My mission is to transcend borders, expand opportunity, and connect the world through precise, expert, and visionary immigration law. Founder Law was built on the belief that elite innovators and creators deserve a flawless legal foundation to build their companies and thrive in the United States.
By functioning as the strategic immigration operating system for top-tier founders, I approach every complex challenge as a catalyst for growth and global impact.
"Every visionary deserves the architectural legal framework required to innovate, create, and thrive."
I believe that when legal frameworks limit global innovation, we must architect better solutions.
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 focus on the development of high-skilled immigration policy expands possibilities for international entrepreneurs, engineers, and creators. Through targeted advocacy, I aim to ensure U.S. immigration remains agile, competitive, and aligned with the demands of the modern technology economy.
My career in immigration law is driven by a deep understanding of its profound power to unlock human potential. Early experiences in federal court legal defense demonstrated how precise legal strategy can restore autonomy and certainty. Today, that lifelong dedication translates into delivering absolute precision, strategic oversight, and peace of mind to the world's most ambitious founders.
A global mindset shapes the Founder Law ecosystem every day. Having cultivated deep international experience, I speak German and have immersively studied Spanish, Italian, and Russian. This multilingual fluency allows for seamless strategic alignment with elite clients from around the world. It provides a unique advantage in understanding not just the structural requirements of immigration, but the complex human transition of expanding a venture globally.
I have successfully navigated the complex U.S. immigration system for thousands of top-tier professionals, including venture-backed founders, essential engineers, and leading scientists.
As the host of The Sophie Alcorn Podcast and the columnist for TechCrunch’s Ask Sophie™, I provide exclusive intelligence and frameworks to empower founders to execute their immigration strategy with absolute confidence.
My work and insights have been featured in The New York Times, NBC News, The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR Marketplace. I have also presented at TechCrunch Disrupt, Stanford University, and high-level global legal and startup conferences.
My bestselling book, Ask Sophie: The Founders’ Guide to Visas and Green Cards, serves as a definitive blueprint for founders building their future in the United States.
Silicon Valley Business Journal · 2024
State Bar of California · 2018
2017–Present
Global Law Experts · California · 2024
2023
2020
2019
2017, 2019
Mountain View Chamber of Commerce · 2017
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
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.
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