Alcorn Immigration Law, also known as Alcorn Law, is a United States based immigration law firm specializing in U.S. immigration and nationality law. Founded in 2015 by immigration attorney Sophie Alcorn, the firm focuses on providing immigration solutions for startups, founders, technology professionals, corporations, and individuals. The firm operates as a professional corporation (P.C.) and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with additional operations in New York City.
History
Founding and Origin
Alcorn Immigration Law was founded in 2015 in Mountain View, California, by Sophie Alcorn. The firm originated from Alcorn’s observation of a gap within the U.S. immigration legal landscape. At the time, many immigration law firms were structured to serve either individual applicants or large corporations, leaving startups and early-stage founders without tailored legal support aligned with their operational constraints and growth timelines.
Sophie Alcorn, who holds a background in international relations and law, sought to establish a practice that aligned immigration strategy with business objectives for innovators and entrepreneurs. The firm initially operated as a solo practice, with Alcorn working from her kitchen while serving early-stage startups and founders in Silicon Valley.
Early Development and Milestones
During its first years of operation, the firm established a focus on technology-driven immigration matters, particularly those affecting startups and venture-backed companies. Sophie Alcorn earned certification as a Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law from the State Bar of California, a designation held by a limited number of attorneys in Silicon Valley.
The firm became involved in immigration policy advocacy during this period. Alcorn contributed to the drafting of the LIKE Act, a legislative proposal aimed at establishing a startup visa for global entrepreneurs. Elements of this proposal were later included in the COMPETES Act.
As the firm’s visibility increased, Sophie Alcorn was quoted in national and international media outlets, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal. She also participated as a speaker at industry conferences such as TechCrunch Disrupt.
Challenges and Policy Environment
The firm’s formative years coincided with significant shifts in U.S. immigration policy, particularly during the first Trump administration. These changes introduced increased scrutiny, policy volatility, and regulatory uncertainty. Alcorn Immigration Law responded by adapting its legal strategies, closely monitoring policy developments, and advocating on behalf of clients affected by sudden changes in enforcement and adjudication standards.
Serving startups and founders during this period presented additional challenges due to tight deadlines, limited resources, and high operational stakes. The firm’s approach during this time emphasized adaptability, procedural accuracy, and detailed preparation.
Expansion
By 2016, the firm expanded its client base beyond early-stage startups to include companies in the biotech and fintech sectors. Continued growth led to team expansion and the formalization of internal workflows.
In 2018, Alcorn Immigration Law expanded geographically with the opening of a New York City office, enabling the firm to serve clients on both the West and East Coasts. During this period, the firm also expanded its educational initiatives, offering webinars, podcasts, and public resources focused on immigration policy developments.
Throughout the late 2010s, the firm continued to broaden its service offerings and client reach while maintaining a focus on U.S. inbound immigration.
Founder and Leadership
Sophie Alcorn
Sophie Alcornis the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alcorn Immigration Law. She is a board-certified specialist in U.S. immigration and nationality law and is recognized for her work with founders, startups, and high-growth companies.
Alcorn earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. She is admitted to the State Bar of California and to several federal courts, including the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Third Circuits.
Her legal practice focuses on employment-based immigration categories, including O-1, H-1B, TN, E-2, EB-1A, and EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions. She has also worked on family-based immigration, investor visas, asylum cases, deportation defense, and complex immigration litigation.
In addition to her legal practice, Alcorn has been involved in immigration policy development and startup mentorship. She is known for her advocacy efforts aimed at aligning U.S. immigration policy with the needs of the modern innovation economy.
Services
Alcorn Immigration Law provides legal services across several areas of U.S. immigration law.
Corporate Immigration
The firm assists employers in securing visas and green cards for foreign-born professionals. This includes nonimmigrant visas such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2, and TN, as well as immigrant visa pathways including EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-5.
Founder and Startup Immigration
Alcorn Immigration Law offers immigration solutions tailored to founders and startups. These include O-1B visas, EB-1A extraordinary ability petitions, EB-2 National Interest Waiver cases, and the firm’s Legal Launch™ program, a four-week assessment designed to streamline visa and green card planning for entrepreneurs.
Individual Immigration
The firm represents individuals in family-based immigration matters, citizenship applications, and employment-based green card cases.
Education and Policy Consulting
The firm produces educational resources, including webinars, podcasts, and public events, to inform clients and the broader community about immigration law and policy developments. It also provides strategic consulting related to high-skilled immigration policy and regulatory compliance.
Markets Served
The firm serves a range of clients, including technology professionals, startup founders, venture-backed companies, corporations, individuals, and families. Its primary market includes sectors such as technology, biotechnology, fintech, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
Alcorn Immigration Law operates from offices in Palo Alto, California, and New York City, while serving clients across the United States and internationally. The firm focuses on U.S. inbound immigration for individuals and companies worldwide.
Partnerships and Affiliations
The firm works closely with venture capital firms and startup accelerators and is frequently engaged by venture-backed startups associated with organizations such as Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Y Combinator. It also maintains affiliations with universities and academic institutions on immigration-related matters.
Team and Operations
Alcorn Immigration Law employs approximately 20 team members. Over the course of its operation, the firm has served thousands of clients.
Recognition and Media Coverage
The firm and its founder have been featured in multiple media outlets. Sophie Alcorn has contributed articles to Forbes and has been featured in TechCrunch, Silicon Valley Business Journal, and LegalTech News. The firm has received recognition for its work with startups and for its use of technology in legal services.
Sophie Alcorn has appeared on various podcasts, including the CGL Podcast, Foreign Founders Podcast, Lawyer Business Advantage Podcast, Innovation Shuttle, and Managing Partners Podcast.
Awards and Professional Recognition
Alcorn Immigration Law has received recognition from industry organizations and publications, including being named a Top Immigration Law Firm by Silicon Valley Business Journal and receiving the Client Excellence Award from the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
External Links
Official website
Alcorn Immigration Law on LinkedIn
Alcorn Immigration Law on Instagram
Alcorn Immigration Law on Facebook
Alcorn Immigration Law on YouTube
Alcorn Immigration Law on X