Recent Publication:
Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss the Trump administration's Presidential Memorandum Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court, which directs AG Pam Bondi to seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms who file “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious” lawsuits against the federal government.
Scott currently serves as the chair of Cozen O'Connor's Immigration Practice and represents both corporate and individual clients in all aspects related to U.S. immigration law. Scott's corporate clients include major global organizations in the financial services, hospitality, fashion, media, IT, energy, agriculture, insurance, and health care sectors, along with organizations specializing in professional services and private club industries.
Specifically, he provides an array of immigration services, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence (green card), labor certification, and citizenship, along with I-9 review and compliance services, with a focus on global workforce mobility issues such as due diligence considerations and risk management assessments for mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, downsizings, and startups. Scott also represents individuals with entrepreneurial options as well as with family-based immigration matters. He also represents both regional centers and individual investors in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
Scott has coordinated centralized representation of U.S. immigration matters for financial services, investment management, and insurance divisions of one of the world’s largest diversified financial services organizations. He has managed corporate restructuring and consolidation issues for the immigration practice of a major health care and health insurance provider. He has represented a wide array of individual professional athletes from major and minor league organizations in baseball, basketball, hockey, squash, and other sports on visa and citizenship matters. Scott assisted numerous small business owners across various industries with registration before the State Department under the E-visa program for treaty traders and treaty investors. He has implemented I-9 review and compliance programs for multiple national and international businesses and across a wide range of sectors.
Scott is an active member of the Investor Markets Committee of Invest In the USA (IIUSA) as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) where he previously served as a program committee and symposium coordinator for the New York Chapter Immigration Law Symposium. He is also an allied member of eb5investors.com and a member of the board of the European American Chamber of Commerce Florida chapter. Scott is a past member of the University of Miami Citizens Board and Law360 Immigration Editorial Advisory Board. He is a former member of the Gulliver Schools Board of Trustees.
Scott received his law degree from John Marshall Law School and his bachelor’s from the University of Tennessee.
Not a Member of the Florida Bar. Admitted in Georgia only.
News
March 10, 2025
Scott Bettridge was featured in a recent South Florida Sun Sentinel article discussing President Donald Trump's proposed $5 million 'Gold Citizenship Card' plan.
January 27, 2025
Scott Bettridge and David Adams were quoted in a Law.com article discussing immigration enforcement actions in New Jersey and the threat to individuals and businesses.
November 18, 2024
Scott Bettridge was quoted in a Bloomberg Law article discussing how employers should brace for tougher immigration audits under the incoming administration, which is expected to increase enforcement, including surprise raids and heightened I-9 scrutiny.
July 10, 2024
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, Maritime, and Mergers & Acquisitions practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Michael Deutsch, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, Jonathon Foglia, David Heffernan, Matthew Howell, James Kwartnik, Robert Magovern, Jeffrey Mullen, Patrick Rizzi, Rachel Schwartz, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2024 Legal Guide.
June 10, 2024
Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”
March 27, 2024
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Olivera, Lawrence Prosen, and Frances Rayer have been selected as top authors for JD Supra’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for their thought leadership on key topics during 2023. Additionally, David Adams and Scott Bettridge were recognized for authoring a top-read article on immigration.
March 18, 2024
David Adams and Scott Bettridge were quoted in a SHRM article discussing the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), set to launch in 2025, and what employers and travelers should know about this pre-travel clearance system.
August 01, 2023
Scott Bettridge was quoted in HR Dive discussing employers using E-Verify for Form I-9.
July 28, 2023
These lists recognize lawyers “mastering,” “leading,” “revolutionizing,” and “dominating” their fields in their respective states and nationwide.
July 24, 2023
Scott Bettridge spoke with HR Dive about the updated Form I-9 announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services, which will be available on August 1, 2023.
July 10, 2023
Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.
June 05, 2023
Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.
June 01, 2023
Scott Bettridge was quoted in The Real Deal discussing Florida Senate Bill 264.
May 30, 2023
Scott Bettridge was quoted in The Real Deal discussing Florida Senate Bill 1718.
May 19, 2023
Scott Bettridge was quoted in the Commercial Observer discussing a Florida law signed recently that is designed to find unauthorized immigrant workers.
May 19, 2023
Scott Bettridge was quoted in the South Florida Sun Sentinel discussing a new Florida state law designed to catch unauthorized immigrant workers.
