Denyse Sabagh is the head of the firm's Immigration Practice Group. She practices in the areas of immigration and nationality law and litigation.

Ms. Sabagh has more than 25 years of experience in representing diverse clients. She helps corporate clients manage both inbound and outbound employment immigration. She is a recognized leader in developing strategic business immigration programs and policies.

Ms. Sabagh is a former national president and general counsel of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and serves on its Board of Governors. Ms. Sabagh is also a former member of the Coordinating Committee on Immigration Law of the American Bar Association, former chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Fairfax County Bar Association and is on the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union National Capital Area Chapter. She is listed in Chambers Global and Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers for 2006 and 2007, and was awarded the first Rose Bouziane Nader Award by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in June 2006. This Award is given to an Arab American who exemplifies civic courage, organizing skills and significant achievement in advancing the just society with its pursuit of happiness, creativity and foresight.

Admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia, Ms. Sabagh is a member of the District of Columbia, Virginia State, Arlington County and Fairfax County bar associations. She is a 1977 graduate of George Mason University Law School and a graduate of the University of Maryland.

Areas Of Practice

Immigration and Nationality Law and Litigation

Representative Matters

Counsel to a long-term permanent resident with a very large family of U.S. citizens/permanent residents who own businesses in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area in a deportation proceeding on a difficult cancellation of removal case. Result allowed client to maintain his permanent residence and reside in the United States.
Counsel to individuals in post 9/11/02 secret hearings and material witness warrant cases before the Immigration Court and the U.S. District Court in Eastern District of Virginia.
Counsel to a company in an I-9 Audit from the Immigration & Naturalization Service. Negotiated settlement favorable to client.
Counsel to information technology company for all immigration matters including H-1B and TN visas; labor certifications, green cards and consular processing; complex and difficult issues successfully resolved.
Counsel to foreign physicians in obtaining a J-1 waiver and H-1B visa in a short period of time to serve in a medically underserved area.
Counsel to a company for immigration issues regarding foreign nurse recruitment in the Philippines, Canada and other countries; assistance in obtaining permanent residence and non-immigrant visas.
Counsel to multinational company for all immigration matters including L-1 transfer of foreign nationals, H-1B, E - treaty visa and permanent residence and complex immigration issues.
Counsel to foreign embassy regarding immigration and international dispute issues.
Counsel regarding religious worker visas.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
- Coordinating Committee on Immigration Law, 1997-2001
The District of Columbia Bar
The Virginia State Bar
Arlington County Bar Association
Fairfax County Bar Association
-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1982-1984
American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Member, Board of Governors, 1988-present
- Chair, Legislative Advocacy Committee, 2001-present
- General Counsel, 2003-2005
Chair, Enforcement Liaison Committee with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1999
- Member, Board of Governors, 1988-present
- President, 1996-1997
- President Elect, 1995-1996
- First Vice President, 1994-1995
- Second Vice President, 1993-1994
- National Secretary, 1991-1992
- Chair, 1990 Annual Conference
- Co-Chair, Business Immigration Conference, 1998
- Chair, Second Annual Capital Conference, 1987
- Chair, First Annual Capital Conference, 1986
- Co-Chair, National Committee on Legislation, 1985-1986
President and Secretary, Washington, D.C. Chapter, 1983-1985
FBI Arab American Advisory Committee
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
-Recipient of First Legal Award, 1994
American Civil Liberties Committee
- Chair, National Capital Chapter, Civil Liberties Summit Committee, 1999
Middle East Asylum Project, 1994-present
Human Rights Delegations, 1993, 1987
Adviser to Presidential Transition Team Immigration Group, 1992
Expert Witness, Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Regina Magalena Buzan, Case No. CR 54205, Circuit Court for Prince William County, Virginia, 2004

Admissions

Virginia
District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Supreme Court of Virginia
Supreme Court of Maryland

Education

George Mason University Law School, J.D., 1977