Category: Firm News

Gibney attorneys Stephen Maltby and Houman Afshar were recognized in the 2020 edition of  The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of immigration law. Gibney was also recognized as a top firm for immigration in New York. Published in 1982, The Best Lawyers in America© is one of the oldest and most respected peer review publications in the legal profession. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based on a peer review process designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

About Immigration

Dedicated to meeting the U.S. and global immigration needs of our clients around the world, our Immigration Group delivers strategic solutions specifically tailored to meet each client’s need. We partner with clients to help attract, support and retain the international talent essential to their business success. Learn more about who we are.

Gibney continues to grow its Immigration Group and we are pleased to welcome Kristen Heckman. Kristen has over 10 years of experience focusing on the immigration counseling of Fortune 500 corporations. She assists clients in the strategizing and preparation of visa petitions to facilitate both long- and short-term temporary work assignments, as well as permanent residence sponsorship and naturalization. She advises corporate clients on ongoing immigration policy development and workforce compliance efforts. Kristen received her JD from Touro College and her BBA from Hofstra University.

Gibney’s Immigration Group has been ranked by Chambers USA. The law firm guide recognized Gibney as a leading immigration provider in New York. Chambers notes that Gibney is a “well-regarded corporate immigration practice delivering both US and global immigration solutions” and highlights the firm’s “interdisciplinary approach to its immigration services, collaborating with other departments within the firm on issues such as employment, tax and social security.” Practice Chair Stephen Maltby was also recognized as a leading attorney in the New York immigration field.

Chambers USA ranks the top lawyers and law firms across all the United States of America. Clients and firms across many practice areas and geographies have trusted Chambers’ research for nearly 30 years. To compile the rankings, Chambers uses independent research with a team of over 200 researchers conducting thousands of interviews around the world.

About Immigration
Dedicated to meeting the U.S. and global immigration needs of our clients around the world, our Immigration Group delivers strategic solutions specifically tailored to meet each client’s need. We partner with clients to help attract, support and retain the international talent essential to their business success.

Known for our collaborative approach, we create customized programs that reflect the latest developments in immigration law and ensure ongoing worksite compliance. Our goal is to help clients seamlessly navigate immigration requirements for employees in every country and proactively plan for changes in law and policy. Learn more.

Associate Wesley Cheung has joined the Immigration Group in the San Francisco office. Wesley practices U.S. immigration and nationality law, concentrating in employment-based immigration.  He works with clients to obtain non-immigrant and immigrant visas, including preparation of petitions for researchers and scientists in the biotechnology and healthcare industries.

Wesley received his J.D. from University of California, Davis School of Law and his B.A. from University of California, Berkeley.

About the Immigration Group
Known for our collaborative approach, we create customized programs that reflect the latest developments in immigration law and ensure ongoing worksite compliance. We work with clients to balance priorities effectively and invest in processes that achieve their corporate goals and gain the trust of their employees. Our goal is to help clients seamlessly navigate immigration requirements for employees in every country and proactively plan for changes in law and policy.

The Immigration Group has welcomed three new associates.

Michele Guardado, Associate, has joined the New York office. She has experience serving corporations, individuals and families in obtaining their business and personal immigration objectives. Michelle attended Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and St. John’s University.

Beula Illingsworth, Associate, has joined the New York office. She practices in the area of U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law, concentrating in employment-based immigration. Beula attended New York Law School and the University of Florida.

Wesley Cheung, Associate, joined the San Francisco office. Wesley assists corporate clients in obtaining non-immigrant and immigrant visas. He served as a student advocate in the school’s Civil Rights Clinic as well as serving in the Immigration Law Clinic and working with a legal aid organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. Wesley attended the University of California, Davis School of Law.

Gibney’s Immigration Group creates programs that reflect the latest developments in immigration law and ensure ongoing worksite compliance. We advise employers on all types of immigration transactions and compliance issues including those applicable to business visitors, short-term assignees, expatriates and local hires.