Clark Hill Member, Thomas K. Ragland, Panelist at American Immigration Lawyers Association’s 2019 Federal Court Litigation Conference: Removal and Business on March 12th

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Clark Hill Member, Thomas Ragland, will be a panelist for the following presentations at the AILA 2019 Federal Court Litigation Conference: Removal and Business in Chicago, IL on March 12th.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of more than 15,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. AILA member attorneys represent U.S. families seeking permanent residence for close family members, as well as U.S. businesses seeking talent from the global marketplace. Founded in 1946, AILA is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that provides continuing legal education, information, professional services, and expertise through its 39 chapters and over 50 national committees.

Business Track

Time to Retaliate, Civility: “Learning the Fundamentals of the Game”

9:10 AM to 10:10 AM

The panelists will explain everything you need to know to litigate a business immigration denial. More than Civil Procedure 101, during this panel you will learn what is needed to file a complaint to sue the government. Panelists also will give you the practical tools to advocate for your clients in a new venue: federal court!

• Contents of a Complaint: Who to Sue, How to File, and Serving Defendants
• My Client, My Office, and the USCIS Service Center Are All in Different  Places: Where to Sue, Appearing Pro Hac Vice, and Working with Local Counsel
• Local Court Rules Matter! Know the Rules and Preferences of Your District Court and Judge
• Causes of Action and Litigation Timeline
• Ethical Considerations: Settlement and Time-Keeping for Billing/Possible EAJA Fees

Introduction to the AILA Administrative Litigation Task Force

11:50 AM to 12:05 PM

For more information, please click here. 

Thomas K. Ragland is Member in Charge of Clark Hill’s Washington, D.C. office. Thomas has practiced immigration law for more than 20 years. Prior to joining private practice, Thomas worked for 10 years in the U.S. Department of Justice, joining directly after graduating from law school through the Attorney General’s Honor Program. At DOJ, Thomas represented the government in the Boston Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Civil Division Office of Immigration Litigation. Since leaving the government in 2004, Thomas has devoted himself to guiding individuals and companies through the complex, often overwhelming U.S. immigration system. He brings an unwavering commitment to his clients and a genuine desire to help them achieve their goals and dreams – whether obtaining U.S. citizenship or permanent residence, avoiding deportation, obtaining visas for employees or family members, or challenging agency decisions in federal court. Having worked on both sides of the system, Thomas brings wide-ranging experience and a deep understanding of this country’s immigration laws. He is highly regarded as a top litigator, a creative legal thinker, and a tireless advocate for his clients.