The Practice

I have handled a wide-variety of cases and other legal matters over my career. I may be a good fit for someone facing a major legal issue such as threatened removal from the United States, risk of criminal prosecution, loss of employment, or serious injury. I also may be of assistance when you encounter a commercial or governmental policy or practice that strikes you as being unfair and “not the way it should be.” I try to look at cases and legal problems from all points of view and come up with creative and economical solutions.

Services Provided

1.   Immigration Law Advice, Affirmative Applications, and Defense

              In addition to serving as an immigration judge, I have years of experience representing clients in deportation (removal) proceedings and other immigration-related proceedings before both immigration courts and “Article III” federal courts. 

I also have advised clients in very difficult immigration situations and attempted to help them devise strategies designed to maximize the chances that they will be allowed to remain and work in the United States.

Since returning to private practice (and with the change in administrations), I have become more and more involved in immigration law in various areas. This has included providing advice to individuals, employers, and non-profits. This work has covered a variety of areas including defense of potential enforcement actions and affirmative applications for various types of visas, adjustment of status, and naturalization. I have been working closely with Robert S. Whitehill who has vast immigration law experience.

2.             Litigation

                  I have substantial trial and appellate experience in both state and federal court. Although I have spent a good deal of time in court questioning witnesses and presenting arguments, often the heart of my work entails factual analysis, legal research, and legal writing.

                In civil litigation, I typically represent the individual or a closely held business as opposed to a publicly traded corporation or an insurance company.   I have substantial experienced in class actions and multi-district litigation.

3. Criminal Defense

I have for many years been a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The Panel involves court-appointed representation of indigent clients. On occasion, I have been retained privately to serve as defense counsel in federal and state court.

4.             “Know Thy Limitations”

                  I like to think that I offer a good combination — small firm lawyer/substantial courtroom experience/significant emphasis on careful research and writing. Assisted by the power of technology, this combination puts me in a good position to be of assistance to people in difficult legal situations.  However, it would be foolish for a small firm practitioner to take on certain types of cases, i.e., a class action, without first assembling a team that is capable of litigating against one or several major law firms.  I have substantial experience teaming with other lawyers in complex cases.