Zabrina Reich is a partner in the Hodgson Russ Immigration Practice and represents clients across employment-based immigration matters, including temporary non-immigrant visas and permanent residence. She advises companies of all sizes, from small and emerging businesses to multinational corporations, on immigration strategies for their foreign national employees in the United States. Zabrina regularly assists employers with TN, H-1B, L-1, E-1/E-2, and O-1 petitions, as well as employment-based immigrant visa processes. She also counsels investors, entrepreneurs, and startups on business immigration solutions that support cross-border operations and growth. Her clients span a range of industries, including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, education, professional sports, entertainment, fashion, and professional services.
Zabrina has extensive experience across employment-based permanent residence matters, including PERM labor certifications, multinational executive and manager petitions, national interest waivers, extraordinary ability petitions, and outstanding researcher cases. Her practice also includes family-based immigration matters, naturalization, waivers, and other complex admissibility matters. As a dual citizen of the United States and Canada who grew up along the northern border, Zabrina brings a distinctive cross-border perspective to her practice and is a trusted advisor to Canadian companies and professionals navigating the U.S. immigration system. Having practiced U.S. immigration law in Buffalo since 2013, Zabrina has developed particular expertise in cross-border mobility matters, including NAFTA/USMCA applications, cross-border investment and trade visas, waiver and admissibility issues, and border-problem cases. She is regularly sought out by other immigration attorneys for assistance with complex Northern Border and CBP matters.
Active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Zabrina currently serves as Vice Chair of AILA National’s CBP Liaison Committee, Chair of the Upstate New York AILA Chapter, and a member of AILA National’s Board of Directors. She is a frequent speaker and author on business immigration topics, regularly presenting on employment-based immigration, immigration strategies for startups and emerging businesses, U.S.-Canada border issues, U.S. Customs and Border Protection developments, and USMCA-related matters.
Prior to joining Hodgson Russ, Zabrina was widely recognized for her thought leadership in U.S. immigration law, serving as a speaker, panelist, and discussion leader at numerous AILA national conferences, chapter conferences, webinars, and CLE programs.
- Panelist, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Open Forum,” AC26 AILA National Conference in San Diego, June 2026
- Panelist, “Bittersweet Developments: Unwrapping Hot Topics,” AILA Rome District Chapter – EMEA Spring Conference 2026, April 2026
- Panelist, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Open Forum,” 2026 AILA Spring CLE Conference and Webcast: Government Relations Update, April 2026
- Panelist, “Common Scenarios & Pitfalls in Business Immigration panel,” 2025 AILA New England Chapter Annual Conference and CLE, November 2025
- Speaker, CBP Open Forum, 2025 AILA Northern Border Conference, September 2025
- Panelist, “TN Visas: Navigating Complex Cases and Challenges in the New Trump Era,” AC25 AILA National Conference, June 2025
- Panelist, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Open Forum,” AC25 AILA National Conference, June 2025
- Discussion Leader, “Ethics, Wellbeing, and AI,” AILA Midsouth Chapter Webinar CLE, May 2025
- Panelist, “AI, Ethics & Wellbeing,” AILA Upstate NY Chapter Webinar CLE, May 2025
- Panelist, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Open Forum,” 2025 AILA Spring CLE Conference and Webcast: Government Relations Update, April 2025
- Panelist, “CBP Update,” AILA Canada Chapter Conference, January 2025
- Panelist, “Common Scenarios & Pitfalls in Business Immigration,” 2024 Ohio AILA Annual Chapter Conference, November 2024
- Panelist, “Best Practices and Tips for 212(d)(3) Waivers for DACA Beneficiaries and More,” AILA Latin America and Caribbean Chapter, September 2024
- Panelist, “U.S. Department of State,” AILA Upstate NY Chapter 2024 Northern Border Conference, September 2024
