Gus Shihab

Top rated Immigration attorney in Columbus, Ohio

The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates, Co., LPA
Gus Shihab
The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates, Co., LPA

Practice Areas: Immigration; view more

Licensed in Ohio since: 1993

Education: Capital University Law School

Languages Spoken: Arabic, English

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2024

The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates, Co., LPA

Capitol Square Office Tower
65 East State Street, Suite 1550
Columbus, OH 43215 Visit website

Details

Gus Shihab is the founding attorney behind The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates, Co., LPA. Over the past nearly 30 years, he has built a reputation for fiercely and creatively representing individuals and corporations. His firm serves clients in English, Spanish and Arabic. He primarily serves clients in Fairfax, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Southfield, Michigan; and Washington, D.C.

Mr. Shihab first began his academic career in civil engineering. He graduated with a B.S. from The Ohio State University in 1983. He went on to work as a Construction Engineer building a highway project in Kuwait City for 2 years.  He then joined the Ohio Department of Transportation as a Design Engineer.  Four years later, he was promoted to the position of Chairman of the Safety Program Coordinating Committee and Project Engineer in charge of Ohio's Transportation Safety Program. In 1991, Mr. Shihab became a licensed Professional Engineer, a designation only 50% of all Engineers enjoy.  Also, the same year. Mr. Shihab became a naturalized US Citizen.  

In 1992, Mr. Shihab completed a J.D. at the Capital University Law School and was admitted to the Ohio State Bar Association. Other jurisdictions he became licensed to practice in include the U.S. Supreme Court, the US Court of Appeals for the sixth circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the US District Court of the District of Columbia. 

During his career, Mr. Shihab represented colleges and universities, multinational corporations, foreign investors, and individuals navigating through the complex immigration system.  He has also filed appeals before administrative agencies and lawsuits against various governmental agencies seeking relief from adverse findings. 

As an immigrant, who first arrived in the United States on an F-1 visa, Mr. Shihab has firsthand experience of the immigration system. He has watched it evolve over the years and is eager to help other immigrant hopefuls navigate an increasingly complex system.

Practice areas

Immigration: Business, Immigration: Consumer

Focus areas

Naturalization & Citizenship

First Admitted: 1993, Ohio

Professional Webpage: https://www.shihabimmigrationfirm.com/our-firm/gus-m-shihab/

Educational Background:
  • The Ohio State University, College of Engineering, 1983
Special Licenses/Certifications:
  • Licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio., 1990
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • 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
Videos:
Honors/Awards:
  • Selected as peer-voted Best Lawyer by a process through Columbus CEO Magazine.  , Best Lawyers, Columbus CEO Magazine, 2022
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
Pro bono/Community Service:
  • Currently collaborating with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to represent an indigent foreign national in naturalization proceedings.  , 2023
  • Collaborated with the Legal Aid of Society of Columbus by accepting a pro bono for an indigent immigrant to file Application for extension of his permanent residence card and naturalization application.  , 2022
  • Volunteered before the Ohio State Legal Services Association and Ohio's Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association for Citizenship Clinic event.  The event was unfortunately canceled due lack of interest.  , 2022
  • Columbus International Program - Board Member and Advisory Committee Member., 2012
  • 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
Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Invited by the American Immigration Lawyers Association to be part of a speaker panel to present a session on PERM Labor Certification at the Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida in June 2023.  As part of this panel, I participated in the publication of a journal article to be included in the conference proceedings. , 2023
  • Recommended as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion speaker by the American Immigration Lawyers Association. , 2022
  • Between June 2022 and October 2022 with weekly or biweekly virtual meetings with 41 participants, served on the national 2023 Annual Conference Committee of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association to design seminar outlines for the Business Immigration track of the Annual Conference on Immigration Law, which will be held in Orlando, Florida in June 2023.  In the process, we devised 31 breakout sessions on corporate immigration law and recommended speakers.  , 2022
  • Presently and since 2021 serve as the Chair of the Litigation Committee at the Ohio Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association , 2021
  • Chair Ohio AILA Chapter Legislative Committee, 2019
  • Advocacy Committee Liaison, Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association., 2011
  • Chapter Chair, Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association., 2009
  • Vice Chair, Ohio Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association., 2004
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • Invited to speak by Franklin County Law Library in August 2023 to describe an overview of US Immigration Law. , Speaker, Immigration Law Overview, Franklin County Law Library, Lawyers, 2023
  • Invited by regional center CMB Export (one of the largest and leading approved regional centers by the US Citizenship & Immigration Services) to speak to foreign investors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain about the process of applying for permanent residence in the United States by investing capital in an approved regional center. The event is planned for July 2023 and the description in provided here is preliminary. , Permanent Residence by Investing in the United States - EB-5 Alien Entrepreneur Program, CMB Exports, Public, 2023
  • Invited by the Renal Physician Association to preset in their annual meeting, which hosted 700 physicians about how to retain foreign physicians. , Speaker , Hiring Physicians with a J1 or H1B Visa, Renal Physician Association Annual Meeting, Physicians, 2023
  • 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
White Papers:
Industry Groups:
  • Colleges & Universities
  • Engineering
  • Families.
  • Healthcare
  • Information Technology
  • Manufacturing

Office location for Gus Shihab

Capitol Square Office Tower
65 East State Street, Suite 1550
Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: 614-756-4777

Selections

3 Years Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2024

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