Burr & Forman’s Anton F. Mertens, an Atlanta-based immigration partner and president of the Belgian American Chamber of the South, has been recognized for his more than 20 years of service to the Kingdom of Belgium. Mertens was awarded the prestigious Officer’s Cross of the Order of Leopold signed by King Philippe, King of the Belgians, last week at a reception that took place at Burr & Forman's Atlanta office in Atlantic Station.
"We are extremely proud of Anton's leadership in strengthening the deep business ties between Georgia and Belgium," said Erich Durlacher, Burr & Forman's president and Atlanta office managing partner. "Anton's dedication and years of service to both Atlanta and her sister city, Brussels, is an inspiration to all of us. We cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this high honor."
In 2013, Mertens was appointed by Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to serve as Belgium’s Advisor for Economic Diplomacy for State of Georgia.
The Order of Leopold is one of the three current Belgian national honorary orders of knighthood and is awarded by royal decree. The March 23 reception honored and celebrated the resumption of the Delta Airlines’ direct flight between Atlanta and Belgium’s capital city of Brussels.
In attendance were Consul General of Belgium in Atlanta William De Baets and Delta Airlines' executive vice president and chief financial officer Paul Jacobson as well as Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and Pieter de Crem, secretary of state for foreign trade of Belgium and the country’s former deputy prime minister and minister of defense.
At Burr & Forman, Mertens is a member of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice. He provides guidance on business immigration matters for investors, managers, executive and technical personnel across many industries, including manufacturing, technology and engineering. He helps companies and their executives obtain business and professional visas, labor certifications, immigrant visas and citizenship. He has represented consulates, and also assists investors and developers in utilizing the immigrant visa program (EB-5). He also guides employers on compliance procedures related to work eligibility as required under the I-9 workplace compliance provisions of federal law.
Burr & Forman’s experienced legal team serves clients with local, national, and international legal needs. With particular industry strengths in the financial institutions, health care and manufacturing sectors, the firm’s attorneys draw from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience to serve as trusted business advisors and legal counsel to help clients achieve their goals. Burr & Forman is a Southeast, regional firm with 300 attorneys and 11 offices in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.burr.com.
