Carol A. Friend

Carol Friend concentrates her practice in the area of employment-based immigration and represents national and international companies in complex business immigration matters. Carol is Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated and has been recognized by the following organizations for years for outstanding service in the area of immigration law: Chambers, The Best Lawyers in America, DBusiness Top Lawyers and Michigan Super Lawyers. During her career, Carol has represented numerous International and U.S. affiliated companies in obtaining work authorization for employees to work in the U.S. She assists U.S. companies in evaluating Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance programs, including the evaluation and selection of electronic I-9 and E-Verify vendors, assists clients with Form I-9 internal and government audits, obtains O-1, alien of extraordinary ability status, for highly talented employees during H-1B cap droughts, manages the L-1 and permanent resident process for a significant number of high-level executives employed as President, Executive Vice President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer for major U.S. employers and brings to clients a substantially high success rate in the filing of EB-1 Outstanding Researcher and International Executive/Manager immigrant petitions. In addition to her client work, Carol serves as a Board of Director for the elite global legal network, Interlaw.

Practice Areas

Industries

Prior Experience

• Howard & Howard Attorneys P.C., Shareholder, 1999-2000; Associate, 1996-1999

Education

Admissions

Awards

• Listed in Chambers USA, 2022-2024
  • Recognized in Band 1, the top tier, in Immigration in Michigan; Chambers USA states:
    • “Carol is an extraordinary legal professional and business partner. Her attention to detail and thoroughness is given to each and every matter she handles.”
    • “She is a strong partner that provides helpful guidance and expertise.”
    • "Her attention to detail is first-rate."
    • "Carol Friend is held in high esteem for her representation of domestic and global companies in complex business immigration matters. Clients state, ‘She is very professional and always up to date on the ever changing landscape of immigration. She shows amazing responsiveness, is extremely easy to work with and has an impeccable work ethic;’ ‘We have total confidence in her knowledge and abilities.’ " 
• The Best Lawyers in America, 2009-2025
  • Recognized in practice area of Immigration Law
• DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2010-2020, and 2023-2024
• Michigan Super Lawyers, 2010-2024
• Law Bulletin Media
  • Leading Lawyers, Immigration Law: Employment, 2017, 2023-2024
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Professional & Community Involvement

• American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1998-present
• American Bar Association, 1996-present
• Interlaw
  • Board of Directors, 2019-present
    • North America Chair - 2023-present
  • Diversity, Inclusion and Community
    • Global Chair, 2017-2019

• • Women Lawyers of Interlaw
    • Co-chair, 2012-2017
• Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
  • Board of Trustees, 2011-2020
• InForum
  • Board of Directors, 2008-2021
    • Vice Chair, 2013-2014
    • Chair Elect, 2014
• Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
  • Board of Directors, 2019-2021

News

Press Releases

Alerts