Managing Partner Michael Wildes is proud to announce the approval of the O-1 petition filed on behalf of Omer Shem Tov, a Nova Festival survivor and former Hamas hostage.
Mr. Omer Shem Tov is a 23-year-old Israeli national who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and spent more than 450 days in captivity, including more than 400 days held in underground tunnels in Gaza. Taken along with friends who were later released, he was transferred deeper into Gaza and held behind bars in near-total darkness with steadily diminishing food, relying on faith, human connection, and careful conservation of energy to survive conditions designed to break him. He was released on February 22, 2025, returning to Israel after seventeen months in captivity and reunited with his family. Since his return, he has spoken openly about the lasting trauma of underground imprisonment while rebuilding his physical and emotional strength through nature, music, and faith. He has also become a powerful international advocate working tirelessly for the return of all remaining hostages, meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, speaking at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, and sharing his testimony in the documentary Home: Omer Shem Tov Speaks, ensuring that the voices of those who were held in Gaza remain at the forefront of global attention.
Wildes & Weinberg was founded in 1960 by Senior Partner, Leon Wildes. He was best known for his successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono as they fought the Nixon Administration during a five year bitterly contested Deportation Proceeding. Nearly three quarters of a century later, the firm continues to concentrate its practice in all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law, servicing the immigration requirements of prominent American and International firms, banks, industrial, financial, and manufacturing concerns, as well as law firms in connection with the personnel needs of their foreign national employees.
In addition, the firm has a distinguished clientele and has done substantial immigration work for performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors/actresses, athletes, fine artists, art dealers, curators, and literary agents. Most notable was Leon Wildes’ successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his artist wife, Yoko Ono in their deportation proceedings, the basis of which has inspired legislation, and has been portrayed in films, plays, and literary works worldwide. Some of the firm’s other distinguished clients include scholar Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (z”l), as well as soccer icon Pele, Master Chef Jean-Georges, musicians Sinead O’ Connor and Boy George, as well as First Lady Melania Trump and her family.
Michael Wildes, the firm’s Managing Partner, is also currently serving his fifth term as Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, is the author of Safe Haven in America: Battles to Open the Golden Door (which draws on over a quarter of a century of his practice in the immigration field), is an Adjunct Professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, and serves as Counsel to Lincoln Center and several international/corporate law firms.
Despite difficulties currently being encountered in dealing with U.S. immigration authorities, the firm has maintained an extraordinary track record for success in its cases. The firm’s litigation group has expanded its efforts in filing Mandamus Actions and other Actions in Federal Courts throughout the nation.
In addition, Wildes & Weinberg’s multilingual staff is spread throughout its offices in New York City, Englewood, New Jersey, Miami, Florida, and by appointment only in Los Angeles, California and Tel Aviv, Israel, and are known for their experience and special expertise in processing each foreign national’s case with nothing less than the highest level of professionalism.
For more information on our firm please visit www.wildeslaw.com or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.