- Presenter, “Immigration Insights – What you need to know about employment-based visas,” Buffalo Niagara Human Resources Association, July 2024
- Panelist, “Essential Terms and Concepts (Fundamentals),” Panel at 2024 AILA National Annual Conference and Webcast in Chicago – Pre-Recorded OnDemand Conference Sessions, June 2024
- Panelist, “Customs and Border Protection May 2024 – Update,” AILA Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter Webinar CLE, May 2024
- Panelist, “Leveraging L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visas to Empower Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs,” 2024 AILA Investors and Entrepreneurs Conference and Webcast, February 2024
- Panelist, “CBP Updates,” AILA Canada Chapter Conference, January 2024
- Panelist, “Know Before You Grow: How to Prepare for U.S. Expansion,” Communitech Webinar, November 2023
- Discussion Leader, “Northern Border Update,” AILA Upstate New York’s 2023 Northern Border Conference, October 2023
- Immigration Resource, Pathways to Tech, TechBuffalo and Be in Buffalo, September 2023
- Panelist, “How the U.S. Is Closing the Door to Top Talent,” Buffalo Niagara Partnership Government Affairs, August 2023
- Discussion Leader, “USMCA-Based Visa Categories and Related Port of Entry Issues,” 2023 AILA Paralegals Conference and Webcast – Preconference Virtual Sessions and OnDemand Recordings, May 2023
- Discussion Leader, “Advising Nomads: How to Avoid Misuse of B-1/B-2/ESTA,” AILA National Webinar CLE, May 2023
- Discussion Leader, “Northern Border Update,” AILA Upstate New York’s 2022 Northern Border Conference, October 2022
- Panelist, “The Future of International Treaties in the Post-Pandemic and Sanctions Era,” American Bar Association International Law Section, June 2022
- Discussion Leader, “Barriers to Entry in Employment-Based Cases: Inadmissibility, Waivers and Rehabilitation,” 2022 AILA Border Virtual Conference, March 2022
- Discussion Leader, “TN Strategies and Trends: Consular and Ports-of-Entry,” AILA National Web Seminar, August 2021
- Panelist, “CBP/DOS Town Hall,” AILA Canada Chapter Conference, April 2021
- Speaker, “Employment-Based Immigration Fundamentals,” 12th Annual Northern Border Immigration Fall Conference,
- AILA Upstate New York Chapter, October 2020
- Speaker, “TN Issues at the Border,” AILA National Web Seminar, August 2020
- Speaker, “TN Visas Under the Current Administration,” AILA National Web Seminar, March 2019
Services
Education
University of Michigan, B.A., with distinction
University at Buffalo School of Management, M.B.A.
University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
Admissions
- New York
- Foreign Legal Consultant - Ontario, Canada
Bar Associations
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- New York State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Recognitions
- Listed, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, (Immigration - New York: Upstate) 2025-2026
- Ranked in Lexology Index, Thought Leader USA – Immigration
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Immigration Law), 2025 – 2027
- Listed, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (Immigration Law), 2021 – 2023
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Star (Immigration: Business), 2019 – 2027
- 2026 President's Commendation for Outstanding Volunteer Service, American Immigration Lawyers Association
News & Insights
Civic
- Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, Board of Trustees, 2025 – Present
- Law360 Immigration Editorial Advisory Board, 2026
- Former Secretary, Board of Directors, Jewish Family Services of Buffalo & Erie County
- Former Certified Foster Parent, Child & Family Services
Professional
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- CBP National Liaison Committee, Member, 2021 – Present
- Vice Chair, 2024 – Present
- AILA National Board of Governors, 2024 – Present
- AILA National Governance Committee, Member 2025 – Present
- AILA National Building Bridges Task Force, Member 2025 – Present
- Upstate New York AILA Chapter, Chair, 2024 – Present
- Former Vice Chair, 2023 – 2024
- AILA Border Virtual Conference Committee, Member, 2022
- AILA National Distance Learning Committee, Member, 2020 – 2021
- AILA National Online Course and Recorded Content Review Committee, Member, 2019 – 2020
- Upstate New York AILA Chapter CBP Liaison, 2020 – Present
- Upstate New York AILA Chapter Education Coordinator, 2020