Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Introducing New York's latest full service immigration law firm. Offering legal expertise which you expect from major law firms, but with personalized attention.

Vidya Parwani received her Law Degree from Utrecht University, Netherlands before receiving her Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Fordham University, New York. After graduating law school, she interned at the United Nations as a Legal Adviser to the European Delegation. Prior to starting her own practice, she worked at a law firm in New York specializing mainly in immigration law.

She is licensed to practice in the State of New York. She is member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Being of Indian origin and raised in Netherlands, Ms. Parwani is fluent in English, Dutch, Hindi and Sindhi.

Rachel Baskin represents clients throughout the United States handling diverse immigration matters. Ms. Baskin recognizes that each case is unique and provides customized attention tailored to fit clientsâ individual needs. Her expertise enables her to navigate the complex maze of immigration laws and regulations.

The office provides services for the following immigration matters:

- Temporary Visa Petitions for professionals including artists, performers, designers, physicians, scientists, researchers, professors, business people, investors, small and large corporations, students, and tourists.
- Marriage Petitions
- Fiance(e) Visa Petitions
- Labor Certification Applicaitons (PERM)
- Family Based Immigration Petitions
- Adjustment of Status Applications
- Consular Processing
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Applications
- J-1 Waivers
- Citizenship Applications

Mr. Ahuja is a U.S. citizen born in India. He is admitted in the states of New York, Connecticut, Virginia, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, U.S. District Court; Southern District of NY, U.S. District Court; Eastern District of NY, and India. Mr. Ahuja received his education and experience both in India and the United States. Mr. Ahuja holds an LL.M. (International Business Law); an LL.M. in Labor Laws; LL.B. (JD); M.B.A. (Personnel Management & Labor Welfare); M.B.A. (Business Management); a Diploma in German language; a Postgraduate Diploma in Gandhian Philosophy, besides his M.A. (Major: International Relations) and B.A. (Honors) degrees.

Mr. Ahuja has worked as an Attorney (Trademarks) at the United States Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office, as an Of Counsel to Aitken Irvin Lewin Berlin Vrooman & Cohn, LLP, a Washington, D.C. based law firm specializing in the international business law, as a Consultant to M&M Consultants in Massachusetts, as a General Counsel to Soft Computer Consultants in New York, and Regional Manager at Oriental Bank of Commerce, India. Mr. Ahuja has worked as an Adjunct Faculty at Baruch College [City University of New York], New York, NY, as an Adjunct Faculty and taught International Business at the USDA Graduate School, Washington, D.C; and as Adjunct Faculty at Howard University. He has been on numerous other legal panels and organized a number of conferences, has frequently been a guest speaker to various institutions of management sciences and law including Continuing Legal Education program for attorneys. Besides his law practice, Mr. Ahuja works as an Arbitrator with Small Claims Courts in New York. He is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu & Punjabi languages and enjoys writing poems in his native languages.

Mr. Ahujaâs professional activities and associations [past & present] include membership of the Indo-U.S. Joint Sub-commission on Trade and Investments [1997]; Member: Association of Arbitrators, Ambassador of the Maryland International Trade Association [1996,1997]; Judge: Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001); Legal Advisor/Board Member: Indo-Pak-Bangladesh Friendship Forum; King-Gandhi Foundation, Lions Club, Global Organization Of People of Indian Origin [GOPIO], Federation of Indian Americans, National Capital Region, India Cultural Coordination Committee Inc.; Washington, D.C.; Punjabi Durbar Religious & Cultural Society, Inc., NY, Om Vedam Inc. [A Not For Profit Organization], Jalota Entertainment Inc., Staten Island Hindu Temple Inc., Sikh Gurudwara, Richmond Hill, NY, and India This Week (a community weekly newspaper, Washington, D.C.); Member: Indo American Political Association; Member: Indian American Forum For Political Education; Member: The Pen Club of Washington, D.C.; Member: New York State Bar Association; Member: Connecticut State Bar Association; Member: Virginia State Bar Association; Member: ABA Section of International Law & Practice; Member: Washington Foreign Law Society; Treasurer: Indian American Bar Association; Member: American Bar Association; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âBankingâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on Corporation Law; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on Cyberspace & Internet Law; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âForeign and International Lawâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âImmigration and Nationalityâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âIntellectual Propertyâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âLabor Relations and Employment Lawâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âTechnology and Automationâ etc. He was selected as an intern to serve Senator Edward Kennedyâs Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

