Becoming an immigration attorney was a natural choice for Nicole. Having moved back and forth from the United States to Italy as a child, she relates intimately with the immigrant experience. As a result, she has always been drawn to helping others, fascinated by different languages and learning about different cultures around the world. Nicole began her career in the role of Judicial Law Clerk in the New York, New Jersey, and Arizona Immigration Courts through the Attorney General’s Honor Program, helping immigration judges draft decisions. This role gave her great insight into the judicial process and has proven beneficial to her clients. Subsequently, she worked in small and large boutique immigration firms, and volunteered at a nonprofit organization serving abused immigrant women. Nicole provides professional and compassionate representation in all aspects of removal defense, family-based, and employment-based immigration matters. She has assisted businesses in obtaining H-1B (temporary worker), L-1A (intra-company transferee), and O-1 (extraordinary ability). She has also worked with religious organizations to obtain R-1 (religious worker) non-immigrant visas for their ministers, nuns and other occupations such as choir directors. She has also assisted individuals seeking to create their own companies in the United States to obtain E-2 (investor) nonimmigrant visa. As for Permanent Residence employment cases, she has won cases for businesses seeking to hire professional employees through the Labor Certification (PERM) process, for religious organizations requiring permanent Religious Workers, as well as foreign nationals who self-petitioned based on Extraordinary Ability and Exceptional Ability where their services benefit the United States through a National Interest Waiver. In removal defense cases, Nicole has successfully represented clients in cancellation of removal, asylum, termination of proceedings and prosecutorial discretion. She is particularly passionate about asylum cases, as she believes in fighting for those who have been persecuted, whether for political or religious beliefs, race, nationality or sexual orientation. In addition to representing clients during their removal proceedings at the Immigration Court, Nicole has won numerous cases on appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Office, and U.S. Courts of Appeals. In family-based cases, Nicole helps U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents through the process to petition on behalf of their foreign national relatives to either adjust status in the United States through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or to obtain Immigrant Visas through U.S. Embassies and U.S. Consulates. She also represents abused men, women and children in self-petitions for green cards under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). For clients who have been found ineligible for green cards based on a fraud or misrepresentation, unlawful presence, or criminal history, Nicole provides representation in waivers of inadmissibility, demonstrating that their inability to obtain a green card would result in extreme hardship to their U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident spouses or parents. Where the USCIS has unreasonably delayed processing regarding immigration petitions and applications, Nicole has succeeded in obtaining final adjudication on such cases through litigation in U.S. District Courts. In addition to tirelessly advocating for her clients, Nicole is a sought-after public speaker on immigration issues.

Thomas Stagg, managing partner at Stagg Wabnik Law Group, LLP, focuses his practice on commercial, general and appellate litigation. He represents clients in federal and state courts in New York and New Jersey, as well as in Connecticut federal court, and has argued before New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals, on behalf of international banking clients. Each year since 2003 Thomas has achieved an "AV" Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, which is assigned to lawyers who have reached the height of professional excellence and who are recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. He has also been selected annually as a New York Metro Super Lawyer since 2012. No more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to Super Lawyers, which is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement made after a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews. In 2012, Thomas was named by the New York State Bar Association as an Empire State Counsel® for providing more than 50 hours of free legal services to low-income individuals and in 2016 was awarded Top Legal Eagle in Litigation for Nassau and Suffolk Counties, which is assigned annually to only ten attorneys. Thomas has represented the firm's banking and credit clients in connection with Uniform Commercial Code matters and federal and state consumer credit statutes, including the Truth in Lending Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Electronic Fund Transfer Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. On behalf of corporate, municipal and private clients, he has successfully litigated numerous actions involving federal and state environmental laws, class action constitutional and land use issues. He has also served as counsel to a large municipality in its negotiations with New York State for a multimillion dollar grant and regularly represents clients in trust and estates litigation and administration matters. Thomas completed advanced commercial mediation training and is an active member of the Southern District of New York Mediation Panel and the New York State Commercial Division Mediation Panel in New York, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties. He has also been certified as a guardian ad litem by New York State. In addition, Thomas is registered with and has volunteered hundreds of hours to the American Bar Association's Military Pro Bono Project, a nationwide program that connects junior-enlisted servicemembers in need of pro bono legal help with volunteer attorneys throughout the nation. He is a 2015 recipient of the ABA Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award. After graduating from the State University of New York at Binghamton and St. John's University School of Law, where he was Associate Notes and Comments Editor of St. John's Journal of Legal Commentary, Thomas began his legal career with the Washington, D.C. based firm of Beveridge & Diamond. His publications include, as coauthor, "Contractual Protection: An Existing Remedy for Bondholder Distress." 4 St. John's Journal of Legal Commentary 2. He lectures on environmental lender liability and has served on the Long Island Sound Nonpoint Source Pollution Committee.

