Joanne M. Farquharson

Foothold America is a specialist advisory firm that helps United Kingdom and European companies establish and grow a presence in the United States, led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Joanne M. Farquharson. The firm has been named Employee Management Services Advisory Firm of the Year in the United Kingdom at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025, recognising its role in guiding overseas businesses through the practicalities of hiring and managing people across the Atlantic.

Established in 2015, Foothold America focuses on US expansion services, offering comprehensive support that spans business setup, employment services and ongoing human resources management. For companies looking to enter one of the world's largest and most complex markets, the firm acts as an experienced partner able to remove much of the administrative and compliance burden that would otherwise stand in the way of expansion, allowing clients to focus on building their business rather than untangling unfamiliar rules.

At the heart of the firm's offering is its employee management capability. Its Employer of Record service enables clients to hire staff quickly in the United States without first establishing their own separate legal entity, while its cross-border PEO support provides co-employment solutions for businesses that already have a US entity. Through its wider people partnership and HR services, Foothold America manages onboarding, pay and benefits, and helps clients navigate the compliance requirements that vary from state to state, effectively serving as an extended human resources team for the companies it supports.

Managing employees in the United States requires close attention to employment law, benefits, payroll and multi-state compliance, areas where mistakes can be costly and where local knowledge is essential. Foothold America combines dedicated account management with practical expertise across these fields, giving overseas employers confidence that their US workforce is being managed correctly and that their obligations as an employer are being met. This blend of advisory guidance and hands-on service is central to the firm's value to expanding businesses. Expanding into the United States presents overseas businesses with one of their most complex human resources challenges, because employment law, payroll, benefits and tax obligations vary from state to state and carry real consequences for those who get them wrong. Establishing a local entity can be time-consuming and costly, and managing a US workforce requires knowledge that many expanding companies do not have in-house. Services such as employer of record and cross-border co-employment allow businesses to hire and manage staff compliantly without shouldering that burden alone, while dedicated account management provides the continuity and reassurance that overseas employers value as they build a presence in an unfamiliar market.

Joanne M. Farquharson brings some three decades of experience advising small and medium-sized businesses, with particular expertise in employee benefits, insurance, labour law compliance and risk management, and a clear commitment to helping business owners achieve their growth objectives. Under her leadership, Foothold America has established itself as a trusted adviser for companies taking their first or next steps into the US market. Its recognition as Employee Management Services Advisory Firm of the Year in the United Kingdom at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 reflects the confidence that expanding businesses place in the firm's expertise and support.