Fiona McEntee, Managing Immigration Attorney, McEntee Law Group
Fiona McEntee is the Founding & Managing Attorney of McEntee Law Group. Fiona first moved to Chicago from Dublin, Ireland, back in 2002, as an international exchange student at DePaul University's College of Law. Having fallen in love with Chicago, she returned to study at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor in 2007. Fiona and her team of passionate advocates represent individuals and families, as well as the world's leading musicians, artists, athletes, innovative entrepreneurs, and multinational and U.S. companies. They counsel their clients on the ever-changing immigration policies and help them achieve the American Dream. Fiona is the Chair of the Media & Advocacy Committee for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the bar association of over 15,000 immigration lawyers. As a national spokesperson for AILA, Fiona is regularly tapped for her immigration thought-leadership by major media outlets including MSNBC, BBC, CNN.com, The New York Times, Politico, Chicago Tribune, Irish Central, Irish Times, & RTÉ.
Fiona has won many awards and honours, including the ISBA Elmer Gertz Award for Human Rights; 2020 & 2019 Illinois Super Lawyers List, Immigration; Chicago Women of Influence 2019; and the Irish Legal Top 100. In 2019, Fiona was inducted into the Irish American Hall of Fame in the Irish American Heritage Center. Fiona has particular expertise and experience on the O-1 visa and the EB-1 green card. She regularly presents on the O-1 visa, including leading panel discussions at various AILA Conferences.
Fiona has recently published her first book – Our American Dream – an award-winning children's book on immigration. As a mom of two young children, an immigrant, and an immigration lawyer who fights for justice every day, Fiona wrote Our American Dream to explain the importance of a diverse and welcoming America.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
I like a lot of them for different reasons.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I'm an immigration attorney with expertise in the extraordinary ability of visa and immigration options for startups.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love playing a small role in helping immigrants live their American Dream. We have a front-row seat to the most amazing stories ever.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Hmm, not sure. Maybe my friend convinced me to go on the exchange program to Chicago back in 2002!
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I want to help change the narrative on immigration.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
My family (husband and two kids), my children's book, my team.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
No one preferred way.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Determination!
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Immigration activists like Jose Antonio Vargas.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Spending time with my kids.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
It's been a little hectic on the work side dealing with all the immigration bans etc. On the personal side, I've stopped travelling, and it's allowed me to spend a lot of time with my family, which I love so much.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I like to think I'm a mentor to my team!
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Some days will be harder than others, same with cases. However, this is such a rewarding area of law.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Not sure people "give up" or "fail".
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
Life is too short to be doing a job you don't truly love.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Define American, and I Am An Immigrant.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success to me means doing meaningful work in a meaningful way and making a difference in this world.