Managing Partner Michael Wildes is proud to announce the approval of the O-1 petition filed on behalf of renowned business executive, Don Ghermezian.
Mr. Ghermezian is a highly accomplished business executive and real estate developer who serves as President of Ameream LLC and Chief Executive Officer of Triple Five Worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, retail operations, and large-scale mixed-use developments, he is widely recognized as a leading figure in the experiential retail and entertainment industry. Mr. Ghermezian has played a central role in the development and continued expansion of American Dream, one of the premier retail and entertainment destinations in the United States.
Under his leadership, American Dream has evolved into a premier “retail-tainment” destination that combines luxury retail, entertainment, hospitality, and tourism into a single immersive environment. The more than 3 million square foot complex features over 400 retail stores, major entertainment attractions, and globally recognized brands including Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Hermès, Zara, and Primark. His strategic vision and focus on experiential consumer engagement have helped redefine the modern shopping and entertainment model.
Mr. Ghermezian has received significant recognition for his influence within the industry, including repeated inclusion on the NJBIZ Power 100 list of New Jersey’s most influential business leaders, where he was ranked the No. 1 most powerful business leader in 2020. He was also recognized as the 2026 Innovator of the Year by Retail Store Tours for his contributions to the evolution of experiential retail and destination development. Through his executive leadership, innovation, and large-scale development expertise, Mr. Ghermezian has established himself as a forward-thinking industry leader driving transformative growth within the retail and entertainment sectors.
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 icons Pele and Karim Benzema, Master Chef Jean-Georges, musicians Joe Cocker, 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