Throughout his six decades of practice, Founding Partner Leon Wildes represented many talented and highly qualified professionals in addition to scores of distinguished individuals and was considered a dean in the field of immigration law. In 1972, Leon Wildes testified on Illegal Aliens before the Committee on The Judiciary House of Representatives.
A true scholar in the field, Mr. Wildes is a magna cum laude graduate of Yeshiva College (1954) and he completed his law school education at the New York University School of Law in 1957 when he was granted a Jurist Doctor Degree. In 1959 he obtained a Master of Law Degree at the same school.
Mr. Wildes was an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law for over 32 years. In addition, he supervised the immigration externship program.
In 1970 he was National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served as a member of its board of governors ever since. AILA conferred upon him its Edith Lowenstein Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Immigration Practice, and he was also awarded the Elmer Fried Prize for Excellence in Teaching Immigration Law. Best known for his successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his artist wife Yoko Ono in deportation proceedings, he has published 5 law review articles on issues of law raised in the extraordinary litigation connected with that case. Mr. Wildes’ is also the proud author of John Lennon vs. the USA: The Inside Story of the Most Bitterly Contested and Influential Deportation Case in United States History, which was published by Ankerwycke Books, an imprint of ABA Publishing, a division of the American Bar Association and became available in August 2016.
Moreover, Mr. Wildes began his intense study and practice of immigration law in 1960 as a migrations specialist at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and has practiced immigration law ever since. He has also been included in other similar listings such as Super Lawyers, Who’s Who in America Law, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the World, as well as earlier editions of The Best Lawyers in America, such amazing accomplishments.
Wildes & Weinberg was founded in 1960 by Senior Partner, Leon Wildes. 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 and Former First Lady Melania Trump and her family.
Michael Wildes, the firm’s Managing Partner, is also currently serving his fourth 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 Los Angeles, California (by appointment only) 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.