Top Rated Immigration Attorney in Columbus, OH

Educational Background

• The Ohio State University, College of Engineering, 1983

Special Licenses/Certifications

• Licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio., 1990

Verdicts/Settlements

• Jury verdict of $8,000,000 - Franklin County Convention Facilities Authorities vs. C.P. Maple St, LLC.  This is an eminent domain case which culminated in the government's acquisition of 4 contiguous acres in downtown Columbus, Ohio for the construction of the Blue Jackets, Nationwide Arena.  The original offer was for $4,900,000. , 1998
• $1,630,575 settlement.  The case caption is: Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority vs. Chavez Urban Land Associates, et. al.  This was an eminent domain project for the taking of half an acre on Vine Street in downtown Columbus, Ohio.  The original offer was for $913, 125.  After 10 months of litigation, the case was settled for $1,630,575., 1998

Bar/Professional Activity

• Vice Chair, Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association., 2004
• Chapter Chair, Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association., 2009
• Advocacy Committee Liaison, Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association., 2011
• Chair Ohio AILA Chapter Legislative Committee, 2019

Honors/Awards

• An exclusive society of lawyers who achieved more than a 2 million dollar verdict or settlement on behalf of their clients., Life Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2005
• Top Lawyer, Columbus CEO Magazine, 2011
• Featured in special page as Top Lawyer in Columbus, Ohio.  Issue included other prominent lawyers who were honored separately including Betty Montgomery (former Ohio Attorney General). , Top Lawyer, Columbus CEO Magazine, 2012
• The article focused on visa obstacles and opportunities for foreign nationals to bolster business and enrich the economy in Columbus, Ohio.   , Immigration Impact on Business, Columbus CEO Magazine, 2016

Scholarly Lectures/Writings

• This segment offered alternative strategies for employing foreign nationals when the H-1B visa cap has been exhausted. , Panelist, Alternative to H-1B Visas, AILA Ohio Chapter, Ohio AILA Chapter CLE, 2008
• Worksite enforcement issues., Speaker, When ICE Cometh, Cleveland Bar Association, Attorneys, 2009
• This segment dealt with recent updates to case law coming out of the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals. , Speaker, PERM Audits & BALCA Updates, AILA Ohio Chapter, Ohio AILA Chapter CLE, 2009
• This segment dealt with updates on the adjudication of petitions for Aliens with Extraordinary Abilities and petitions for Advanced Degree aliens. , Speaker, Current Trends in I-140 Adjudications at the NSC, AILA Ohio Chapter, Ohio AILA Chapter CLE, 2010
• The impact of criminal offenses on naturalizing foreign nationals. , Speaker, Imperfect Naturalization, Analyzing the Risks of Naturalizing Lawful Permanent Residents, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2011 Annual Conference, Immigration Lawyers, 2011
• This segment offered practical and legal tips on defending employers before the US Department of Labor, Office of the Administrative Law Judge, against alleged regulatory violations., Speaker, LCA Audits - Effective Negotiation & Litigation Strategies, AILA Ohio Chapter, Ohio AILA Chapter CLE, 2011
• This segment offers tips on hiring and retaining the best talent. , Speaker, Attracting the Best Employees, AILA National Conference, 2012
• A short seminar regarding completion, record keeping requirements and enforcement relating to Employment Verification Form (Form I-9), Speaker, Immigration Update: Strategies for Effective Corporate Compliance, Human Resource Association of Central Ohio, Human Resources, 2013
• Upage on USCIS adjudicatory roles in L-1A and L-1B cases. , Panelst, In-Depth L-1 Visa Issues for the Experienced Practitioner, American Immigration Lawyers Association National Conference, Immigration Lawyers, 2017
• Impact of executive order on travel of citizens from certain predominantly Muslim countries to the US.  , Speaker, State of the Union: Impact of Executive Orders, Ohio State Bar Association, Attorneys, 2018
• Seminar to discuss certain issues relating to immigration law and clients affecting family law practitioner. , Speaker, Immigration Law for the Family Practitioner - Part 1, Ohio State Bar Association, Attorneys, 2018
• Seminar to discuss certain issues relating to immigration law and clients affecting family law practitioner. , Speaker, Immigration Law for the Family Practitioner - Part 2, Ohio State Bar Association, Attorneys, 2018
• Seminar to discuss certain issues relating to immigration law and clients affecting corporate law practitioner. , Speaker, Immigration Law for the Corporate Law Practitioner, Ohio State Bar Association, 2018
• Assist attendees in the best way to navigate from H-1B visa status to immigrant visa under the EB-5 alien entrepreneur program. , Discussion Leader, H-1B to EB-5, ILW, 2018
• Provide a lecture regarding the newly created H-1B Visa registration system by the USCIS to select H-1B visa candidates in the FFY 2021 H-1B visa lottery.  , Co-speaker, New H-1B Visa Registration, Washington DC AILA Chapter, Washington DC Immigration Bar, 2020
• Panelists in this fundamentals session will introduce the grounds of inadmissibility and deportability, when they apply, and the differences between them. Inadmissibility vs. Deportability: INA §212(a) and §237(a) Common Grounds of Inadmissibility Common Grounds of Deportability, Discussion Leader, The Distinction Between Inadmissibility and Deportability , AILA National Conference (held virtually), Immigration Lawyers, 2020

Videos

• BBC interview over the impact of the undocumented workers on the US workforce., BBC Interview - Immigration Legalization, Immigration, 2008

Pro bono/Community Service

• Represent the 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Natalia Laschenova in her quest to obtain legal status in the United States in Integrity Gymnastics & Pure Power Cheerleading LLC v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, et al..  Our firm has accepted this case on a pro bono basis.  The case is still pending in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. , 2010
• Columbus International Program - Board Member and Advisory Committee Member., 2012