Managing Member Profile

Peter F. Assad

Peter F. Asaad
Attorney At Law

pasaad [at] immigrationsolutions [dot] com

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The American Bar Association has recognized Mr. Asaad for his achievement “as one of the nation’s leading litigators” in the field of immigration law. Achieving a high level of distinction in the field for his demonstrated legal ability and ethical standards, the firm’s managing member, Peter F. Asaad, has also been awarded a national Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell based upon extensive confidential peer review from members of the Bar. Mr. Asaad also serves as an Adjunct Professor at American University, Washington College of Law, where he teaches and develops an advanced course on business immigration law.  Advancing the practice of immigration law, Mr. Asaad is Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Immigration Litigation Committee and has served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the DC Bar Immigration & Human Rights Committee.  Elected by his peers to further education for immigration lawyers, he currently serves as Vice-Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (covering the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia).

An authority on complex issues in U.S. immigration law, Mr. Asaad has been a guest speaker on behalf of Washington Post Radio, the District of Columbia Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, as well as for other institutional bodies and news media groups. Previously, Mr. Asaad served as Lead Counsel for WJLA ABC News Legal Resource Center.

Currently as the Managing Member of Immigration Solutions Group, PLLC, Mr. Asaad represents U.S. companies and multinational corporations to help manage effective streamlined immigration programs. He advises clients on all business-related and employment-based visa matters including various I-9 compliance issues on a day-to-day basis. On the forefront of immigration law and policy, Mr. Asaad is Chairman of the National Council for Innovation as well as the Senior Immigration Policy Advisor to Global Science Partnerships for the 21st Century (GSP21), a U.S. Department of State endorsed non-profit organization founded by the former Science and Technology Advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell. Additionally, Mr. Asaad serves on a DC Bar Steering Committee and is an appointee of the U.S. attorney defense panel of the District of Columbia – selected to the position by judges of the Court. Born in Chicago as a first generation American to Egyptian immigrants, Mr. Asaad brings first-hand understanding to foreign nationals from various countries and cultures.

Practice Emphasis

  • Specializing in Immigration and Nationality Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Litigation

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia Bar Admission
  • Maryland Bar Admission
  • Fourth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals
  • Other Federal Court Bar Admissions

Education

  • J.D. Cum Laude (Honors), American University, Washington College of Law
  • B.A. Cum Laude (Honors), University of Rochester

Professional Leadership Activities

  • Elected Executive Board Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association, District of Columbia (2008-Present), Currently “Vice-Chair”
  • Co-Chair, American Bar Association, Immigration Litigation Committee (2008-Present)
  • Chairman of the Board and Chief Legal Officer , The Indigent Fund (2004-Present)
  • Judicial Appointed Member, Criminal Defense U.S. Panel, District of Columbia Superior Court (2002-Present)
  • Steering Committee Member, District of Columbia Bar Law Practice Management “2006 Best Section of the Year Award” (2005-2008)
  • Chair, DC Bar Immigration & Human Rights Committee (2007-2008)
  • Co-Chair, American Immigration Lawyers Association, District of Columbia Chapter New Member Division (2005-2007)
  • Former Lead Counsel, ABC News Legal Resource Center (WJLA) (2004-2006)
  • Co-Chair, Technology Subcommittee, District of Columbia Bar Law Practice Management (2005-2006)
  • Steering Committee Member, The Maryland Tech Council (2006-2008)
  • Chair, Interactive Communications Committee, District of Columbia Bar (2004-2005)

Selected Representative Matters

  • Immigration counsel to the leading global broadband satellite communications provider for business, governments, and consumers on various business related and employment-based visa matters and I-9 compliance issues.
  • Chief Legal Officer to an international consulting company that specializes in consulting services to governments and private clients in the areas of international business and political/cultural networking.
  • Counsel to International Environmental Organization on various business and employment matters.
  • Counsel to a U.S. government defense employee in obtaining a fiancée visa in a short period of time.
  • Counsel to mother in detention and obtained national exposure to garner congressional intervention for her release.
  • Counsel to foreign national in legal malpractice action against attorney obtaining judgment based on fraud and negligence.
  • Counsel to an Inter-American Health Organization employee’s wife in her removal proceeding protecting her from the 3/10 year bar in a very short period of time.
  • Consultant and counsel in VAWA case to non-citizen victim of extreme cruelty by U.S. citizen ex-spouse.
  • Consultant and counsel to criminal defendant in avoiding immigration consequences of charged crimes and in obtaining U.S. citizenship.
  • Numerous others

Selected National and International Media Appearances

  • Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian News Network (PNN), The Roya Khat Television Program (Straight Talk on H-1Bs), May 7, 2009 (a interactive television program which aims to promote engagement and interaction between Iranians and Americans)
  • Washington Post Radio 107.7 FM and 1500 AM, December 12, 2006: A follow-up to a December 7, 2006, section B, front page article, “Deporting a Model Noncitizen,” By Marc Fisher
  • Clinic Radio 100.3 FM and 980 AM, Clinic Attorney, 2005
  • Middle East Television Network, The “Ask an Attorney,” Alhurra Program, July 7, 2005

