Founding Partner (1933 – 2024)
Leon Wildes founded Wildes & Weinberg more than 60 years ago and now serves as the firm’s Founding Partner. He graduated magna cum laude from Yeshiva University, holds a J.D. and LL.M. degree from the New York University School of Law, and he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City, where he taught immigration law for more than 30 years. He would regularly publish scholarly articles in the field and provide lectures widely to both immigration lawyers and lawyers in general practice.
A recognized authority in his field, he served as National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has testified before the United States Congress as an expert in immigration matters. Awarded the Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to the field of Immigration Law, he is best known for his successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono in deportation proceedings. He has been honored by various organizations including Super Lawyers, and received the Elmer Fried Prize for Excellence in Teaching Immigration Law.