Renee Hykel Cuddy
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Immigration Attorney in Philadelphia, PA
Selected to Rising Stars: 2019
The founder of Hykel Law, Renee Hykel Cuddy focuses her practice on a variety of immigration law matters. Located in Philadelphia, she represents clients not only at local immigration offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, but throughout the nation. A graduate of the Camden branch of Rutgers Law School, Ms. Cuddy has been admitted to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 2009. She is additionally admitted to practice before the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 2nd and 3rd Circuits. An accomplished athlete, Ms. Hykel Cuddy was a member of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team, winning several international medals and competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
A significant portion of Ms. Hykel Cuddy’s practice involves family immigration. Her experience in this regard has encompassed fiancée visas, visas for visitors and tourists, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals cases, same-sex immigration, asylum, and deportation defense. Ms. Hykel Cuddy has an employment-based immigration practice as well, and she has helped both businesses and applicants in petitions involving employment-based green cards, investor visas, and labor certifications involving Program Electronic Review Management.
Ms. Hykel Cuddy majored in English at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and received a Bachelor of Arts in 2001. Active in several professional organizations, her memberships include the Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Nicholas A. Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Outside of the legal area, Ms. Hykel Cuddy serves on the Board of Trustees for the PennAC Rowing Association, along historic Boathouse Row in Philadelphia and she serves on the Legal Committee for WomenSport International, the global voice for research-based advocacy for women in sports. Highly regarded by her colleagues, she possesses a 10.0 “Superb” peer-review rating through Avvo.
- 50%Immigration: Consumer
- 50%Immigration: Business
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2021
- Rising Stars: 2019
Articles about Renee Hykel Cuddy appearing in Super Lawyers
Additional Sources of Information About Renee Hykel Cuddy
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About Renee Hykel Cuddy
Admitted: 2009, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.hykellaw.com/about/attorney-bio/
Honors/Awards
- Saint Joseph’s University Women’s Rowing Varsity Captain, M.V.P.
- Saint Joseph’s University Athletics Hall of Fame, Inducted 2010
- Named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Immigration Lawyers in Pennsylvania, National Advocates Top 40 Under 40, https://www.thenationaladvocates.org/, 2016
- Nominated to Rising Stars List in PA by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyer's Rising Stars, www.superlawyers.com, 2019
Bar/Professional Activity
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- Pennsylvania – State and Federal Courts
- New Jersey – State and Federal Courts
- Cipriani Family Law Inn of Court (Philadelphia County)
- United States Olympians Association
- Member, Family Law Section, Philadelphia Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New Jersey , 2011
- Supreme Court of New Jersey, 2009
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2009
Educational Background
- Saint Joseph's University, Bachelor's of Arts, Major: English, 2001
Other Outstanding Achievements
- United States Olympic Team Athlete - USA Rowing Team. Competed in the Lightweight Women's Double Sculls and placed 10th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, 2008
- United States Rowing Team Member - Competed at the World Championships of Rowing in Italy, Spain, Japan, and England earning silver and bronze medals among the world's top competitors.
Special Licenses/Certifications
- AILA Philadelphia Chapter Co-Chair of the Liaison Committee to the USCIS Philadelphia Field Office , 2018
- Co-Chair for the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) Philadelphia Chapter's Liaison Committee to the USCIS Philadelphia Field Office, 2019
- AILA Philadelphia Chapter Co-Chair of Liaison Committee to the Philadelphia ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Office, 2017
- American Immigration Lawyer's Association Member, 2011
Verdicts/Settlements
- Asylum Approvals at the agency level (USCIS) and in Immigration Court (EOIR) for homosexual man from Honduras, battered woman (domestic violence) from Russia, political claim (protest against the government (Russia). Won appeal (N-336) of a denied Naturalization (US Citizenship) for client whose criminal record was expunged and accused of fraud for failing to disclose the conviction during the initial filing. I-601 Waiver for Fraud successful for spouse of US Citizen who misrepresented marital status on visa application, 2019
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- Spoke to Undergraduates of Temple University on Immigration Law, Speaker, Temple University Forum on Immigration Law for Undergraduates, 2019
Representative Clients
- I represent foreign nationals before several courts and agencies including the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, Immigration Court (EOIR), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), 2019
Pro bono/Community Service
- WomenSport International - Legal Committee Member. WomenSport International is the global voice for research based advocacy for women in Sport. , 2020
- FISA World Cup of Rowing Medalist: 2006, 2008
- FISA World Championships of Rowing Medalist: 2004, 2005
- United States Olympic Team Member: 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rowing, Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls: 10th place
- United States Olympic Committee Athlete Referral Speaker Network, Guest Speaker
- Philadelphia VIP Volunteer Attorney
- World Fit: Olympians Eradicating Child Obesity– Philadelphia School District Coordinator
- Saint Joseph’s University Law Alumni Chapter – Executive Board Member
- Represented Non-profit agency, Elder Law Center, for non-immigrant work visa (H1-B). , 2019
- Represented non-profit organization, Pennsylvania Athletic Rowing Association (PennAC) on boathouse row in Philadelphia, PA for a non-immigrant work visa (O-1) for coach of extraordinary ability for junior gold summer camp program (high school children), 2018
- Represented unaccompanied minor in removal proceedings., 2019
Industry Groups
- Athletes
- Citizenship
- Engineers
- Hospitals
- Information Technologies
- Medical Professionals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Removal Defense
- Spousal Visas
- Veterinarians
Last Updated: 3/2/2021