In the News

  • Lisa R. Bliss, ABA Litigation News, “ABA Support Retooling immigration Court System,” April 19, 2010
  • Moira Herbst, BusinessWeek, “Immigration: When Only ‘Geniuses’ Need Apply Top artists, writers, and musicians are among those awarded O-1 visas each year to add to U.S. culture and the economy,” May 17, 2009
  • Melissa Frederick, The Examiner, “Grassley, Durbin Target Visas for Tech Workers,” June 8, 2007
  • Melissa Frederick, The Examiner, “Legislation Inadequate to Fight Tech Worker Shortage, Advocates Contend,” May 23, 2007
  • Marc Fisher, The Washington Post, “Deporting a Model Noncitizen,” Section B, December 07, 2006
  • Marc Fisher, The Washington Post, Follow-up to “Deporting a Model Noncitizen,” Section B, December 12, 2006

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • “Maximizing U.S. Returns on Shared Knowledge: Innovative Frameworks for Technology Transfer and Full Global Engagement – How Do We Maintain the Best and the Brightest?” National Academies of Science, Government University Industry Research Roundtable, June 3, 2009 (addressing leaders in science and technology from government, academia, and business)
  • “New Office, Subsidiary or Affiliate: Investment Alternatives for Immigrant Entrepreneurs,” DC Bar, April 2009
  • “PERM Orientation,” Employer, February 7, 2008
  • “Immigration Reform and What It Means to Technology Companies,” Montgomery County Maryland, Department of Economic Development, MTDC Facility in Rockville, February 8, 2007
  • “Employing Foreign Nationals in Today’s Immigration Environment,” Montgomery County Maryland, Department of Economic Development, Silver Spring Innovation Center (SSIC), January 10, 2007
  • “High-Skilled Immigration Matters: Current Issues, Tips and Guidance,” Montgomery County Maryland, Department of Economic Development, Rockville Innovation Center (RIC), November, 2007
  • “Employing Foreign Nationals: Current Issues, Tips and Guidance,” Montgomery County Maryland, Department of Economic Development, Wheaton Business Innovation Center (WBIC), October 24, 2007
  • “Employing Foreign Nationals in Today’s Immigration Environment,” Society for Human Resources Management, HRA-NCA 2007 Annual Conference
  • “What Employers Ought to Know about Immigration Law and Regulations,” Wheaton Business Innovation Center (WBIC), 2007
  • “High-Skilled Immigration Matters: Current Issues, Tips and Guidance,” Rockville Business Innovation Center (WBIC), 2007
  • “Employing Foreign Nationals in Today’s Immigration Environment,” Montgomery County Maryland, Department of Economic Development, 2006
  • “Global Immigration Matters: Employment of Foreign Nationals in Today’s Immigration Environment,” Maryland Tech Council, October 13, 2006
  • Employee Immigration Orientation, Employer, December 13, 2005
  • “What All Lawyers Should Know About Immigration Law,” District of Columbia Bar, 2005

Board Memberships

  • The National Council for Innovation (NCI), Chair of the Board
  • Global Science Partnerships for the 21st Century, Board Member (GSP21)
  • The Indigent Fund, Chair of the Board and President

Selected Scholarly Publications

  • “Ensuring Corporate Compliance: E-Verify and I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification,” Vol. 4, No. 26 Edition of Bloomberg Finance L.P, Bloomberg Law Reports-Labor & Employment, 2010
  • “H-1B: Solutions for Short and Long-Term Needs,” Law360 , April 26, 2010
  • “Obama’s Immigration Agenda: Change Likely in Law and Enforcement,” Workplace Law, Society for Human Resources Management, November 20, 2008
  • “E-Verify: A Trojan Horse at the Employer’s Doorstep,” American University, Washington College of Law, Business Law Brief, Volume 4, Issue 1, Fall, 2008 (a publication recognized by the American Bar Association as the “Magazine of the Year”)
  • “Multinational Managers and Executives,” WJLA, ABC News, Legal Resource Center, 2005
  • “New Employment Visa Reform Passes: Additional H-1B Numbers; One Year Experience Requirement for L-1 Blanket Entrants; Fees and H-1B Dependent Attestations Reinstituted,” WJLA, ABC News, Legal Resource Center, 2006
  • “Guidance for HR Executives and Employers: New PERM Regulations Issued,” WJLA, ABC News, Legal Resource Center, 2005
  • “Guidance for Entry for B-1 Business Visitors,” WJLA, ABC News, Legal Resource Center, 2005
  • “Reaching the H-1B Numerical Limit and Your Alternatives,” WJLA, ABC News, Legal Resource Center, 2004
  • Various other publications

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Prevent Child Abuse, Metropolitan D.C.
  • Tinley Park Mental Health Center, Adult Education

Other Selected Experiences

  • Judicial Law Clerk for the Senior Judges of the Superior Court of the Distrit of Columbia with special assignment to the Honorable Leonard Braman. In the course of his clerkship, Mr. Asaad gathered the advice and cooperation of various agencies and judges to ultimately devise and implement an approach for addressing petitions for writ of habeas corpus with greater care and efficiency.
  • Member of Michel E. Tigar’s Impact Litigation Team. Mr. Asaad assisted in international human rights cases against Henry Kissinger and others filed before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
  • Member of the International Human Rights Law Clinic, Washington College of Law.

Languages

  • English
  • Arabic