| Admission Details | * New York State (March 1994)
* U.S. Supreme Court (December 2003)
* U.S. Court of Appeals: First Circuit (February 2003), Second Circuit (October 1996), Third Circuit (October 2003), Fourth Circuit (November 2004), Fifth Circuit (October 1999), Sixth
Circuit (April 2008), Ninth Circuit (July 2010), and Eleventh Circuit (May 2003)
* U.S. District Courts: Southern District of New York (May 1994), Northern District of New York (July 2003), Eastern District of New York (May 1994), and Western District of New York (July 2004) |
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| Education | Fordham University, B.A.; Quinnipiac University, J.D. |
| Birth Information | Brooklyn, New York, February 3, 1968 |
| Associations & Memberships | American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2002
BDS Advisory Board, January 28, 2012
I have served on the Advisory Committee to the Legal Action Center (“LAC”) of the American Immigration Council (formerly known as the American Immigration Law Foundation) since August 2007. I was selected to serve on this committee due to my reputation as an immigration lawyer. The Advisory Committee consults with the staff attorneys of the LAC.
I also serve on the Amicus Committee for AILA’s National Office. I have been on AILA’s Amicus Committee since June 2009. Just like the LAC Advisory Committee, I was selected to serve on this committee due to my reputation as an immigration lawyer. The term “amicus curiae” is latin for “friend of the court.” The AILA Amicus Committee selects cases involving immigration issues of national importance and submits briefs in those cases on behalf of AILA before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. I have personally worked on amicus briefs for AILA before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals. On June 14, 2010, all of the members of the Amicus Committee, including me, received the Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for Excellence in Litigation from AILA. |
| Awards & Recognition | I have been listed in the publication, New York Super Lawyers, for the years 2008-2011. According to New York Super Lawyers, no more than 5% of the lawyers in the state can be selected to be in New York Super Lawyers.
I have successfully litigated thirteen precedent decisions in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
I have been a judge at the Annual NYU Moot Court Board Immigration Law Competition every year from 2006 to 2011.
On June 14, 2010, all of the members of the Amicus Committee, including me, received the Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for Excellence in Litigation from AILA. |
| Speaking Engagements | I am regularly invited to speak at continuing legal education classes regarding immigration law. Since 2003, I have taught over 25 continuing legal education classes. I have taught continuing legal education courses on virtually all of the areas of immigration law that I practice. |
| Publications | I have had 9 articles published relating to immigration law. |
| Employment | I worked at Bretz & Coven, LLP, from 1997 to 2010. I became a partner at Bretz & Coven, LLP, in 2006. At Bretz & Coven, LLP, I ran the firm’s federal practice and oversaw all of the firm’s briefs and motions before the Board of Immigration Appeals. I either litigated or supervised every case that Bretz & Coven, LLP, had that resulted in a precedent decision in the federal courts between 2002-2010. I ran the firm’s weekly attorney meeting and supervised the firm’s attorneys. I also trained the firm’s new attorneys and ran the intern program. I have successfully litigated numerous cases in immigration court throughout the country.
I was an adjunct professor of law at the Fordham University School of Law for the Spring 2011 semester. At Fordham, I worked in the Immigrant Rights and Access to Justice Clinic. I supervised law students in preparing asylum applications.
After I graduated law school, I volunteered for three years with Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York (“PLS”). While my work at PLS did not involve immigration law, the time that I spent there was influential on my work as an immigration lawyer because I developed experience as a litigator.
I was also a teacher at the New York Paralegal School from 1997 to 2001. Teaching at a paralegal school was very influential on my work as an immigration lawyer because in addition to refining my oratory skills, I also developed the ability to explain complex legal concepts in simple terms. |
| Additional Bio Details | My last name is pronounced: gwah-DAH-nyoh.
I am an immigration lawyer in New York City. I have been practicing immigration law since 1997. I was a partner in one of New York City’s bigger deportation defense firms. In setting up my own practice, I have decided to maintain a small office. It’s my goal to create a practice where I deal directly with my clients and take a hands on approach to all of my cases, rather than passing the case off to an associate or paralegal.
I don’t just think of myself as an immigration attorney. I also think of myself as a litigator. A litigator is a lawyer that goes to court. Knowing about immigration law is an important aspect of being a good immigration lawyer. However, for the kind of immigration law that I practice, it is just as important to be a good litigator, as it is to have knowledge of the immigration law.
Other Experience and Accomplishments:
I have been a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association since 2002.
I have successfully litigated thirteen precedent decisions in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
I have served on the Advisory Committee to the Legal Action Center (“LAC”) of the American Immigration Council (formerly known as the American Immigration Law Foundation) since August 2007. I was selected to serve on this committee due to my reputation as an immigration lawyer. The Advisory Committee consults with the staff attorneys of the LAC.
I also serve on the Amicus Committee for AILA’s National Office. I have been on AILA’s Amicus Committee since June 2009. Just like the LAC Advisory Committee, I was selected to serve on this committee due to my reputation as an immigration lawyer. The term “amicus curiae” is latin for “friend of the court.” The AILA Amicus Committee selects cases involving immigration issues of national importance and submits briefs in those cases on behalf of AILA before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. I have personally worked on amicus briefs for AILA before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals. On June 14, 2010, all of the members of the Amicus Committee, including me, received the Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for Excellence in Litigation from AILA. |