Bar Admissions: Licensed to practice in New York (active) and Illinois (inactive).
Admitted to state and federal courts for New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois, and U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second,
Third and Fifth Circuits.
Law Practice:
* Law Offices of Jonathan Robert Nelson, New York, New York --
May 1991 to present. Practice mainly in civil litigation and immigration. Litigation practice in federal and state courts
including commercial disputes, church representation, enforcement of contracts, copyright, religious freedom claims, defense
against contract interference and other claims. Defendants and plaintiffs represented at trial and appellate levels. Diverse
immigration practice, most recently concentrated on administrative and judicial appeals in asylum cases.
* Rae and Nelson LLP, New York, New York, Partner – February
1999 to June, 2000. Practice as above.
* Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, New York, New York, Associate --
March 1987 to May 1991. Broad commercial and complex securities litigation experience in federal and state courts. Immigration
law.
* Chapman
and Cutler, Chicago, Illinois, Associate -- May 1983 to February 1987. Practice included commercial and bank
litigation at trial and appellate levels and documentation of industrial development bond, aircraft and energy financing transactions.
Education:
* Northwestern University School of Law,
Chicago, Illinois, J. D. 1983. Honors: Elected "Best Editor" of Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business; Won "Best Memorial" Award for
Midwest Region in Jessup International Moot Court Competition;
Dean's List.
* The
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, M.A. 1984.
* Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut,
B.A. 1978. Earned degree in three years. Whiffenpoofs
of 1977.
Professional: Member, Inter-American Bar Association; Christian
Legal Society; Advocates International. Former
member, American Bar Association; American Immigration Lawyers Association; Association of the Bar of the City of New York;
Chicago Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association, International Bar Association, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.
Speaking appearances:
Christian Legal Society, Annual Conference, Destin, Florida, Nov. 3, 2007, "Representing Immigrants
in a Shifting Legal Landscape: Immigration Options for Undocumented Aliens."
Synod of the Northeast Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Oct. 20, 2007, "Status of Immigration
Reform Legislation."
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church,
New York City, Advocates for Peace and Justice, Oct. 5, 2007, "The Social Security No-Match Letter Program."
Presbytery of New York City, April 21, 2007, Moderator
and Workshop Leader, Conference on "Immigration, Justice and Christian Hospitality."
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City, February, April 2007, "Christian Hospitality
and National Borders;"
Center for Christian Studies, New York City, "Christian Hospitality and National Borders"
(October, December 2006).
American Bar Association, Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, Washington, DC, Remarks, "Fortress America: Asylum
and Refugees" (January, 2006).
Association of the Bar of the City of New York, on repeated occasions: "Representing Haitian
Refugees as a Volunteer."
Andy Andersen Show, WMCA Radio, Featured Guest, April 24, 2001.
Cardozo Law School, New York City, "Female Genital Mutilation
as a Ground for Asylum Claims," November 19, 1996.
Colegio de Abogados de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 26, 1996: "Unas Oportunidades
por Inmigracion en los EE.UU."
Inter-American Bar Association, Quito, Ecuador, November 15, 1995: "Proyectos en cambio
de las leyes inmigratorias en los EE.UU."
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Phoenix, Arizona, June, 1991: "Representing
asylum seekers detained in Harlingen, Texas."
Illinois State Bar Association, 1986 Annual Meeting: "Debate on Mandatory Continuing Legal
Education."
Activities: Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York, New York, Member, Elder, Former Trustee, Former Member
of Session; The
Fletcher Club of New York, Inc., Former President; Yale
Club of Chicago, Former Secretary; Yale Whiffenpoof
Alumni, Inc., Former Director; New York City Presbytery
Working Group on Immigration Advocacy, Member.
Publications:
"Judge-Made
Law and the Presumption of Arbitrability", 58 Brooklyn
Law Review 279 (Summer 1992). "The
Implementation of the Refugee Act of 1980: A Decade of Experience", published 1990 by Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (co-author). "Shaking the Pillars: An Asylum Applicant Shakes Loose Some Unusual Relief," 83 Interpreter Releases 1 (2006). "Christian Hospitality and National Borders," self-study web outline published by The Witherspoon Society (November, 2006).
Public Advocacy:
AILA Lobby Day 2006; REAL ID Act lobbying in Washington DC in March
2005.
Languages: Fluent in English, proficient in
Spanish and French.
To contact this law office,click here.
Law Offices
of Jonathan Robert Nelson, P.C.
111 Broadway, Suite 1805, New York, NY 10006
Telephone: (212) 593-5775
Facsimile:
(212) 593-5115
E mail: nelson@attorneynelson.com
