Thaker | Berowitz | LLP

State Bar Admissions: New York State (2003); State of New Jersey (2002)

Federal Court Admissions:
United States Supeme Court (2007)
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2006)
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2006)
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2005)
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2003)
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (2003)
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2003)
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York (2003)
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (2002)

Reported Cases:

Matter of Zmijewska, 24 I. & N. Dec. 87 (BIA 2007) (An alien has not voluntarily failed to depart the United States under section 240B(d)(1) of the INA when the alien, through no fault of his or her own, was unaware of the voluntary departure order or was physically unable to depart within the time granted)

Zmijewska v. Gonzales, 426 F.3d 99 (2d Cir. 2005) (remanding to the Board of Immigration Appeals to determine whether an alien, who through no fault of her own, fails to depart under a grant of voluntary departure remains subject to the bar for failing to depart)

Ashley v. Ridge, 288 F.Supp.2d 662 (D.N.J. Oct. 29, 2003) (automatic stay of an Immigration Judge's grant of bond to a detained alien is unconstitutional)

Professional Associations Membership:

American Immigration Lawyers Association
New York State Bar Association
New Jersey State Bar Association
New York County Lawyers Association

Committee Memberships:

American Immigration Lawyers Association Pro Bono Committee Member (2006-Present)
New York County Lawyers Association Immigration and Nationality Committee Member (2006-Present)
New York County Lawyers Association Small and Solo Practice Committee Member (2006-Present)
New Your County Lawyers Association Federal Courts Committee Member (2006-Present)

Lectures and Speaking Engagements:

August 6, 2008: Guest Speaker, "Tips on Handling Immigration Cases Involving HIV/AIDS Patients," New York Presbyterian Hospital Center for Special Studies, New York, NY

July 31, 2008: Guest Lecturer, American Government and Politics (POLSC 11, Prof. James Bacher), Hunter College, New York, NY

February 29, 2008: Judge, American Bar Association Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Brooklyn, NY

February 26, 2008: Guest Lecturer, American Government and Politics (POLSC 110, Prof. James Bacher), Hunter College, New York, NY

February 12, 2008: Panelist, Practice Profile Lunch Series, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY

January 4, 2008: Judge, "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" High School Competition, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, Pace University, New York, NY

February 23, 2007: Judge, American Bar Association Law Student Division National Appellate Advocary Competition, Brooklyn, NY

November 10, 2006: Judge, Thomas Tang National Appellate Moot Court Competition (sponsored by National Asian-Pacific American Bar Association), Philadelphia, PA

February 24, 2006: Judge, American Bar Association Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Brooklyn, NY

Past Employment: Senior Associate, Bretz & Coven, LLP, New York, NY (2002-2007)

Education:

Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., 2002
Douglass College-Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, B.A., 1999

State Bar Admissions: New York State (1994); State of New Jersey (1993)

Federal Court Admissions:
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1999)
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1998)
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (1995)
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (1995)
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (2002)

Reported Cases:

Mojica v. Reno, 970 F.Supp. 182 (EDNY 1997) (finding that the 1996 amendments to the immigration laws did not apply retroactively to a lawful permanent resident who was seeking a waiver of criminal conviction that was obtained prior to the amendments to the law)

Professional Associations Membership:

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Lectures and Speaking Engagements:

August 6, 2008: Guest Speaker, "Tips on Handling Immigration Cases Involving HIV/AIDS Patients," New York Presbyterian Hospital Center for Special Studies, New York, NY

Past Employment: Partner, Bretz & Coven, LLP, New York, NY (2005-2007); Senior Litigation Associate, Bretz & Coven, LLP, New York, NY (1996-2005)

Education:

Touro Law Center, J.D., 1993
Colorado State University, M.A., 1978
Park College, B.A., 1973