Hendrick Vandamme is a partner of the Firm. He was born in former Czechoslovakia and has the distinction of having participated in the demonstrations dubbed the Velvet Revolution which ended 40 years of Communist oppression and foresaw the normalization of relationships between East and West. After leaving Prague, he lived and worked in Germany, Belgium, and England. He is fluent in Czech, German, and French. Before forming Vandamme Law Firm, his work experience encompassed practice with a securities litigation boutique firm and with a major North American insurance company as the attorney of record and trial counsel. Hendrick successfully handled a number of jury trials and has conducted numerous mediations and arbitrations on behalf of his clients. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Essex University in England and his law degree from Fordham University Law School. On multiple occasions, Hendrick has served as a correspondent to Radio Journal in Prague where he uses his expertise to discuss American legal issues of international interest. Hendrick is also a board member of the Olga Forrai Foundation, which provides support for the training, education, and career development of opera singers and classical music conductors. He is admitted to practice in New York and in the US District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts.

Gary. Port has been recognized by the New York Law Journal in 2016, in “Those Who Lead, Pro Bono Category.” He was also honored in 2016 by the Center for Children, Families and the Law, and the Gitenstein Institute for Health Law and Policy. In 2016 he was also honored by Angel for Warriors for his Pro Bono work for Veterans. Mr. Port is former Assistant Professor at the Maurice Deane School of Law, Hofstra University where he established the well regarded Veteran’s Law Clinic. He has also been named Chairman of the Nassau County Bar Association Veterans’ Law Committee. Mr. Port heads the Divorce and Family Law group. His practice focuses on divorce, custody, support and family law related matters. He also practices in the area of complex commercial litigation, as there is often an overlap with commercial law and the division of property in divorce. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Port also heads the Military Law/Veterans Rights section, working to get discharge upgrades and representing service members and veterans in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, as well as at Courts-Martial. In recognition for his achievements in the military and for veterans, Mr. Port was named the United States Army Reserve Ambassador for New York. In this position he provides advice to the Commander of the Army Reserve, advocates for reservists with elective officials and business leaders, and is the gatekeeper for the Army Reserve Minuteman College Scholarship. The Minuteman Programm will pay 100% of college tuition in exchange for a service in the Army Reserve. https://www.usar.army.mil/Featured/Ambassador-Program/Find-an-Ambassador/New-York/ Mr Port tried his first case in April 1987 and since then has tried hundreds of cases. He has appeared in New York State Court and in New York Federal District Courts. Mr. Port is also recognized for his knowledge of military retirement pay and benefits as they relate to divorce and has delivered classes to other attorneys in New York and Pennsylvania. Mr. Port graduated law school in 1986 and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army later that year. He served on active duty and as a reserve officer until January 1, 2015, when he retired a the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Port served in various positions and ended his career as the legal advisor (Staff Judge Advocate) to the Commanding General of the much storied 78th Training Division. He was twice awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, three times awarded the Army Commendation Medal and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal. Mr. Port served in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 1993 where he prosecuted major crimes. He left for private practice in 1993, working at two law firms until founding his own practice in 2002. He is currently the Commander of American Legion Post #81, Franklin Bell.