May 05, 2023
Scott Bettridge was quoted in Law360 discussing the legislation severely limiting the ownership of Florida property by people and entities from China.
July 11, 2022
For 30 years, The Legal 500 has assessed the strengths of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions. The rankings use a series of criteria, including client feedback, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.
June 02, 2022
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.
December 21, 2021
Scott Bettridge was quoted in HR Dive discussing the decrease in H-1B visas.
August 09, 2021
Scott Bettridge joined the Miami Global Net podcast to discuss the immigration categories into the United States, the impact COVID-19 has on immigration, and his perspective going forward.
June 17, 2021
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2021 Legal Guide.
May 26, 2021
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.
June 22, 2020
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Stephen Cozen, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Christopher Sweeney, and Jeff Vogel to its 2020 Legal Guide.
Publications
March 25, 2025
Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss the Trump administration's Presidential Memorandum Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court, which directs AG Pam Bondi to seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms who file “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious” lawsuits against the federal government.
March 18, 2025
David Adams and Scott Bettridge discuss updates to ETIAS, including its new rollout date.
February 27, 2025
Scott and David discuss the Trump administration's new “gold card” visa and pathway to citizenship for foreign investors paying $5 million.
January 22, 2025
Scott Bettridge and Elizabeth Olivera summarize how six of President Trump’s executive orders will impact immigration policy.
January 21, 2025
Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss the likely increase in I-9 audits and potential ICE raids at workplaces and what employers should do.
November 21, 2024
Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss possible changes coming to immigration policy under a second Trump administration.
September 26, 2024
David S. Adams and Scott Bettridge review recent changes to TSA's REAL ID, online passport renewal, and the ETIAS rollout.
July 19, 2024
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule imposing increased fines on employers for failure to comply with I-9 regulations.
January 31, 2024
Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss the USCIS fee increases and what you need to know to plan your 2024 immigration budget.
January 19, 2024
The European Travel Information and Authorization System roll-out has been postponed to 2025. Scott Bettridge and David Adams discuss what to expect.
November 06, 2023
Scott Bettridge and David Adams highlight immigration updates from the month of October.
October 04, 2023
Scott Bettridge and David Adams highlight immigration updates from the month of September.
August 03, 2023
DHS has proposed a new pilot program for virtual Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification inspections that would apply to employers not currently enrolled in E-Verify.
August 02, 2023
The European Travel Information and Authorization System will require all US citizens to obtain ETIAS approval prior to travelling to Europe.
July 24, 2023
On July 25, 2023, USCIS will issue a new Form I-9. DHS has also issued a new rule regarding the virtual inspection of Form I-9.
May 12, 2023
The bill targets the influx of illegal immigration into the state with tougher employment requirements and adding some of the strongest penalties in the nation.
January 09, 2023
USCIS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to adjust certain benefit request fees, which haven’t been changed since 2016.
December 12, 2022
Effective Dec. 12, 2022, USCIS will automatically extend the validity of Green Cards for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.
November 09, 2022
The TSA has extended the requirement for all nonimmigrant foreign nationals to present proof of being fully vaccinated prior to entering the United States.
November 18, 2021
Scott Bettridge authored an article about the United States reopening its border to international travelers from 33 countries including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and the European Schengen area (EU) and with this new proclamation has implemented a global vaccination requirement for all adult foreign national air travelers pursuant to CDC-specific regulations.
July 16, 2020
Scott Bettridge discusses new Florida legislation requiring all government employers and certain private employers to use E-Verify beginning January 1, 2021.
June 23, 2020
Fran Rayer, Scott Bettrigde, Daniela Berisiartu Barshel, and Elizabeth Olivera discuss President Trump's extension of Proclamation 10014.
April 29, 2020
Scott Bettridge discusses what employers need to know about the new I-9 Form.
April 23, 2020
Fran Rayer, Scott Bettridge, Daniela Barshel, and Elizabeth Olivera discuss what President Trump's temporary suspension of certain categories of immigrants from entering the United States means and who is impacted.
Events & Seminars
Past Events
February 25, 2025
- Webinar
January 27, 2025
- Miami, FL
December 11, 2024
- Webinar
June 14, 2024
- Chicago, IL
December 05, 2023
- Philadelphia, PA
July 11, 2023
- Miami, FL
November 02, 2022
- Webinar
November 30, 2021
- Miami, Fla.
October 05, 2021
- Webinar