Our latest featured speaker is Elaine Weiss from Weiss & Kahn, P.A.!

Elaine will be speaking for us at our upcoming Immigration 101 South Florida Conference in Fort Lauderdale on October 18-19! This is Elaine’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for her presentation!

Our latest featured speaker is Dilip Patel from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney!

Dilip will be speaking for us at our upcoming Immigration 101 South Florida Conference in Fort Lauderdale on October 18-19! Dilip is a repeat speaker who has consistently received great evaluations, and we can’t wait to have him speak again!

With more than 30 years of legal experience, Dilip Patel has built a strong practice which deals with all aspects of immigration law. Dilip focuses on assisting individuals and families, as well as U.S. companies that hire foreign nationals for temporary or permanent work. Using his background in the IT industry and corporate transactions, Dilip is able to provide counsel on issues related to relocation of highly skilled workers. He also provides assistance to investors from abroad who wish to live in the U.S. for the purpose of managing their businesses.

Dilip’s career began in London where he worked in one of the city’s oldest law firms for five years before moving to the United States and settling in the Tampa Bay area. Since then, Dilip has worked in the international and business department of one of Florida’s largest law firms and served as general counsel and vice president of a large IT company before opening and managing his own firm. Most recently, Dilip worked in the Tampa office of a Florida-based firm in their Corporate Practice Group where he practiced immigration and corporate law.

Dilip is Board certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar and has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2006. In 2018 and 2015, he was named Lawyer of the Year in Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America® and in 2016 was selected by his peers to the Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers list for Immigration Law. Additionally, Dilip has received the AV® distinction, which is the highest available mark for professional excellence from by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.

A frequent speaker at the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s conferences and author of immigration-related articles, booklets and newsletters, Dilip is involved in a number of organizations in the Tampa Bay area including serving on the board of directors of the INDO-US Chamber of Commerce.

Our latest featured speaker is Maria Mejia-Opaciuch from Carlton Fields!

Maria will be speaking for us at our upcoming Immigration 101 South Florida Conference in Fort Lauderdale on October 18-19! This is Maria’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for her presentation!

Maria Mejia-Opaciuch has more than 25 years’ experience providing comprehensive legal services related to U.S. immigration and nationality law for businesses of all sizes, families, and individuals. Her clients include Fortune 100 companies in the banking, financial services, pharmaceuticals, technology, and specialty chemicals industries.

Ms. Mejia-Opaciuch assists clients with their immigration programs and policies. She has extensive experience working with human resources staffing agencies to bring foreign national employees to the United States and keep them in the country with valid employment authorization on either long- or short-term assignments, using the various nonimmigrant temporary work visas available under U.S. immigration laws. She offers a breadth of knowledge and experience in processing residency applications to keep foreign nationals in the United States indefinitely.

She has designed best practices for regulatory enforcement programs including Form I-9, E-Verify, no-match, and public access folder record-keeping requirements for H-1B visa holders. Ms. Mejia-Opaciuch has assisted in mock investigations at various company sites to prepare corporate clients for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement site visits. She has also trained and educated human resource professionals on I-9 or U.S. Department of Labor compliance and regularly conducts mock I-9 audits to ensure compliance. Ms. Mejia-Opaciuch’s services complement those of the firm’s immigration group, specifically with regard to EB-5 programs and foreign investments as a means to emigrate to the United States, consular processing, and waivers.

Our latest featured speaker is Juliana Lamardo from the Law Offices of Juliana G. Lamardo, P.A.!

Juliana will be speaking for us at our upcoming Immigration 101 South Florida Conference in Fort Lauderdale on October 18-19! This is Juliana’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for her presentation!

Juliana G. Lamardo is a Solo Practitioner who opened the Law Offices of Juliana G. Lamardo, P.A. on January 5, 2016. She was previously a Senior Associate Attorney with a private law firm for over six years. She concentrates in the areas of Deportation Defense, Family-Based Residency, and Naturalization. She earned her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law in Orlando and received a Bachelors in Business Administration from Florida International University in Miami.

Ms. Lamardo has represented clients in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court and before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on family-based petitions, applications for residency, asylum applications, and applications for citizenship. Her dedication to clients is enhanced by the fact that Ms. Lamardo experienced the immigration process firsthand when officially becoming a United States citizen in 2001, having immigrated from Brazil in 1987. Ms. Lamardo is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Ms. Lamardo understands the complexities associated with immigration procedures, and she applies her knowledge and background to competently assist those who wish to build a life in this country.