Mr. Ahuja has written/published a number of papers/articles. Some of the papers written by him are: âThe Role of Air Bags and Seatbelts - a Primary or Supplemental Restraint System?â; Domestic Violence: A Social Curse; Employment Discrimination and Your Rights; Foreclosure Laws And Procedure In The State of New York; Multinational Corporations And Problem of Identity; Foreign Direct Investments: Pros and Cons; Homeowner Association: What To Do About Them?; How To Handle Problems With A Condominium Board?; How To Handle Problems With A Co-Op Board?; Protect Your Identity To Protect Yourself; Intellectual Property Laws And Issues In India; Religious Corporation & Religious Corporation Laws In New York; Religious Corporation Laws And Tax-Exemptions; Social Security And Social Security Administration; Land-Tenants Laws In New York; Taxation For Foreigners; Your Rights And Responsibilities As A Permanent Resident; How To Lose Your Citizenship?; The Defamation Law & Defenses, The Competitive Law Reforms for the Government of Indonesia; The United States Government Procurement Procedures; FCC: The Law, Procedures, and Policies Relating to Revocation of a License; Import of Raw Vegetables and Fruits from India; United Statesâ Export Import- Rules and Regulations; Business Opportunities in the U. S. A. Relating to Auto Parts; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Electric Goods; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Gloves; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Snacks Food; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Audio-Video Products; Classification for Spouses of U.S. Citizens and Their Children; Immigration Benefits for Battered Spouses and Children; The Indian Economy in Transition; Indian-U.S. License Agreements; The United States Regulatory Regime: Blessing or Curse for the Businesses? Structuring Multinational Business Entities; Computer Crimes And Department of Justiceâs Preparation For A Cyberwar; The United States-A Refuge For Oppressed People; The Politics Of Color; Law & Practice of Banking in India; Payment and Collection of Checks, Bank Documentation and Finance in India; Analysis & Interpretation of Financial Statements; Bank Lending in India; Agricultural Recovery Laws and Credit Collection in India; Legal Issues Relating To Bank Guaranties & Letters of Credit; Practical Problems in Suit Filing and Enforcement of Judgment in India; Commercial Dispute Settlement Mechanism in India; Formation of Business Entity in India; Safeguards & Prevention of Frauds in the Banking Industry In India; Labor Laws and Industrial Relations in India; Manpower Training & Development in the Banking Industry in India; Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution Mechanism; Time Management; Interpersonal Relations Based on Behavior in Organizations; Good Listening is Good Communication; Improve Your Memory to Help Yourself; The Story of Hair Styles: Indiaâs Contribution to the World of Fashion; Islam and Sikhism; The Concept and Connotation of Maya; The Vegetarian Way of Life; Gandhi and Mountbatten: A Comparative Study. Women in Life and Society; Women in Hinduism; Ramadan, The Holiest Month; The Status of Women in Islam; Women in Islam; Women And Their Sexual Rights; Another Unholy War; The Forgotten Days Of Our History; Amber: The City Of Tourists; Pinjore Garden: A Heaven On The Earth; Gandhi & Ahimsa; Gurumukh; The Guru Nanak And The Muslims; I Love New York; Message Of The Master; The Cultural Heritage Of Punjab; Religion As Ahimsa; Auto Accident Law in the State of New York etc.

Manuel Portela
Manuel@portelalaw.com
Law School: The Washington College of Law at American University, Degree: JD 1990
Undergraduate School: Fordham University, 1986
Foreign Language: Spanish

Manuel Portela Esq. is the founding partner of The Portela Law Firm, P.C. He specializes in Corporate and Commercial Law, Criminal Defense and Personal Injury.

After graduating from Fordham University and American University Washington College of Law, Mr. Portela accepted an appointment as an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney‘s Office in New York. During his tenure as an Assistant District Attorney, he received extensive training and instruction in the Criminal Court Bureau, Early Case Assessment Bureau, Felony Investigations Bureau and the Supreme Court Bureau. Among the Felony and Misdemeanor cases that he successfully won, he resolved thousands of cases through effective plea negotiations. After his resignation Mr. Portela diversified his practice representing businesses as well as individuals.

Manuel Portela launched The Portela Law Firm, P.C. with the aim of fighting relentlessly to assert and protect the interest of his clients as well as providing professional and compassionate representation to New York‘s diverse population.

Work Experience, Certifications and awards:

King County Assistant District Attorney, Senior Trial Attorney (1990-1995)
American University International Law Journal, Senior Editor
New York Federal Reserve Bank, 1986, Division: Domestic Bank Examinations- Domestic Bank Examiner

Chris Gafner is an immigration attorney in New York City who represents clients from throughout the world. He assists clients in family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, and investor-based immigration matters. Additionally, he provides guidance to employers seeking to comply with immigration requirements, including I-9 compliance and e-verify.