interviewed for “Virtual Roundtable - Immigration Law 2022” by CorporateLiveWire
Author, “Update on U.S. Immigration: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions and Visa Challenges”, Immigration Law Expert Guide 2022 (CorporateLiveWire 2022)
Author, “Applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, Certificates of Citizenship, and U.S. Passports”, AILA’s U.S. Citizenship & Naturalization Law Toolbox (AILA February 3, 2021)
Author, “U.S. mobility: Key issues in 2021”, Immigration Law 2021 Expert Guide, (CorporateLiveWire 2021)
Speaker, Champions of Trade Showcase with the US Embassy, BritishAmerican Business (January 28, 2021)
Interviewed for “Immigration Law 2020 Virtual Round Table” by CorporateLiveWire (October 2020)
Author, “Basics of employment eligibility verification (form I-9 and E-Verify) for companies entering the U.S. market”, CorporateLiveWire Handbook 2020, Labour & Employment (September 2020)
Author, “UK-US FTA Negotiations; The Diaspora Advocates for Easier Movement Between United States and United Kingdom”, The American (magazine) (September-October 2020)
Speaker, MBM Commercial Webinar, “Doing Business in the US Remotely”, together with Danielle Prado and Tracey Ginn of MBM Commercial (June 2, 2020)
Interviewed for “Brexit for Americans”, The American (magazine) (March-April 2019)
Speaker, World Service Group (WSG) 2019 Labour Law Seminar: Immigration Law Panel, hosted by Sheppard & Wedderburn (February 22, 2019)
Speaker, Morton Fraser Podcast, “Immigration Podcast: UK and US immigration law - what we can expect to happen” (available online at https://www.morton-fraser.com/knowledge-hub/immigration-podcast-immigration-what-expect-happen, February 19, 2019)
Author, “US Immigration Law Topics: ESTA “Not Authorized”/Visitor Visa Refused – What Now?”, Immigration Law 2019 Expert Guide (CorporateLiveWire 2019)
Speaker, Scottish International Week (Institute of Directors/Scottish Business Network), “What to be Aware of When Embarking on Business in the US”, together with Nora Rothrock and David Daley of US Tax & Financial Services, and Tracey Ginn of MBM Commercial (September 21, 2018)
Editor, AILA Insight, “Buy American, Hire American - Hurting American Companies?” by Veronica Guinto (AILA Doc 18082970, July 17, 2018)
Speaker, "Doing Business in the US: Know Before You Go!", together with the Principal Officer for the U.S. Consulate General in Edinburgh, Susan A. Wilson, and Tracey Ginn of MBM Commercial (April 27, 2018)
Author, "What Does It Mean to Visit the United States for Business Purposes?", Immigration Law 2017 Expert Guide (CorporateLiveWire 2017)
Interviewed for "What the Trump Presidency Will Mean for Expats," The American (magazine) (January-February 2017)
Speaker, Morton Fraser Podcast, "Immigration: Factors couples can consider when choosing UK or USA" (available at: http://www.morton-fraser.com/knowledge-hub/immigration-factors-couples-can-consider-when-choosing-uk-or-usa, December 14, 2016)
Speaker, Morton Fraser Podcast, "Immigration: Potential change to business immigration rules in 2017" (available at: http://www.morton-fraser.com/knowledge-hub/immigration-potential-change-business-immigration-rules-2017, December 13, 2016)
Speaker, MBM Commercial Lunch Series, "Venturing Further into the US" (December 1, 2016)
Columnist, Business Comment (Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce) U.S.A. Immigration, published bimonthly; includes "One Minute Q&A for Human Resources" (December 2014/January 2015 and February/March 2015)
Interviewed for profile, Cohn, Rachel, "Olivia McLaren: Charting a New Path in Scotland", Ahead of the Curve: Duke Law's Women in Entrepreneurship (November 29, 2014)
Interviewed for profile "Getting Started" (Business Comment October 2014/November 2014)
Co-columnist, New York Law Journal Immigration Law column, published bimonthly
Includes primary authorship of “Foreigners on U.S. Soil: To Know Your Rights Is to Know Very Little” (June 27, 2012), “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Is Waiting in the Wings” (December 27, 2012), “Labor Department’s Green Card Test – Fair Process or Bureaucratic Whim?” (June 26, 2013), “No Comprehensive Immigration Reform: A Year-End Review” (January 2, 2014)
Interviewed and cited for news brief, Stashenko, Joel, “Attorneys Have a Lot to Analyze in Gauging the Impact of DOMA Ruling on Client Benefits”, NYLJ (June 28, 2013)
Co-author, “What about the I-9? I-9 and E-Verify Compliance in the Context of Pending Adjustment of Status Applications and Travel on Advance Parole,” Immigration Compliance Book (2009-2010 Edition, ILW)
Prepared updates for various sections of Immigration Law & Procedure (2009-2010, Eds. Stanley Mailman and Stephen Yale-Loehr)
Speaker, “I-9 Completion and Record Keeping” (ILW 2010)
Discussion Leader,“Citizenship Brown Bag Lunch” (AILA NY 2009)
Speaker, “Procedural Issues in Waivers of Inadmissibility” (AILA National 2008)