布雷茨与科文律师事务所
进一步了解我们的团队
Kerry Bretz is a former Trial Attorney for the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and Senior Partner at Bretz & Coven, a firm concentrating in deportation defense and the immigration consequences of criminal and fraudulent activity. He played a major role in challenging the retroactive application of new immigration laws and mandatory detention. He was the attorney of record in Henderson v INS, 157 F.3d 106 (2d Cir. 1998), and both on the brief and at counsel's table before the U.S. Supreme Court in INS v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 289 (2001) and Calcano-Martinez v. INS, 533 U.S. 348 (2001), cases that changed the availability of relief to non-citizens with criminal convictions and secured the right to seek judicial review of decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Additionally, after numerous briefs and oral arguments, the Court in St John v McElroy (SDNY 1996) found unconstitutional a former mandatory detention statute. Mr. Bretz was awarded $88,000 in Equal Access to Justice Act fees for his pro bono work on that case, in which he represented a mentally challenged non-citizen with a foreign drug trafficking conviction.
He is regularly consulted by the criminal defense bar, quoted in newspapers, and has appeared on reputable television programs (CNN, O'Reilly Factor, Judge Jeannie, etc.). Kerry Bretz is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a frequent lecturer at CLE presentations and other events presented by the firm and sponsored by local bar associations and the offices of local elected officials. He is also a former Commissioner for the Archdiocese of New York's Commission for the Dignity of Immigrants.
Kerry Bretz is Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Rated®, the highest peer-review rating an attorney can receive, and listed in both The Best Lawyers in America© and Super Lawyers. He is admitted to practice in New York, Connecticut, and Florida and before the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, Third Circuit and Fifth Circuit.
He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York and received his Juris Doctor from the City University of New York at Queens College.
Email Kerry Bretz
REPORTED CASES:
-
Pottinger v. Reno, 51 F.Supp.2d 349 (E.D.N.Y. 1999)
-
Reno v. Navas, 119 S. Ct. 1141 (U.S. Mar. 8, 1999)
-
Henderson v. INS, 157 F.3d 106 (2d Cir. 1998), cert. denied sub nom.
-
Mojica v. Reno, 970 F.Supp. 130 (E.D.N.Y. 1997); aff’d
-
St. John v. McElroy, 917 F.Supp. 243 (S.D.N.Y. 1996)
-
Cruz-Taveras v. McElroy, 1996 WL 455012 (S.D.N.Y. August 12, 1996)
-
Thomas v. McElroy, 1996 WL 487953 (S.D.N.Y. August 23, 1996) (same)
-
Alba v. McElroy, Dkt. No. 96 CIV. 8748 (DLC), 1996 WL 695811 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 1996)
-
Thomas v. McElroy, Dkt. No. 96 CIV. 5065 (JSM), 1996 WL 487953 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 27, 1996)
-
Cruz-Taveras v. McElroy, Dkt. No. 96 CIV. 5068 (MBM), 1996 WL 455012 (S.D.N.Y. Aug 13, 1996)
-
St. John v. McElroy, 917 F.Supp. 243 (S.D.N.Y. 1996).
Admitted to Practice:
-
Connecticut 1991
-
New York 1992
-
Florida 1996
-
U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY 1994
-
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit 1996
-
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit 1998
-
U.S. Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit 1999
Languages:
-
Spanish
Education:
-
Juris Doctor, City University of New York Queens College 1991
-
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York 1988
Lawyer Memberships:
-
American Immigration Lawyers Association
-
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
