For law firms
Co-counsel and referrals for immigration attorneys.
Most of our clients are founders and engineers referred by the technology companies and investors we work with. We have more O-1A, EB-1A, and NIW work than we can staff alone, and we share it with attorneys we trust, under written agreements the client has consented to.
For licensed attorneys. Fee sharing where the rules allow. Every arrangement in writing.
What we share most often
- O-1A
Founders and senior engineers at funded startups
- EB-1A
Researchers and technical leads with a record
- EB-2 NIW
Founders and researchers in national-interest fields
- H-1B
Overflow during cap season and transfers
- O-1A
- the category our network asks for most
- 1
- business day to a first reply from our team
- 1.5(e)
- every fee division structured under the Rules of Professional Conduct
- 100%
- of arrangements in writing, with client consent
We would rather share a matter with an attorney we trust than turn a good case away.
Ways to work together
Three arrangements, all on paper
Co-counsel
We share a matter with your firm under a written co-counsel agreement that sets out each attorney's role and share, with joint responsibility and the client's informed consent before work begins.
Referrals, both directions
When a matter is outside our capacity or focus, we refer it to an attorney we trust. When your client needs employment-based immigration counsel and it isn't your practice, send them our way. Fees on referred matters are shared where the rules of your jurisdiction allow, under a written agreement with joint responsibility or proportional work and the client's informed consent.
Overflow capacity
Demand from the companies we work with arrives in waves, usually after a fundraise or a hiring push. We want to know attorneys with employment-based experience who can take well-scoped petitions on a set timeline.
Our team replies within one business day.
How it works
From introduction to a shared matter
- 01Day 0
Introduce your practice
Tell us the categories you handle, your typical volume, and how you like to work with co-counsel. The form below takes two minutes.
- 02Day 1
A conversation
Our team replies within one business day. We confirm bar standing and talk through fit, communication, and the kinds of matters we would share.
- 03Per matter
Paper it
A written co-counsel or referral agreement for each matter, with the client's informed consent before anything moves.
- 04Ongoing
Work it together
Shared responsibility and written updates. The client always knows which attorneys are on the matter and who does what.
Who we're looking for
Attorneys who'd fit our clients
Our clients are founders, engineers, and researchers. They expect written updates, fast turnaround, and a straight answer on whether a case is ready. We look for the same in co-counsel.
Employment-based depth. Real experience with O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, H-1B, or L-1 petitions, and the judgment to know when a case isn't ready.
Good standing, any U.S. jurisdiction. Immigration is federal practice. We confirm bar status before any matter moves.
Written, responsive communication. Our clients are founders and engineers who expect written updates and fast turnaround. So do we.
Honest assessments. We turn down cases that won't succeed, and we want co-counsel who do the same.
FAQ
Questions attorneys ask
Where does the demand actually come from?
Thrive works closely with venture-backed technology companies, their investors, and their portfolio companies. Their founders, engineers, and researchers need O-1A, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW petitions on a steady basis, often more than our attorneys can take on at once without slowing down. That is the work we share.
How are co-counsel fees handled?
The same way: a written co-counsel agreement that sets out each attorney's role and share, disclosed to and consented to by the client before work begins. Fee terms are never a surprise to the client or to co-counsel.
Do you need attorneys licensed in a particular state?
Immigration is federal practice, so we work with attorneys licensed in any U.S. jurisdiction who are in good standing. We confirm bar status before any matter is shared.
What does the client experience look like?
The client always knows which attorneys are on their matter and who is responsible for what. Nothing moves to co-counsel without their informed consent, in writing.
We're a solo or small practice. Is that a fit?
Often the best one. Much of this work is well-scoped petitions on a defined timeline, which suits focused practices well. What matters is depth in employment-based categories and responsiveness, not headcount.
This page is directed to licensed attorneys and describes professional arrangements between lawyers. It is not an offer of legal services to the public and is not legal advice. Fee divisions with referring or co-counsel attorneys are structured as permitted by New Jersey RPC 1.5(e) and the corresponding rules of each participating attorney's jurisdiction: in writing, with the client's informed consent, and with joint responsibility or proportional work. Nothing on this page is an offer to pay non-lawyers for referrals.
The work is here
Introduce your practice.
Tell us the categories you handle and how you like to work. Our team replies within one business day.
Isabelle handles firm relationships and will be your first call. Karan, our responsible attorney, reviews every co-counsel arrangement before it is signed.
