Overview
Immigration Attorney
Kim is a client relationship manager for our full-service clients and focuses her practice on immigration and agriculture. In her immigration practice, she handles immigration planning, strategy and processes including nonimmigrant petitions, both employment- and family-based permanent residence applications, expatriation and foreign visa issues. She has developed a strong background in the area of worker verification issues and managed clients through internal and agency Form I-9 audits, USICE compliance investigations and civil and criminal charges.
Kim works with employers of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities and international businesses. As a recognized authority, she has provided commentary and analysis on immigration issues to The New York Times, The Washington Post, Business Insider and other publications. She currently serves on the Immigration Editorial Advisory Board for Law360.
In addition, Kim maintains a specialty practice of consultation with agricultural clients and handles various agricultural labor and employment issues such as compliance with migrant labor laws, H-2A worker issues, wage and hour laws, anti-discrimination and COVID-19 related laws.
In partnership with the Michigan Farm Bureau, Kim developed the Agricultural Employment Compliance Guide, an easy-to-use guide for farm employers trying to keep up with sometimes overwhelmingly complex federal and state employment laws. In addition to providing timely updates to both the online and print versions, Kim delivers in-person employment seminars each year to agricultural employers across the state.
For more information, please contact Kim Clarke at 616/336-6441 or kaclarke@varnumlaw.com
Leadership
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America®, Immigration Law, 2019, 2020 and 2021
Grand Rapids Magazine's Top Lawyers, Immigration Law, 2019 and 2020
Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished® Peer Review Rated
Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Leader in the Law, 2018
Professional Affiliations
American Agricultural Law Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Grand Rapids Bar Association
Law360, 2020 Immigration Editorial Advisory Board
Michigan Farm Bureau
National Association of College and University Attorneys
National Council of Agricultural Employers
State Bar of Michigan: Agricultural Law Section, treasurer; International Law Section
Community Involvement
Justice for Our Neighbors, national and local advisory boards
Saint Mary’s Foundation, Board vice chair
News & Publications
News
Speaking Engagements
Presentations
Immigration Issues: The Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Mismatch
Immigration Issues Post 9/11
Immigration and Employment
Selected Topics in Current Immigration Law
Employer Compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act
The Legal Aspects of Direct Farm Marketing
Application for Permanent Residence: Law, Procedure and Strategy
Publications
Practice Areas
Education
University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1993
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., 1991
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- All Michigan state courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan