Managing Partner Michael Wildes and Senior Attorney Caroline Gabela-Monteiro are proud to announce the approval of the O-1 visa petition filed on behalf of extraordinary podcast host and investigative journalist Hamza Syed.

Mr. Syed is a highly accomplished journalist and storyteller who, beginning in 2017, co-developed and produced the critically acclaimed podcast The Trojan Horse Affair in collaboration with Serial Productions and The New York Times. The series garnered widespread praise and extensive media coverage for its powerful investigative reporting and compelling narrative.

Prior to the podcast, Mr. Syed worked with the BBC and Red Planet Pictures on various creative projects. In 2015, one of his television scripts was optioned by the BBC through its Writersroom “Comedy Script Room” initiative. Mr. Syed’s exceptional talent and unique voice have earned him significant recognition in the press and among his peers in the industry.

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.