After graduation from Notre Dame Law School, Aaron passed the bar exam in Arizona and Iowa, and then worked for several prominent Iowa immigration law firms, and was General Council at Alewelt Inc. Throughout his career, Aaron’s practice has focused on employment and immigration law, and Aaron’s practice has evolved to focus on business immigration with an emphasis on H-2A (Agricultural), H-2B (Non-agricultural) Temporary Labor, and TN (NAFTA Professionals) visas, while still significantly practicing in the areas of consular processing for all types of visas, administrative appeals, employment immigration compliance, and wage and hour laws. Aaron has spoken at numerous events and seminars on immigration law and corporate immigration compliance. Growing up, Aaron enjoyed all sports including basketball, snowboarding, soccer and tennis. Aaron put his athletic aspirations on hold to serve a two-year LDS mission in Croatia from 1995-1997. It was on this mission where Aaron was able to learn to speak Serbo-Croatian fluently and experience both the pains of the Yugoslavian Civil War and the excitement of peace as the civil war ended. Born to British parents, having a best friend who was German, and serving a mission in the Balkans, all factored into Aaron’s choice to study International Relations. Thus, after a brief period fulfilling a lifelong dream to play NCAA tennis, Aaron transferred to Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, UT where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy in 2000. Aaron is still an avid tennis player. Aaron is happily married, has 7 children and 2 stepchildren, and enjoys spending time with his family.

Stuart Matthews is a Senior Associate Attorney with The Bernard Firm. Stuart graduated law school from the University of Maryland School of Law, and has a Master of Arts in International Affairs from American University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University. Stuart brings to The Bernard Firm extensive experience with business and corporate immigration matters. He has extensive experience and knowledge in many subfields of immigration law and has worked with a variety of organizations and individuals to help them navigate the complex and ever-changing immigration landscape to achieve their lawful objectives in the United States. Stuart enjoys spending time with his family and traveling internationally.

After graduating from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Afhan started his own practice in Houston, Texas. For over nine years, his practice focused on a wide range of immigration matters. In 2021, Afhan accepted a great opportunity to join The Bernard Firm PLC, and he moved to Ames, Iowa. Afhan’s practice is focused primarily on H-2B visas, I-9 audits, Department of Labor appeals, wage and hour audits and compliance, consular processing, and family-based immigration. Afhan’s family immigrated to the US when he was fifteen years old, and he is particularly interested in tackling the daily conflicts that perpetuate and sustain the field of Immigration Law. Afhan experienced how the immigration process can change lives for the better, and it has always been important to him to practice in a field of law that allows him to help others achieve the American dream – the same way his family did. For him, there is no other field of law that is as gratifying or fulfilling. Afhan is happily married, and he and his wife enjoy traveling and going on long drives.

Stephen received his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he served as Co-President of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Law Students Association. Stephen also graduated from Queen’s University in Canada with a Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. While in Wisconsin, Stephen gained clinical experience supporting the Wisconsin Innocence Project as a law student and as a legal extern at the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, and continues to be active in the Asian American community and volunteers with Taiwan Innocence Project, offering his expertise to help communicate advanced legal concepts to people in the local community. Stephen is dedicated to serving clients with the highest level of professionalism and care. He comes from a background in providing full-service employment-based immigration solutions in the U.S., as well as Canadian immigration services and global visa processing. With knowledge across three practice areas (U.S., Canadian, and Global), Stephen is uniquely positioned to provide strategic, well-rounded immigration support to corporate clients with both U.S. and international operations. He offers a unique perspective, drawing on his lived experience as an immigrant from Taiwan, and leverages both his knowledge and personal understanding to guide clients through the complex immigration landscape. Outside of work, Stephen enjoys cinema, traveling around the world, wine tasting, cooking, and exploring food pairing combinations. Stephen is also passionate about tailoring and vintage clothing. He is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese, and thinks he is a better karaoke singer than he actually is.