Bart Chavez

I am currently a practitioner of Immigration law and have been for a number of years. I have enjoyed representing people from all over the world in their dreams of living in the United States.

As I indicated earlier, I would like to pursue further education at the JSD, SJD or PhD level.

CURRICULUM VITAE OF BART ANDREW CHAVEZ

23771 Mariner Drive, Apt. 128
Dana Point, CA 92629
602-578-2045
[email protected]

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Education:
University of Arizona School of Law
Master of Law (LLM) (Focus is on Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples)
Tucson, Arizona
Expected Date of Graduation: May 2023

Thunderbird School of Global Management
Arizona State University
Master’s in applied leadership & Management (International Business)
Tempe, Arizona

Juris Doctorate Degree
Washburn University School of Law
Topeka, Kansas

Bachelor of Arts Degree, Criminal Justice
Washburn University of Topeka
Topeka, Kansas
Degree Honors Magna Cum Laude

Licensure/Certifications:

• Licensed to practice law in the state of Nebraska.
• Licensed to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
• Licensed to practice before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Licensed to practice before the BIA, EOIR & DHS

Areas of Expertise/Special Interests:

Immigration Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law & Procedure, International/Comparative Law
Bart Chavez, Attorney at Law, Dana Point, California, December 2022 to present, Attorney – Responsible for management of a small, boutique, law practice specializing in immigration and nationality law. Emphasis is on family immigration, removal, and representation of asylees and refugees.

Brad Brigante, Brigante Law Group, Irvine, California, September 2022 to present, Senior Immigration Counsel – Responsible for assisting Mr. Brigante in building an immigration law practice. The focus of the practice initially is on the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA). Further, each case will be analyzed for the client’s eligibility for this immigration benefit from intake to approval.

The Matian Firm, Los Angeles, California, April 2022 to September 2022, Associate Attorney – Work in the legal analysis department of the law firm. Duties include a review of case files including in all areas of immigration law and criminal law. Reviewing of all issues to determine eligibility for immigration remedies and benefits. Cases include all forms of immigration matters including U and other humanitarian visas, Adjustment of Status, Visa Consular Processing, grounds of inadmissibility such as criminal convictions, and their effect on the immigrant and nonimmigrant’s ability to remain in the United States or immigrate to this country. Interview up to thirty clients a week for the purpose of screening to determine whether the case moves forward for specific immigration benefits.

The Presti Law Firm, Dallas, Texas, August 2019 to April 2022; Attorney – Responsible for assisting Michael Presti, Attorney at Law, in preparing legal briefs for immigration cases; briefs included asylum cases, cancellation of removal for certain non-permanent residents, 212(h) and 212(I)waivers, custody redeterminations, false claims to United States Citizenship, briefs to the Board of Immigration Appeals, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Writs of Habeas Corpus and Interpol matters.

Bart A. Chavez, Attorney at Law, Omaha, Nebraska, September 1992 to September 2012, Attorney – Worked as a solo attorney in the area of Immigration Law. Had extensive experience in preparing cases for presentation to the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration Courts. Prepared pleadings, motions, prehearing statements, and appellate briefs for presentation to the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the United States Department of Homeland Security. Made hundreds of appearances in front of Immigration Judges in both detained and non-detained settings and before the Federal Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Eighth Circuits. Was responsible for the supervision and management of up to 20 employees during my tenure as an attorney. Represented thousands of clients from Latin America speaking primarily Spanish. These clients were primarily from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Also, responsible for oversight of the employment-based side of practice which included work on non-immigrant visas such as B-1/B-2, TN, R-1, H-1B, P-3, L-1, and E-1/E-2. Completed numerous immigrant cases including EB-1, 2 3, and 5 as well as NIWs.

Business Experience:

Country Financial, Mesa, Arizona, September 2017 to November 2018; Insurance Agent – Responsible for marketing and sales of all lines of insurance including personal, property casualty, and commercial lines. Trained to understand all Bank Secrecy Act and OFAC requirements.
Developed clientele from the ground up using various forms of media particularly print media. Was responsible for the management of client portfolio including claims, renewals, and additions to clientele product lines. Served the Hispanic community in and around the Phoenix valley. Spoke 90 percent Spanish in my day-to-day activities including interpreting for other non-Latino-speaking clients of the firm.

