Clara Mager, Butzel Long Photo

Clara DeMatteis Mager’s clients benefit from her deep knowledge and more than three decades of experience in Immigration Law. She is committed to providing domestic and foreign-based clients with an unparalleled level of personalized attention. Her clients include individuals, including professionals and families, and entities of all sizes in a variety of sectors, such as automotive, education, and international trade.

Overview

Focusing her practice solely on business and family immigration matters, Ms. Mager helps clients to navigate a range of issues, including all aspects of the international movement of personnel, inbound and outbound work-authorized nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) status, immigration consequences of mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring, employer sanctions, and immigration law audits such as labor condition applications and I-9 forms.

Committed to remaining ahead of changes in the law and immigration procedures worldwide, it is important to Ms. Mager to share her knowledge by providing updates to clients, the public, and professionals including other lawyers. She is a frequent speaker on business immigration to professional, educational, and business organizations including Wayne State University Law School, the International Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, French American Chamber of Commerce, German American Chamber of Commerce, Japan PAK, and Association of Mexican Professionals in Michigan. She also provides training sessions to business clients on numerous topics including US nonimmigrant visas, US permanent resident processing and strategy building to streamline the process, Form I-9 completion and compliance training, outbound non-US immigration general strategic planning, and workplace compliance related to immigration.

For more than 20 years, Ms. Mager has been integral in helping to organize Butzel's full-day Immigration Seminar and has also served as a presenter. She has participated as a speaker in the firm's Labor and Employment Forum. Ms. Mager has coordinated and presented numerous programs over the course of her career, including programs for the Federal Bar Association, Genesee Area Human Resources Association, French American Chamber of Commerce, Wayne County Family Lawyers, and Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

Ms. Mager serves as a leader of the firm’s Immigration Practice Department, serves as a Vice President and on the firm’s Board of Directors, and is also a member of the firm’s Compensation Committee and Global Automotive Industry Group. She is Chair of the firm’s Macomb County Development Committee. Ms. Mager is additionally a member of Butzel’s Lex Mundi team. Lex Mundi is the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in more than 125 countries worldwide. Butzel is proud to be the exclusive member firm in Michigan. Ms. Mager is a long-time member of Lex Mundi's Immigration Group (Regional Chair and former Chairperson).

Born in Italy and an immigrant herself, Clara DeMatteis Mager understands the challenges immigrants face and strongly believes in giving back. Ms. Mager is active in the community and frequently devotes her time to pro bono immigration matters.

As an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Italian American Alliance (IAA) for Business and Technology (Board Member), Ms. Mager gives of her time to these organizations and many others, often assisting the Michigan Chapter of AILA in activities associated with naturalization ceremonies and community-based outreach programs. Among her most rewarding efforts are several pro bono projects where she has provided her expertise to social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place.

Clara DeMatteis Mager is a Shareholder based in Butzel's Detroit office. Ms. Mager received her Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law, cum laude, where she was a member of Law Review. She received her Bachelor of Science from Wayne State University. Ms. Mager has been recognized repeatedly during her career by various well-respected legal industry publications and by her peers as among the top lawyers in the practice of Immigration Law and Business Law.

Primary Practice Areas

Credentials

Education

Detroit College of Law, J.D., cum laude

Wayne State University, B.S.

Admissions

  • Michigan

Memberships

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association - previous member of the Leadership Council of the Immigration Committee
  • State Bar of Michigan - Past Chairperson of the International Law Section, previously held positions include Chair-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Council Member, and Chairperson of the Immigration Committee
  • Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
  • Italian American Bar Association - Board Member
  • Lex Mundi's Immigration Group - Regional Chair, Former Chairperson
  • University of Detroit Mercy School of Law/University of Windsor Faculty of Law - J.D./L.L.B. Advisory Board Member and past Chair
  • Italian American Alliance for Business and Technology - Board Member
  • Cornerstone Schools Association

Awards & Recognitions

Awards & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America®, Immigration Law, 2007-2025

Michigan Super Lawyers, Immigration: Business, 2008, 2014-2017, 2019-2023

Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated Lawyer

Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Detroit XXII Class graduate

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Immigration Law, 2011-2025

Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Immigration, 2021-2023

Experience

  • Conducted in-house training regarding preparing and maintaining H-1B public access files and Labor Certification Applications
  • Obtained permanent resident status pursuant to registry provisions based on residence in U.S. since January 1972
  • Evaluated retention of dual citizenship for U.S. and other countries such as Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, etc.
  • Conducted internal audits of I-9 forms for clients
  • Represented clients in obtaining visas at various US Embassies and Consulates abroad
  • Advised employers regarding maintenance of employer/employee relationship when foreign national is placed offsite
  • Represented employers during investigations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Department of Labor regarding employment verification issues.
  • Provided preventative counseling on Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor investigations and employer sanctions.
  • Preparation of J-1 Exchange Visitor and H-3 Trainee applications and petitions for employees of foreign companies with U.S. facilities
  • Obtained removal of conditions on permanent residency
  • Represented employers during investigations conducted by USICE and USDOL regarding employment verification issues
  • Represented employers in investigations conducted by the USDOL concerning H-1B Labor Condition Application public access file including benching and wage and hour issues.
  • Assisted family members in obtaining appropriate fianc
  • Represented employers in USCIS administrative site visit
  • Obtained waivers of inadmissibility including waivers for entry into Canada for individuals who have DUIs/DWIs
  • Assisted with preservation of residency for naturalization purposes for individuals transferred overseas
  • Conducted in-house training on I-9 form compliance and retention, including electronic completion and storage of I-9 forms
  • Managed multi-country projects and obtained work authorizations in multiple jurisdictions for individuals of various nationalities.
  • Analyzed effect of corporate changes, including mergers and acquisitions, on foreign national’s immigration status.
  • Represented clients in complex naturalization matters including restoration of U.S. citizenship, appeals for denied naturalization applications, and evaluate strategies for overcoming grounds of ineligibility.
  • Prepared J-1 waivers of 2 year foreign residency requirement based on no-objection letters, interested government agencies, hardship and other grounds
  • Obtained re-entry permits to maintain permanent residence status in the United States for individuals transferred abroad
  • Consulted with clients regarding special permanent resident card interviews
  • Coordinated the establishment of foreign corporate entities and assistance with multi jurisdictional tax issues
  • Analyzed eligibility for naturalization through parents or grandparents and prepare necessary documentation
  • Represented clients with applications of waiver of inadmissibility due to past legal history or immigration history.
  • Obtained re-entry permit to maintain permanent residency for individuals transferred overseas
  • Represented clients seeking LPR status based on Cuban Adjustment Act
  • Obtained approval of Immigration Petition for Alien of Extraordinary Ability for various professionals including engineers, scientists, corporate executives, professional athletes, entertainers, coaches, and trainers.
  • Represented clients at Port of Entry to process admission to US under NAFTA
  • Assisted employers in obtaining appropriate nonimmigrant classification (TN, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, E-1/E-2, P) and immigrant classification (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5).

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