- Immigration Law

Shiva counsels businesses on acquiring and retaining talent and key employees from outside the United States. Global businesses and small local businesses alike require workers from abroad, and Shiva develops creative strategies for navigating the complex U.S. immigration system. She also advises employers in immigration compliance matters and assists employers in responding to audits and investigations. She has represented clients across a range of industries including high technology, manufacturing, government, independent schools, non-profits, service businesses and families.
Previous to McLane Middleton, Shiva established and directed Karimi & Associates, PC for 14 years (2000-2014). She served as chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Immigration Law Committee (2002-2007 and 2016 – 2019), and was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Immigration Law Steering Committee (2006-2007). She is a Council member of the Boston Bar Association, board member of the Lawyer’s Weekly Board of Editors, and also a long-time member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Shiva earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School (1998), and is currently admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. She received her B.A., cum laude, from Northeastern University.
Shiva is a frequent speaker on both immigration and real estate related matters for judges, attorneys and non-attorneys, and has given presentations at the Boston Municipal Court Department Judge’s Conference, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, Boston College Law School, and the Iranian Association of Boston, among others.
Area of Focus
Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit
Involvement
- Co-Chair, Immigration Law Section, Boston Bar Association
- Suffolk Law Alumni Board
- ProVisors, Boston II Executive Committee, M&A Group, Transitioning Business Advisor Group
- USA 500 Clubs, Woburn Host, International Roundtable Member
- Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Program
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
Awards
- Best Lawyers in America (Immigration Law), 2024
- Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers of 2021 and 2022 (Immigration)
- Mass Lawyers Weekly – Top Women of Law 2019
Additional Publications
- Immigration Practice Manual, MCLE New England, co-author – chapter 30: Current I-9 Employment Verification Procedures, Best Practices for IRCA Compliance, and Preparing for a Government Investigation
Speaking Engagements
- Immigration (Business NH Magazine’s NH Futurecast: 2020), 1/23/20
- Recordkeeping and the Form I-9 (2018 Human Resources Conference), 6/15/18
- Immigration Law in the New Administration (McLane Middleton’s NH Employment Law Update), 5/16/17
- Investor’s Visa E-2 and EB-5 (New England Broker’s Association), 3/1/17
- New Administration Expectations (International Business Series), 1/31/17
- Updates to the H-2B Temporary Worker Program (McLane Middleton’s MA Employment Law Update), 11/20/16
- Crossing the U.S. Border Inbound and Outbound (International Business Series), 11/4/16
- Immigration Law 2016 CLE (New Hampshire Bar Association), 5/19/16
- Investor’s Visa E-2 and EB-5 (Baystate Business Brokers), 5/17/16
- Investor’s Visa E-2 and EB-5 (Murphy Business), 3/2/16
- Businesses with Foreign Branches (International Business Series), 1/21/16
- Immigration Issues for Businesses (McLane Middleton), 2/17/15
- Landlord/Tenant Law (Boston Municipal Court Department Judge’s Conference), 2011
- Law Practice Management (Boston College Law School), 2010
- Immigration Basics (Massachsuetts Bar Association), 2006
- Federal Court Litigation (AILA New England Immigration Law Symposium), 2006
- Adult Continuing Education (ALRI/Boston Sabes), 2006
- Mandamus Actions; Immigration and Technology (Boston Bar Association), 2006 and 2004
Latest News
- Six McLane Middleton Attorneys Included in Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers of 2023 (November 21, 2023)
- 37 McLane Middleton Lawyers Included in Super Lawyers (October 17, 2023)
- Shiva Karimi to Present on a Webinar Sponsored by Peridot Family Law (September 27, 2023)
- Shiva Karimi Confirmed to the Leadership Team of the Boston Bar Foundation’s Board of Trustees (August 23, 2023)
- 57 Attorneys from McLane Middleton Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America (August 17, 2023)
- Shiva Karimi to Moderate Mass Lawyers Weekly In-house Counsel Breakfast (November 29, 2022)
- 10 McLane Middleton Attorneys Included in Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers of 2022 (November 28, 2022)
- 12 McLane Middleton Attorneys Included in Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers of 2021 (November 29, 2021)