Bretz & Coven, LLP is saddened to announce that our founding Partner, Jules E. Coven has passed away. Mr. Coven formed a partnership with Partners Kerry Bretz and Eileen Bretz in 1999. The three attorneys combined two separate law firms, which practiced different aspects of immigration law, into one full-service, multi-language immigration law firm. Mr. Coven had an extraordinary law career. He was AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, its highest peer review rating for knowledge and ethics, he was a law professor at Brooklyn Law School, he served as a past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, was on the cutting edge of U.S. asylum policies for forced family planning against Chinese nationals, and together with Mr. Bretz at Bretz & Coven, LLP directed a very successful and aggressive federal litigation practice that resulted in many published cases in numerous federal courts that changed, often for the better, the way immigration law is practiced. Mr. Coven is survived by his wife, Dorothy, his daughter, Michele, a lawyer in New York and Israel, his son, a professional musician in California, and his daughter, who currently lives in Rochester. Mr. Coven will be missed dearly by the members of our firm.

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Mr. Coven has practiced law for over 30 years.  He is the attorney of record in numerous published federal court cases and precedent decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals—most notably in Matter of Yeung, 1997, which was the first demonstration that a bona fide marriage can stay deportation.

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He has appeared on Good Morning America and Nightline and presented lectures at New York Law School and the Practicing Law Institute.  He was an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School for over 15 years.

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Mr. Coven was also the attorney for several restaurants and small businesses and has worked as Counsel to the New York State Assembly Committee on Banking.

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He was Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Rated®, the highest rating for legal ability and ethics an attorney can receive.

REPORTED CASES:

• Chengfan Kwok v. I & N Service, U.S. Supreme Court, 1968

• Avyr Associates, Inc. v. Meissner, Dkt. No. 95 CIV. 10729 (MBM), 1997 WL 188942 (S.D.N.Y., Apr 18, 1997)

• U.S. ex rel. Morgan v. McElroy, 981 F.Supp. 873 (S.D.N.Y. 1997)

• Dashto v. I.N.S., 59 F.3d 697 (7th Cir. 1995)

• Matter of H-, 20 I. & N. Dec. 611 (BIA 1992)

• U.S., ex rel., Pupo-Tordecilla v. Sava, 704 F.Supp. 55 (S.D.N.Y. 1989)

• Matter of Chang, 20 I & N Dec. 38 (BIA 1989)

• Paulis v. Sava, 544 F.Supp. 819 (S.D.N.Y. 1982)

• Pang Kiu Fung v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 663 F.2d 417 (2d Cir. 1981)

• Matter of Lam, 18 I. & N. Dec. 15 (BIA 1981)

Jules E. Coven

Partner Emeritus