Our latest featured speaker is Marisa Casablanca from Akerman LLP!

Marisa will be speaking for us at our upcoming Immigration 101 South Florida Conference in Fort Lauderdale on October 18-19! 

Marisa is a repeat speaker for us, having previously been on the faculty panels at our Immigration 101: A Comprehensive Immigration Practice Program and Visa Processing seminar, where attendees gave her glowing evaluations. Welcome back, Marisa!

Maria “Marisa” Casablanca has dedicated herself to the practice of U.S Immigration and Nationality Law for 25 years. Her practice involves representing corporate clients and individuals in obtaining immigration assistance and benefits. Marisa is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, and was a member of The Florida Bar’s Certification Committee for Immigration and Nationality Law.

Marisa counsels her clients on a wide array of immigration related issues including obtaining assistance and benefits such as employment visas (EB-5) as well as business related visas and residency for foreign nationals, representing family members of permanent residents and United States Citizens, and assisting those seeking asylum.

An experienced litigator, Marisa practices in all areas of Immigration law and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Southern District Court and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She has filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court on an immigration issue that conflicted with different states. She advises employers on compliance procedures and counsels individuals on how to maintain their status in the United States.

Our latest featured speaker is Christine Alden from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney!

Christine will be speaking for us at our upcoming Immigration 101 South Florida Conference in Fort Lauderdale on October 18-19! Christine has previously spoken for us at our 2016 Immigration 101: A Comprehensive Immigration Practice Program where attendees said she was very knowledgeable and extremely professional. Welcome back, Christine!

Christine J. Alden provides customized immigration solutions for a global clientele. As a naturalized citizen herself, she recognizes the importance of U.S. citizenship and the opportunities and security it brings. She is also able to identify with each and every one of her clients, no matter the situation or walk of life.

Christine serves individual clients, especially unique and complex cases, as well as business and corporate clients across a variety of industries – in the U.S. and abroad. Over the last two decades, Christine has helped countless individuals successfully immigrate to the U.S. including foreign nationals and entrepreneurs investing in the U.S. and creating jobs. She has helped meet the business needs of American companies in securing visas to bring their skilled workers, multinational executives and managers to add to their workforce and contribute to the U.S. economy. Additionally, she has helped individuals who qualify to self-sponsor in the extraordinary ability and national interest waiver categories obtain permanent residence. She has also been honored to help reunite families and loved ones, creating a positive impact on their lives and helping strengthen their communities.

Her entire career has been focused solely on immigration. She is currently the President-elect of the South Florida chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Within the AILA South Florida, she is the Chair of Budget for the association, Coordinator of National Day of Action which consists of organizing lobbying efforts to implement common sense immigration reform, Vice Chair of the Customs and Border Protection Liaison Committee and Vice Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion committee.

Christine is also the President of the British American Business Council of Miami and very involved with the local European Union Chamber joint events.

Our latest featured speaker is Virginia Milstead from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP!

Virginia will be speaking for us at our upcoming 13th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp in Los Angeles on October 12th! Virginia has previously spoken for us at our 2012 and 2013 Federal Court Boot Camps, and our 2014 and 2017 Superior Court Boot Camps, where attendees raved about her presentations. Welcome back, Virginia!

Virginia F. Milstead has a broad commercial litigation practice, representing clients in both federal and state courts, with a particular emphasis on securities and takeover litigation, director misconduct and related claims. She has represented clients in matters involving federal securities laws, duties of corporate directors, civil RICO, unfair business practices, and various other contract and tort claims.

Ms. Milstead has been a speaker at various conferences and bar groups. In addition to speaking at events hosted by the Antitrust and Unfair Business Practices and Business and Corporations Law sections of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, she has participated in seminars related to practice in federal court, including serving as a panelist at the Third Annual William French Lecture at Pepperdine University School of Law, featuring retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; and on three occasions she has been a panelist at the Byrne Judicial Clerkship Institute. Ms. Milstead also has organized and conducted new lawyer training related to class actions.

Ms. Milstead is a graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D., 2004, summa cum laude), and was Literary and Citation Editor of the Pepperdine Law Review.

Our latest featured speaker is Germain Labat from Vedder Price!

