Attorneys

Sonal has a commanding presence in the immigration bar, and has been invited to speak locally, nationally, and at international conferences.   Most recently, she was featured as a speaker at the AILA National Conference in Las Vegas in June 2016, where she participated on a panel presentation on advanced business immigration issues.  A summary of other speaking engagements and articles follows:

• Co-Author, “The New Normal: Processing Green Cards for Clients Who Did Not or Will Not Receive H-1Bs,” 2016 AILA Immigration Practice Pointers, 2016
• Panelist, “Trends and Updates for H-1B and L-1” AILA DC Chapter Fall Conference, Rockville, MD 2015
• Panelist, “Alphabet Soup – NIV Basics Part 2: L to U” AILA National Conference, Boston, MA 2014
• Co-Author, “Audits in the Employment-Based Non-Immigrant Context: The Labor Condition Application,” What Every Lawyer Needs to know about Immigration, ABA Publication, 2014.
• Panelist, “RFE, NOID, NOIR Panel – Employment Track,” AILA DC Chapter Fall Conference, Rockville, MD 2013.
• Panelist, “Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Workshop with the Experts – Labor Certification,” AILA Fundamentals Conference, Washington, DC 2012.
• Panelist, “PERM Fundamentals,” AILA National Conference, Nashville, TN 2012.
• Panelist, “Consideration for the Individual Client,” AILA Midyear Conference, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, January 2011.
• Panelist, “Advanced Issues in Family-Based Immigration,” AILA Telephone Seminar, February 17, 2011.
• Author, “First Comes Love, Second Comes Marriage, Then Comes the USCIS to Tell You How it Should Be,” The Advocate, Maryland State Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division Newsletter, June 2010.
• Featured Guest, C-SPAN, Washington Journal; Topic: The Process of Becoming a U.S. Citizen, August 15, 2010.
• Panelist, “Unconditional Love, Conditional Residency: Pitfalls in I-751s,” 2009 AILA Annual Conference, June 4, 2009.
• Panelist, “Nuts and Bolts of Family Immigration Law,” Interfaith Immigration Coalition’s Briefing and Training on Family Based Immigration, Law and Politics, April 30, 2009.
• Author, “Home Care Workers – Providing the Elderly with Independence While Tending to Their Needs,” Immigration Options for Essential Workers, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2008.

Sonal has been featured in Who’s Who Legal along with several other prominent immigration practitioners from across the globe, and often collaborates with other leaders in the immigration bar to solve difficult problems in the area of business immigration.  She was recruited to work with 2 prominent AM LAW 100 firms at their Washington, DC offices, and managed large multinational corporate accounts while at both firms – heading up an L-1 team to include the preparation and filing of appeals for the largest global client of one firm, and managing full service immigration matters for a nonprofit health care system at another firm. In 2011, she was recognized for her commitment to Pro Bono work with a Pro Bono Service award from one of her previous firms.

Her representative experience includes obtaining EB-1 visas for scientific researchers, EB-2 National Interest Visas for individuals in unconventional professions, managing all immigrant and non-immigrant visas for technology companies of all sizes across the globe, securing Waivers of Removability for individuals in Immigration Court proceedings, winning asylum for refugees fleeing persecution in their native countries, and attaining U visas for victims of domestic violence.

Sonal graduated from Loyola College in Maryland (now Loyola University) with a major in Psychology, and minor in Philosophy. Thereafter, she attended the University of Baltimore School of Law, and graduated with a concentration in International and Comparative Law. While in Law School, she was co-Director of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Project, and was chosen to represent her Law School on the Jessup International Moot Court Competition Team after a competitive selections process.

Sonal is dedicated to providing the best service and advice to her clients, whether they are large multinational corporations, or individuals with a desire to fulfill their American Dream. She is approachable, and compassionate in her interactions with clients. As a first-generation American, she understands the need to do better for yourself and your family, and to ensure that your future is not dictated by where you were born, but rather, where you make your mark.