Katz Law Firm’s founder and managing partner, Adam Katz, is admitted to practice law in New York Supreme Court, Southern District, Eastern District and U.S. Tax Court. He is an active member of the ABA– American Bar Association, NYSBA – New York State Bar Association (and is also a member on the Trusts and Estates Law Committee), NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys), NAEPC (National Association of Estate Planners and Councils) and EPCNC (Estate Planning Council of Nassau County). Adam received a plaque from Martindale-Hubble in 2017 for practicing law. He is recognized and listed for estate planning and probate services on Nolo.com and Avvo.com, where he voluntarily answers questions regarding various aspects within the practice of law. Adam has also been nominated to be a rising star SuperLawyer by Thomson Reuters since 2015. In addition, he has been selected to serve as Co-Counsel for other law firms and attorneys. Adam was invited and has accepted the position to become a State Practice Advisor for Interactive Legal, which is among the nation’s elite leading Trusts, Estates and Elder Law legal resource and knowledge base. Adam’s unique academic background enabled him to gain exposure and valuable work experience across a wide variety of financial and legal positions. He has worked in the financial sector at Merill Lynch, practiced corporate litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, intellectual property at Pennie & Edmonds, corporate transactional law at Jones Day and trusts and estates law at a number of firms. Adam has published articles on accounting and tax in BNA and decanting irrevocable trusts in the Nassau Lawyer. In addition, Adam has substituted as a law professor at Hofstra University’s School of Law and St. Johns Law School on trusts and estates drafting and tax law, lectured and participated in panels at Cardozo Law School and has given classes and presentations in various forums. Adam earned his Juris Doctor at Fordham University School of Law, where he was Notes and Articles Editor for the Fordham Journal of Corporate and Financial Law. Additionally, Adam was selected as teacher’s assistant and student coordinator of a research team to publish a treatise on International Law. After law school, he received his Master of Laws in Taxation, with a focus on Trusts and Estates, from New York University School of Law in 2008, where he was elected to be Director of the NYU Law & Business Association and volunteered as a mediator in the NYU Mediation Clinic. Katz Law Firm’s founder and managing partner, Adam Katz, is a cum laude graduate of Hofstra University where he graduated with two degrees and was given the Presidential Academic Fitness Award. Adam received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with honors and was Vice President of Kappa Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honor Society. Adam also received a Bachelor of Arts with a triple-minor in Philosophy, Economics and Asian Studies. He was also elected to be Senator of Hofstra’s Student Government Association and was chosen to be a teacher’s assistant of Finite Calculus with Business Applications. If you need to find a lawyer who you can trust in the Cedarhurst area, Katz Law Firm is ready to use our expertise to serve you—contact us today!

Kent Gross is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York. Mr. Gross received his J.D. from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law.

The Law Offices of David M. Doré, P.C. is a litigation firm. Mr. Dore’s experience included consultation with attorneys on procedural rules for Federal and State and City courts for all New York metropolitan area court systems as well as courts in numerous other jurisdictions and countries. Coordinate service and filing of documents in courts for matters various New York State and Federal Courts. Mr. Doré trained attorneys and paralegals on Federal and State courts electronic filing procedures and court procedural rules in Federal and State litigation. He has handled commercial litigation procedural issues for matters pending in New York, and involving parties in California, Florida, Wisconsin and Washington, DC courts. He has coordinated cases related to international service of process under the Hague Convention and Inter-American Treaties; effecting service pursuant to those provisions in China, Italy and the Caribbean. Mr. Doré advised attorneys on White Collar criminal defense Federal and State, procedural rules, working alongside former Assistant U.S. Attorneys and coordinating cases with United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Coordinated investigations of entities infringing on copyright ownership and trade violations, including the dismantling of hundreds of counterfeit sellers of cigarettes. Mr. Doré also worked for the New York City Corporation Counsel conducting pretrial discovery and investigations for the Bronx Tort Division. Interview witnesses, including 50-H hearings, depositions of numerous prisoners at various New York State Correctional institutions. He has appeared and defended the City of New York in hundreds of cases at New York County Supreme Court, Bronx County Supreme Court and New York City Small Claims court. These appearances were at over 500 preliminary conferences and hundreds of depositions examining plaintiffs with actions against the City of New York. His advice was sought by Police Officers, Firefighters, Sanitation Inspectors, Public School teachers and other New York City personnel for pending litigations. In 2021 Mr. Doré was honored to be appointed to the AAJ Voter Protection Committee by President Navan Ward, Jr. President of the American Association for Justice.

Born and raised in New York, Associate Attorney Noah Passer is an experienced litigator who focuses his practice on representing injured workers and maximizing their compensation. Noah has extensive experience in all aspects of Workers’ Compensation, handling claims from inception and trial through permanency and settlement. He is comfortable litigating any disputed issue dealing with aspects of the employment relationship, medical treatment authorization, disability, permanency, or otherwise. Extremely respected by his peers and colleagues, Noah’s commitment is to the best interests of his clients.

Michael Gross is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York.

Jack Mevorach is a practicing lawyer in the State of New York. He received his J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law in 1987. He currently works for his privately owned firm of Jack Mevorach, Esq.