State Farm Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska, and Phoenix, Arizona, February 2015 to September 2017 Sales Associate – Responsible for the development of a book of insurance business. This was accomplished through a variety of methods including working at expos, cold calling, and calling on internet leads. Sold numerous types of insurance products including auto, homeowner’s, renter’s, and life and health insurance products. Sold an average of 40 policies a month during tenure as an agent’s team member.

First Data Corporation, Omaha, Nebraska, September 2012 to February 2015 Team Manager, Fraud Detection Department – Duties include managing and developing a team of twenty-six fraud analysts to detect and circumvent the use of fraud on cardholders’ credit cards. In the process, I am familiar with and have worked directly with fraud detection platforms such as Falcon Fraud Manager, Dialer, Work Center, FRIS, and Mainframe. Advise analysts on what direction to take in analyzing accounts for potential fraud. I was also responsible for review of payroll records, placing entries into Merced platform, and review of analysts’ exceptions. Further, I was responsible for ensuring that all analysts are in compliance with First Data fraud analysts’ practices and policy per the department handbook. Conducted monthly one on one reviews to determine analysts’ progress in how they conduct their day-to-day business. Extensive experience in interviewing potential candidates for employment in Fraud Detection. Trained to understand OFAC requirements and regulations in the processing of credit card transactions.

Honors and Achievements

• Selected for membership in Honor Society.org honorary society – 2023.

• Washburn University School of Law Diversity Scholarship – 2022. Scholarship to be used for students best representing the concept of diversity and inclusion in their legal studies.

• Thomas Cooley School of Law LLM Merit scholarship - 2022

• Baylor University School of Law LLM Merit scholarship - 2022

• Pepperdine University Academic Scholarship – 2019 – Pepperdine University

• Top Paper – Behavioral Science and the Legal System – 1984 – Washburn School of Law

• Top Paper – Seminar in Criminal Jurisprudence – 1984 – Washburn School of Law

• Washburn University Academic Scholarship, 1981-1982

• Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society - 1981 – Washburn University

• Sagamore Men’s Honor Society – 1981 – Washburn University

• Departmental Honors in Criminal Justice – 1982 – Washburn University

• Washburn University of Topeka Alumni Fellows – 2003 – Recognized for outstanding achievement professionally and in civic and university affairs.

• Washburn University Criminal Justice Scholarship – 2003 – Endowed scholarship to aid outstanding students majoring in Criminal Justice.

• Washburn University School of Law Board of Governors – 2003-2004.

• Received the highest rating for an attorney for superior performance and ethics by the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory as recommended by colleagues and peers.

Publications:

Published in the June 2001 American Immigration Lawyers National Association Annual Handbook. The article was entitled “Adjustment of Status for Beginning Practitioners”. Bristol, D., & Gordon-Troy, T. L. (2000). AILA's INS directory and resource guide: A guide for the immigration practitioner.

Speaking Engagements/Teaching:

• Guest lecturer at the American Immigration Lawyer’s National Conference on immigration law in Boston, Massachusetts, June 2001

• Guest lecturer at the National Conference for the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild in Tucson, Arizona, October 2001.

• Guest lecturer at the Nebraska State Bar Association’s mandatory continuing legal education seminar on immigration law in Omaha, Nebraska, February 2002.

Precedent Cases/Court of Appeals Decisions:

Lopez-Flores v. Department of Homeland Security, 387 F.3d 773( 8th Cir 2004). Issue resolved favorably for the plaintiff in a summary removal proceeding pursuant to §241(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The matter was argued before a panel of judges at the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and decided on October 28, 2004.

Expert testimony/Depositions:

Served as an expert witness in Immigration malpractice trials and testified at trial and in depositions for respective plaintiffs.

Foreign Languages:

Spanish – Advanced proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing.

Entrepreneurial Ventures/Businesses:

• Bart A Chavez, Attorney at Law P.C., September 1992 to September 2012 – Developed immigration law practice from the beginning of $30,000 dollars in revenue in 1992 to a peak of 1.1 million dollars in 2009.

• Chavez Real Estate Ventures, LLC, May 2006 to September 2012 – Developed and managed a portfolio of real estate investments totaling 1.5 million in value of single-family homes, land, and condominiums.

• Talk Show on Immigration Issues on 97.7 F.M. Omaha, Nebraska, September 2006 to May 2009 – Started bilingual pro bono radio show serving the Latino population in an around the greater Omaha, Nebraska region.

• Taught classes pro bono for immigrants in Omaha, Nebraska for Naturalization Exam – 2003 -2010