-
Member, Immigration Committee 1997
-
New York City Lawyers Association
-
Member, Immigration Committee 1993
Eileen 有多年经验，可根据技能、就业、才华（音乐家、艺术家、演艺人员、摄影师等）、家庭关系（父母、配偶、子女、兄弟姐妹）、未婚夫和未婚妻、教育和投资（1,000,000 美元，E2 条约投资者 500,000 美元及以下）制定移民和非移民签证策略，以及针对某些犯罪受害者的 U 签证和针对遭受虐待、遗弃或忽视的儿童的特殊移民青少年签证。对于其中许多签证（但不是全部）来说，拥有简历、奖项、成就、出版物或荣誉列表非常有帮助。对于家庭、婚姻和未婚夫签证。证明关系是关键。通过投资或公司内部调动、就业、教育、才华、技能或具有合法身份的家庭成员，有可能获得在美国居住的合法权利。然而，法律和法规严格而复杂。 Eileen 与个人、公司、发起人和组织密切合作，针对具体情况制定最佳选择策略。
Eileen 为潜在客户提供面对面咨询以及 Zoom 视频咨询。她在驱逐出境辩护方面同样知识渊博，包括涉及涉嫌移民欺诈和犯罪历史的案件。
Eileen Collins Bretz 获得了 Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Rated® 评级，这是律师可以获得的最高同行评审评级。
给 Eileen Collins Bretz 发送电子邮件 ›
已报告的病例：
波廷格诉里诺案，51 F.Supp.2d 349 (EDNY 1999)
雷诺诉纳瓦斯案，119 S. Ct. 1141（美国 1999 年 3 月 8 日）
Henderson v. INS，157 F.3d 106（第二巡回法院 1998 年），证书被驳回。
Mojica v. Reno，970 F.Supp. 130 (EDNY 1997)；已确认
圣约翰诉麦克埃罗伊案，917 F.Supp. 243 (SDNY 1996)
Cruz-Taveras 诉 McElroy，1996 WL 455012（SDNY，1996 年 8 月 12 日）
Thomas v. McElroy，1996 WL 487953 (SDNY 1996 年 8 月 23 日)（相同）
阿尔巴诉麦克尔罗伊案，Dkt。 96 号 CIV。 8748 (DLC)，1996 WL 695811（SDNY 1996 年 12 月 4 日）
托马斯诉麦克尔罗伊案，Dkt。 96 号 CIV。 5065 (JSM), 1996 WL 487953 (SDNY 1996 年 8 月 27 日)
Cruz-Taveras 诉 McElroy，Dkt。 96 号 CIV。 5068 (MBM), 1996 WL 455012 (SDNY 1996 年 8 月 13 日)
圣约翰诉麦克埃罗伊，917 F.Supp. 243 (SDNY 1996)。
执业资格：
1995 年新泽西
1996 年纽约
美国纽约南区地方法院 1996 年
美国纽约东区地方法院，2007 年
教育：
1995年 纽约城市大学法学博士
1991 年获圣约翰大学金融学理学学士学位
律师会员资格：
纽约市律师协会
美国移民律师协会
纽约郡律师协会
PARTNER EMERITUS
Phone: 212-267-2555
Fax: 212-267-2129
Main Office
305 Broadway
Suite 100
New York, New York 10007
Jules E. Coven
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Tahir Ali Raza 是 Bretz & Coven, LLP 的助理律师。他来自巴基斯坦，在完成法学学士学位并成立一家成功的律师事务所后开始了自己的法律职业生涯，在这家律师事务所，他代表客户处理各种法律事务超过 8 年。为了拓展自己的知识和技能，他前往美国继续深造，并获得了马萨诸塞州波士顿东北大学法学院移民法硕士学位。
在攻读法学硕士期间，他在公共律师服务委员会 (CPCS) 进行了一次宝贵的实习，在那里他获得了有关犯罪行为对移民的影响的宝贵经验。这次经历进一步增强了他对移民法和刑法之间交集的理解，使他能够就驱逐和驱逐出境辩护提供全面的法律指导。
他专注于家庭移民、就业移民、庇护、身份调整和入籍，致力于指导个人和家庭应对复杂的美国移民制度。他精通乌尔都语、旁遮普语和印地语，能够与各种各样的客户进行有效沟通，确保他们的声音得到倾听，他们的权利得到保护。
他拥有纽约律师资格，在执业过程中始终秉持最高标准的专业素养和诚信。作为 B&C 的助理律师，他继续为移民社区提供富有同情心的法律指导和坚定不移的支持，努力为客户取得积极成果。
Jennifer 是一位会说西班牙语、求知欲强的美国移民社区倡导者。她在移民法领域的丰富经验使她能够迅速胜任该领域的任何工作，包括在移民审查执行办公室 (EOIR) 和移民上诉委员会 (BIA) 面前的驱逐辩护，以及在美国公民及移民服务局 (USCIS) 面前的就业、家庭和人道主义领域事务。Jennifer 还成功协助客户在宾夕法尼亚州、新泽西州、华盛顿特区和加利福尼亚州的联邦法院就错误拒绝和不合理的拖延/强制令行动提起诉讼。目前，Jennifer 是美国移民律师协会 (AILA) - 纽约和费城分会的成员。目前，她担任费城分会公益委员会主席 (2021/22；2022/23；和 2023/24)；此前，她曾担任费城分会全国行动日委员会主席（2020/21 和 2021/22）。
Andrew Franco 是 Bretz & Coven LLP 的律师。他毕业于 Temple Law 和 Beasley 法学院，获得法学博士学位，并拥有哥伦比亚大学学士学位。他拥有纽约州律师资格。
他精通驱逐辩护的各个领域，包括取消驱逐、庇护、身份调整、入籍、自由裁量豁免、特殊未成年移民身份以及涉嫌犯罪行为的移民后果。除了驱逐辩护
和移民法，安德鲁 (Andrew) 代表客户在纽约进行刑事辩护，特别是定罪后救济 (PCR)。
在加入 Bretz & Coven 之前，Andrew 从事民法、刑法和公司法工作，专注于国际客户和跨国交易。Andrew 精通西班牙语和法语，并具备葡萄牙语的工作知识。
Andrew Franco 是 Bretz & Coven LLP 的律师。他毕业于 Temple Law 和 Beasley 法学院，获得法学博士学位，并拥有哥伦比亚大学学士学位。他拥有纽约州律师资格。
他精通驱逐辩护的各个领域，包括取消驱逐、庇护、身份调整、入籍、自由裁量豁免、特殊未成年移民身份以及涉嫌犯罪行为的移民后果。除了驱逐辩护
和移民法，安德鲁 (Andrew) 代表客户在纽约进行刑事辩护，特别是定罪后救济 (PCR)。
在加入 Bretz & Coven 之前，Andrew 从事民法、刑法和公司法工作，专注于国际客户和跨国交易。Andrew 精通西班牙语和法语，并具备葡萄牙语的工作知识。
Shari specializes in federal litigation and deportation defense, including complex criminal issues. She has authored numerous federal briefs and presented oral argument in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She received her JD from the University of Miami School of Law and her BA from the University of Pennsylvania. She is conversational in Spanish and has studied Hebrew, Arabic, Farsi, French, Italian, and Russian, to varying degrees. Prior to joining Bretz & Coven, Shari clerked for the Hon. David J. Issenman, JSC. She also worked with Ira Kurzban and the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center.