Anton F. Mertens

Anton F. Mertens is a partner with Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP concentrating in the area of business immigration matters for investors, managers, executives and technical personnel.

Mr. Mertens’, a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated attorney, practice includes business and professional visas, labor certifications, immigrant visas, consular representation and citizenship for foreign executives, managers and professionals. Mr. Mertens as well advises employers on compliance procedures in verifying the work eligibility of all new employees as required under the I-9 “workplace compliance” provisions of federal law. Representative clients include international companies, technology firms and U.S. subsidiaries of foreign corporations engaged in the computer, communications, chemical and engineering industries, among others.

Mr. Mertens received his B.A. degree in Mathematics from Mercer University in 1984. He received his J.D. degree from Mercer University in 1987.

Mr. Mertens’ article “State Immigration Laws Add to Employers’ Hiring Burden” appeared in the summer edition of Human Resources 2008.

Mr. Mertens is fluent in Dutch and French and is admitted to practice law in Georgia. He frequently writes and speaks on corporate immigration matters. He is a member of various organizations, including the Atlanta Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA); the Global Commerce Council of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; the Lawyers Club of Atlanta and the International Law section of the State Bar of Georgia, where he served as Chair of the Executive Committee from 2004 to 2006. He is currently the Chair of the Immigration Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. He acts as Foreign Trade Adviser to the Consulate of Belgium in Atlanta and is a Fellow of The Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Chapter of the Belgian American Chamber of Commerce.

Articles

“Best Client Practices in Business Imigration.” Inside the Minds: Immigration Law Client Strategies (2008):59-70.

“Not Enough Engineers in Waycross? Try Warsaw.” Georgia Engineer, February/March 2008 issue (Volume 15, Issue 1).