My mission is to transcend borders, expand opportunity, and connect the world through compassionate, expert, and visionary immigration law. I founded Founder Law with the belief that every person deserves the chance to build a life they love — to innovate, create, and thrive in the United States.
From the earliest days of starting the firm at my kitchen table while raising two toddlers, I’ve been committed to solving immigration for the world. My father, also an immigration lawyer, taught me to lead with integrity and to see every challenge as a catalyst for positive change. That legacy continues in everything I do today.
I believe that when laws limit opportunity, we can and should change them.
As an immigration policy advocate, I helped draft the LIKE Act, included in the COMPETES Act, which proposes a U.S. startup visa for global founders. My work behind the scenes has supported the development of high-skilled immigration policy to expand possibilities for international entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators.
Through my advocacy, I aim to make U.S. immigration more inclusive, agile, and aligned with the needs of the modern economy. Every success story from a founder launching a startup to a family uniting across continents fuels my passion for this mission.
My journey into immigration law began at just 15 years old. Working at my father’s law office one summer, I wrote my first legal brief to help free a Cuban man from indefinite detention in an immigration jail. My dad argued that brief in federal court—and we won. Our client walked free after years of uncertainty.
That experience changed me forever. I discovered the profound power of immigration law to restore dignity and hope, and I knew this was my calling.
My global mindset shapes my practice every day. I’ve lived and studied in Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain, and my mother immigrated from Germany to the U.S. I speak German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian, allowing me to connect deeply with clients from around the world.
This multicultural background helps me understand not just the legal side of immigration, but the human side. I know what it means to leave home to chase opportunity.
I’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of people successfully navigate the complex U.S. immigration system, including founders, engineers, scientists, and families alike.
As the host of The Sophie Alcorn Podcast and columnist for TechCrunch’s Ask Sophie™, I share weekly updates and insights to empower professionals to own their immigration journey with confidence.
My work has been featured in The New York Times, NBC News, The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR Marketplace. I’ve also spoken at TechCrunch Disrupt, Stanford University, and global legal and startup conferences.
My bestselling book, Ask Sophie: The Founders’ Guide to Visas and Green Cards, is a choose-your-own-adventure guide for founders building their future in the United States.
2017–Present
2020
J.D. cum laude, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
B.A. International Relations, Stanford University
State Bar of California
U.S. Courts of Appeals — 9th & 3rd Circuits
U.S. District Courts — Northern & Central California
Silicon Valley Chapter – Founders Network
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Alchemist Accelerator & 500 Startups
Dreamers & Doers
The wrong immigration strategy can cost you years of progress and mounting legal fees. Founder Law has spent over two decades guiding the tech industry’s top talent and the companies building around them.
We review where you are, map the realistic pathways, and tell you which ones actually fit your timeline, your goals, and your risk tolerance. You leave with a plan, whether you hire us or not. If your career or your company depends on getting this right, let’s talk.