Germain will be speaking for us at our upcoming 13th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp in Los Angeles on October 12th! Germain has previously spoken for us at our 2017, 2016, and 2014 Superior Court Boot Camps in Los Angeles, where seminar attendees said his presentations were really dynamic, and gave great examples and practice tips that were easy to relate to. We can’t wait to have him speak for us again, welcome back, Germain!

Germain D. Labat is a Shareholder at Vedder Price and head of the Litigation group in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Mr. Labat is an experienced trial lawyer who advises and represents companies and their executives in complex civil litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration and other ADR forums. His litigation practice focuses on all manner of complex business disputes, including commercial litigation, securities litigation, corporate governance and control disputes, commercial real estate litigation, and class action defense. His wide-ranging list of clients includes both public and privately held companies in the financial services, real estate, health care, energy, retail and technology sectors.

Mr. Labat is a forceful advocate in the courtroom, having tried numerous jury and bench trials of complex and lengthy matters, including one of the longest bench trials in California history that spanned nearly 300 trial days. While Mr. Labat typically serves as defense counsel, he also has experience representing plaintiffs, having successfully obtained multimillion-dollar verdicts for his clients.

Mr. Labat is also experienced in conducting internal investigations, acting as counsel to Special Litigation Committees in response to both external and internal allegations of impropriety, and counseling clients and their boards of directors on pre-litigation strategy and planning.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Labat was a partner with a leading international law firm. Before that he spent his early years of practice representing Silicon Valley start-ups and publicly traded tech companies in the Securities Litigation Group at another Am Law 100 firm.

He is fluent in Spanish.

Our latest featured speaker is Diana Iketani Iorlano from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP!

Diana will be speaking for us at our upcoming 13th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp in Los Angeles on October 12th! Diana has previously spoken for us at our 12th CA Superior Court Boot Camp in 2017 where attendees raved about her. We can’t wait to have Diana back! 

Diana Iorlano’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, regulatory and compliance issues, and administrative proceedings. She has litigated and negotiated matters for clients in technology, entertainment, media, financial services, real estate, insurance, retail, healthcare and other industries. Diana’s practice includes privacy and data security, entertainment litigation, trademark and copyright, unfair competition, and government and regulatory actions. She is actively involved in all phases of litigation, from pre-litigation counseling through trial and appeal, in state and federal court. She also served as Manatt’s Chief Recruiting Officer (CRO) for two years and managed recruitment of the firm’s professional talent at all levels, including equity and income partners, associates, summer associates, managing directors, advisors, analysts, and consultants.

Diana previously served as a volunteer temporary judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court from 2004 to 2010.

Our latest featured speaker is Damian Capozzola from The Law Offices of Damian D. Capozzola!

Damian will be speaking for us at our upcoming 13th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp in Los Angeles on October 12th! Damian is a repeat speaker for us, having previously been on the faculty panels for 12th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp, 11th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp, and 14th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp, to name a few! Damian routinely gets rave reviews from seminar attendees, and we are excited to have him back!

Damian D. Capozzola is a sole practitioner in his nineteenth year of litigation practice. Damian has handled significant litigation matters across a broad spectrum of industries and has represented some of the world’s largest defense contractors, food manufacturers and wholesalers, and telecommunications companies.

Damian has successfully first-chaired nine jury trials, three bench trials, and two arbitrations, and has contributed to successful trial results and settlements in a number of other matters while practicing at three leading national law firms and then since 2013 as founder of his own firm. He has extensive experience in taking and defending depositions, and he has written and lectured on litigation strategies — including the effective use of technology in the courtroom — and working with experts. Since 2006 he has been the co-author of the Thomson Reuters/West Trial Practice Series treatise Expert Witnesses in Civil Trials: Effective Preparation and Presentation.

Damian also has experience with a range of employment, personal injury, and environmental issues, from mass tort litigation to multi-party groundwater contamination mediations to advising clients on discrete issues. Finally, through the years, he has devoted a significant amount of pro bono time prosecuting misdemeanor crimes for two local municipalities. Most recently, Damian secured guilty verdicts on both counts in a two-day bench trial in which the defendant was represented by an attorney with an established track record of filing civil rights lawsuits alleging officer misconduct.

In 2011 Damian was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger (and was subsequently reappointed by Governor Brown) to the California Law Revision Commission, which he chaired in 2014. He is also a Past-President of the Los Angeles Italian-American Lawyers.