CFDB Adds New Immigration Practice with Partners from BakerHostetler, Sidley Austin; Adds to Ever-Growing Roster of New Attorneys
March 6, 2026
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC (“CFDB”) announced the establishment of a new Immigration Practice with the addition of Timothy Payne and David Diorio as Partners. Both Payne and Diorio join from BakerHostetler and previously practiced at Sidley Austin, where they counseled corporate clients on immigration case processing and compliance best practices across a wide range of industries.
The addition of the Immigration Practice boosts CFDB’s capacity to deliver integrated, business-focused legal solutions to clients navigating the increasingly complex landscape of employment-based immigration. With this launch, CFDB strengthens its full-service platform by adding a critical capability for companies hiring and retaining foreign national talent. CFDB’s Immigration Practice plays a key role in identifying immigration risks and opportunities in the context of mergers, acquisitions and foreign direct investment transactions. Every employer is different, and CFDB takes a flexible approach in helping clients develop forward-thinking, cost-conscious immigration sponsorship policies appropriate to their market landscape.
The new practice will be particularly valuable for the firm’s diverse client base, including startups, emerging companies, trading firms, hospitals and technology companies, where founders, executives and key technical hires often require immigration support as part of company formation and growth. By combining immigration expertise with CFDB’s established corporate, regulatory and M&A capabilities, the firm can now offer a seamless, end-to-end advisory experience for entrepreneurs building high-growth ventures.
With more than 30 years of experience in immigration law, Payne has a deep understanding of the complex and dynamic legal and regulatory environment, as well as the business and human needs of his clients. His practice covers a wide range of work visas, as well as green card and citizenship applications, for individuals and corporations. Payne also advises and assists clients on immigration issues related to mergers and other corporate changes and helps them develop sensible immigration policies and practices to manage risks associated with hiring foreign national employees.
“Tim’s deep expertise and practical approach to immigration law make him an exceptional addition to our Firm,” said Drew Beres, Managing Partner at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. “His ability to counsel clients on both day-to-day immigration matters and the strategic implications of corporate transactions reflects the integrated advisory model our clients value.”
With a focus on business immigration law, Diorio assists clients on employment-related immigration and compliance matters, including nonimmigrant visas, employment-based immigrant visas, the PERM labor certification process, internal and government audits of I-9 and immigration-related wage and hour compliance and immigration support for mergers and acquisitions. In addition, he helps employers with customized immigration programs and policies that optimize their hiring, onboarding and retention of foreign employees.
“David brings a rigorous, compliance-oriented approach that is essential for companies managing complex immigration programs,” said Patrick Croke, Partner at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. “His experience helping clients design and implement scalable immigration policies will be invaluable as more businesses compete for global talent.”
“CFDB’s entrepreneurial platform and commitment to client service make it the ideal place to build an immigration practice,” said Timothy Payne. “David and I are excited to bring our combined experience to the Firm and to help clients address their immigration needs strategically and efficiently.”
“The opportunity to launch a new practice at a firm with CFDB’s collaborative culture and growth trajectory was compelling,” said David Diorio. “We look forward to working with our new colleagues to deliver practical, business-minded immigration solutions.”
In addition to Payne and Diorio, CFDB has also welcomed the following partners this year:
- Mike LeFevour (Litigation) – LeFevour represents clients in complex, high-stakes disputes nationwide, including products liability, commercial contracts, mass torts, pharmaceuticals, antitrust, class actions and government investigations. He has significant experience trying cases to verdict in both state and federal courts and played a central role in defending Allergan in government investigations and civil litigation related to prescription opioids, participating in multiple multi-month jury trials across several jurisdictions. Prior to joining CFDB, LeFevour was a litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
- Jason Burch (Outside General Counsel and Regulatory) – Burch serves as Outside General Counsel and strategic advisor to clients across the technology, sports and entertainment and regulated financial services sectors. He advises senior executives and boards on complex regulatory, operational and governance matters, with particular emphasis on guiding organizations through periods of growth, transformation and heightened regulatory scrutiny. Prior to joining CFDB, Burch spent nearly seven years at Uber, most recently as Legal Director, U.S. Regulatory, where he led national regulatory strategy.
- Taryn Strohmeyer (promoted to Partner, Corporate M&A) – Strohmeyer advises clients on domestic and international business transactions and general corporate matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments, internal restructurings and corporate governance. Since joining CFDB in July 2021, Strohmeyer has led some of the Firm’s most complex M&A transactions, managing deals of varying sizes across multiple industries. Prior to joining CFDB, she practiced at Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP in New York and London.