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print full bioLeigh N. Ganchan
Profile
Ms. Ganchan provides business immigration advice to professionals in a variety of industries. Ms. Ganchan also supports employers as they develop and audit their employment eligibility compliance programs and she helps prepare individuals for U.S. consulate hearings. Ms. Ganchan is certified in Immigration and Nationality law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
From 1996 to 1999, Ms. Ganchan gained insight into the enforcement side of immigration law during her tenure as an Assistant District Counsel for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. She also performed immigration work at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Ms. Ganchan was one of the founding officers of the State Bar of Texas Immigration Law Section and currently serves as the Vice Chair for the section. Ms. Ganchan is Editor-in-Chief of the 2007 edition of Handbook on Immigration for Entertainers, Artists, Athletes.
Experience
Ms. Ganchan has represented clients in such diverse industries as energy, biotechnology, health care (clinical and research), finance and construction, with matters including:
- Representing companies and organizations in all immigration and employment visa matters before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Labor (DOL), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and in federal court;
- Analyzing employers’ employment eligibility verification compliance and planning needs under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA);
- Preparing individuals for interviews at U.S. consulates, including strategy development for overcoming grounds of inadmissibility and accompanying clients abroad as needed; and
- Assisting with a wide range of complex U.S. citizenship issues, including obtaining U.S. passports on an expedited basis, preparing acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth abroad petitions and advocacy in loss of citizenship cases.
Education and Honors
J.D., cum laude, American University, Washington College of Law, 1996
Diploma, European and International Legal Studies, Université de Paris-X, 1996
Post Graduate Degree, University of Vienna, Austria, 1992
B.A., cum laude, University of Alabama, 1991
- Chambers USA (2009-2011)
Professional Activities
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- HR Houston
- Greater Houston Partnership (Committee Member; World Trade Supervisory Board, 2009)
- 2011 Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues - "Business Immigration for Beginners" - Houston - May 11, 2011 - May 12, 2011
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference - "How to Assist a Nonimmigrant with Obtaining a Waiver of Inadmissibility Under 212(d)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act" - Washington, D.C. - June 30, 2010 - July 3, 2010
- Texas Bar CLE Advanced Immigration Law Course - "E-Verify and Worksite Notices of Inspection" - Houston - February 26, 2010
- Texas Bar CLE Advanced Immigration Law Course - "Temporary/Nonimmigrant Status" - Houston - February 24, 2010
- 2008 Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues - "Take the I-9 Challenge – Round II" - Houston - May 13, 2008
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Audio Seminar - "Bi-Specialization Phase 3 – How Does It Affect You?" - 2007
In The News
- August 16, 2011 - Law360 - "Ogletree Deakins Adds Ex-Haynes & Boone Immigration Pro"
Texas
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas