Current Hot Topics in H-1B and Practical Pointers for Cap Filings in 2026

When:

December 4, 2025 at 12:00pm – 1:00pm EST

People:

Michael Freestone, Mohammad Ali Syed and Melissa Warburton

Location:

Virtual - Zoom Webinar

Join immigration attorneys Michael Freestone, Mohammad Syed as well as Former United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) officer, Melissa Warburton for an insightful discussion on the latest developments in H-1B visa regulations and strategies for successful cap filings in the upcoming cycle.

This high-level presentation will cover:

  • Current Hot Topics in H-1B: Key regulatory updates, compliance trends, and recent USCIS guidance.
  • Practical Pointers for Cap Filings: Best practices to optimize your filings for the 2026 season.
  • Navigating the $100K H-1B Filing Fee: Creative approaches and legal considerations to manage costs effectively.

Who Should Attend:

HR professionals, in-house counsel, business leaders, and anyone involved in immigration compliance and workforce planning.

Meet the Speakers

Portrait of Michael Freestone

Michael Freestone, Principal

michael.freestone@offitkurman.com

Michael J. Freestone is a principal in the firm’s Immigration Law Practice Group where he advises individual and corporate clients of all sizes on a range of immigration-related issues. He specializes in strategic immigration planning with a focus on long-term strategies and develops robust immigration law compliance programs for his corporate clients. He handles non‐immigrant petitions, visa and consular issues, employment and family-based immigrant petitions, adjustment of status applications and naturalization. View Michael Freestone's Bio

Portrait of Mohammad Ali Syed

Mo Syed, Principal

mo.syed@offitkurman.com

Mohammad Ali Syed is a principal attorney in Offit Kurman’s Immigration Law Practice Group. He represents clients in business and employment-related permanent and temporary visa matters such as U.S. employers employing non-U.S. nationals in professional and non-professional positions. View Mo Syed's Bio

Portrait of Melissa Warburton

Melissa Warburton, Founding Partner, Whitaker & Warburton

Melissa served as associate counsel at USCIS’s Texas Service Center. Melissa’s public service career spanned over a decade and gave her rare knowledge of both immigration adjudication and enforcement—experience she now uses to anticipate agency decisions and craft stronger cases. She will speak to the national interest waivers available under the new H-1B executive order and other alternatives for those unable to pay the $100K filing fee.

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Healthcare Equity, Caregiver Burden & the Long-Term Care Crisis with Henry Mason Jr.
      What happens when healthcare inequity, caregiver burden, and a nationwide shortage of long-term care beds collide? For many families in the sandwich generation, the result is a caregiving crisis that feels impossible to navigate. In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, host Candace Dellacona ( https://www.offitkurman.com/candace-dellacona ) sits down with Henry Mason Jr., founder and CEO of Precious Hospice, educator, healthcare advocate, and the voice behind "Healthcare Henry." Together, they explore the growing shortage of long-term care beds, the realities of Medicaid and Medicare, healthcare disparities in minority and rural communities, and the financial pressures facing family caregivers across America. Henry shares powerful insights from the front lines of hospice care, explains why healthcare access remains unequal for many families, and offers practical guidance for becoming a stronger advocate for aging loved ones. Whether you're caring for parents, raising children, navigating hospice decisions, or planning for the future, this conversation will help you better understand the challenges ahead and the resources available to support your family. Follow Henry on social media: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-mason-jr-a2b97b69/  Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/healthcarehenry/?hl=en  Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/henry.mason.5623 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@HealthcareHenry  For more information on Precious Hospice, visit https://precioushospice.com/ 
  • Events
    MACFO's Inside Successful CEO & CFO Partnerships
    Please join us on September 18 for an event that’s sure to be a home run! ***We will lead off by interviewing our Spotlight Speaker Series guest, Baltimore Orioles CFO, Darline Llamas Llopis.*** After, we will ask ourselves, what separates great companies from good ones? We believe that more often than not, it is the strength of the partnership between the CEO and CFO that matters, so we are bringing you three CEO/CFO leadership teams to learn from. The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore – Andrew Cushnir and Sam Klein Canusa Paper & Packaging – Mike Walter and Vince Salamone Secom, LLC – Toni Toomey and Mourad Awad Join us for an exclusive executive briefing – three tandem presentations followed by a panel discussion - featuring CEOs and CFOs from different but leading organizations as they share candid insights into building trust, navigating difficult decisions, driving strategic growth, and leading through today's business challenges. You'll hear firsthand how these executive teams navigate conflict, align on priorities, and build high-performing organizations. Whether you're a CFO, controller, finance executive, or an aspiring business leader, you'll leave with practical ideas and fresh perspectives you can apply immediately. Meet Our Speakers: Darline Llamas Llopis • Orioles  Chief Financial Officer Darline Llamas Llopis is in her second season with the Orioles as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prior to joining the Orioles, Llamas Llopis spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the F1 Miami Grand Prix as Vice President of Finance and Retail. In this capacity, she managed the finance, accounting, payroll, account payables, procurement and merchandise operations for the team and race. She also previously served for four years as the Director of Finance and Controller at the Los Angeles Rams. Llamas Llopis started her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers as a member of the Commercial Real Estate practice.  Llamas Llopis completed her MBA at UCLA Anderson School of Management and received her Master of Accountancy from the University of Southern California (USC) where she also graduated cum laude with an undergraduate degree in business. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and is an active CPA. She resides in Baltimore with her husband, Devin, and their son, Santiago. Andrew Cushnir • The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore   President & Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cushnir is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Associated, having started in the role in May 2024. He is the eighth person to serve in this role since The Associated’s founding over 100 years ago. Andrew brings a wealth of experience and a profound dedication to strengthening and enriching the Jewish community. His journey within the Jewish Federation system began as a passionate lay leader and volunteer before he transitioned into serving as a professional. He worked for the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles for twenty years, including in the roles of Chief Planning and Program Officer and Chief Development Officer. During this time, Andrew played a crucial role in reshaping the allocation process and fostering a culture of collaboration and partnership and he also led all annual, project, and emergency fundraising, as well as planned giving efforts. As a member of the Federation’s executive team, he also addressed complex community and organizational issues. Andrew and his wife Sharon Spira-Cushnir, a seasoned nonprofit human services executive, are the proud parents of two children in their early 20s. Sam Klein • The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore  Chief Financial Officer Sam Klein is a seasoned nonprofit finance executive with nearly two decades of experience leading financial strategy, operations, budgeting, and organizational transformation for mission-driven institutions. As Chief Financial Officer of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, he oversees the organization's financial operations, investment stewardship, budgeting processes, risk management, and long-term financial planning, helping advance the Federation's mission of strengthening and supporting Jewish life in Baltimore, Israel, and around the world. Throughout his career, Sam has been recognized for his ability to align financial stewardship with organizational mission, drive process improvements, implement technology solutions, and build high-performing teams. His expertise includes nonprofit finance, strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, investment oversight, financial reporting, compliance, operational excellence, and organizational growth. Sam earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing from Syracuse University. Mike Walter • Canusa's Paper & Packaging Chief Executive Officer As Chief Executive Officer of Canusa Paper & Packaging (CPP), Mike Walter leads one of the world's leading independent international brokerages of containerboard and packaging papers. Mike recently celebrated his 20th anniversary with Canusa and has overseen a doubling of the business in the past five years. Mike’s first role at Canusa was an intern before moving into a risk management role. Progressive promotions over the years led Mike to serve as Canusa's Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, as well as General Counsel for its affiliate, Canusa Hershman before becoming the CPP CEO on January 1st, 2025. Mike graduated with a B.S. in Commerce & Engineering from Drexel University before earning his J.D. at the University of Baltimore’s School of Law. Vince Salamone • Canusa's Paper & Packaging Chief Financial Officer Vince Salamone serves as Chief Financial Officer of Canusa Paper & Packaging, overseeing the company's global financial strategy and overall operations, risk management, and other shared services. Since joining Canusa in 2018, Vince has advanced from Corporate Controller to CFO. Prior to Canusa, Vince held senior accounting and financial reporting roles at modular space leader Algeco Scotsman and supply chain real estate operator Realterm, bringing extensive expertise in finance and corporate accounting. He began his career with Deloitte, providing assurance services to clients in aerospace and defense, software, and manufacturing throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Vince attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, earning his B.S. in Accounting in 2012 and his CPA license in 2014. Toni Toomey • Secom, LLC Chief Executive Officer As Chief Executive Officer of Secom, LLC, Toni Toomey leads the company's external vision, culture, and strategic growth. A Howard County native, Toni brings an entrepreneurial spirit and a people-first philosophy to one of Maryland's leading commercial security firms — championing internal promotion and a culture of integrity. Toni serves on the Board of Directors for Maryland Tech Council, the Howard County Chamber, as well as the Steering Committee for the Maryland Rural Tech Network. Mourad Awad • Secom, LLC Chief Financial Officer As Chief Financial Officer of Secom, LLC, Mourad Awad architects the company’s financial strategy, performance, and value creation. A leader, by example, Mourad believes in empowering people and fostering communication. With 20+ years of leadership across private equity, federal contracting, construction, and infrastructure services, Mourad brings a strategic approach to partnering with Toni – CEO to turn vision into precision execution, delivering exceptional value to Secom customers and sustainable growth for SECOM.  Thank You to Our Sponsors