Attorney Profiles

Jeffrey A. Kriezelman is the founding member of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. Since 1973, he has dedicated his professional life to the assistance of those immigrants, intended immigrants and their families seeking the opportunities, standard of life and in many cases, the safety offered by the United States. Mr. Kriezelman and his law firm provide a full-service range of services covering every aspect of Immigration and Nationality Law. Mr. Kriezelman regularly practices before the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, while his offices appear regularly before the Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeals. Mr. Kriezelman has appeared as a noted speaker on Immigration Law and its many facets before professional and community organizations, while he has served as a columnist in several ethnic newspapers and community publications discussing immigration law and answering a multitude of questions affecting the Immigrant Community.

Mr. Kriezelman has maintained professional membership in the American Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Mr. Kriezelman has continued to serve his community and provides pro bono work for the Chicago Bar Association, The Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, the “ARK”, the Russian Law Clinic, and for countless individuals who need competent legal assistance yet are unable to retain private counsel.

Mr. Kriezelman presently serves as the President of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Chicago. He has offered and provided his professional services to foreign consulates and foreign government offices and has represented clients throughout the United States and those living abroad. He remains available for private consultation.

Justin Burton is a member of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. He is an attorney dedicated to the practice of Immigration & Nationality Law. He regularly practices law before the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeals.Justin is also a regular speaker on the topic of Immigration Law. He speaks annually at the American Immigration Lawyers Association meeting before hundreds of Immigration attorneys. He also speaks at meetings with the Chicago Bar Association, Midwest Regional Conferences, and Federal Bar Association. Some of his published decision before the Court of Appeals include Giday v. Gonzales; Tabaku v. Ashcroft; Abdelqader v. Ashcroft; and Naim v. Ashcroft.Justin is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Federal Bar Association. He also has held positions including liaison with the Executive Office of Immigration Review, headed the initiation of the Chicago AILA Litigation Committee and AILA National Committee on Deportation and Removal.

Justin volunteers extensively with pro bono agencies and committees. He presently serves on the Board of the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society. He also provides pro bono services including regular assistance to indigent clients with the Chicago Volunteer Legal Society. Justin presently is a member of the Chicago Executive Board for the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Speaking Engagements

• Moderator- “Criminal Issues in Immigration Law: Strategies for Representing Clients with Crim. Convictions” Chicago Bar Assoc. Jan. 2012
• Panelist- “CIMT’s, Are They Truly Immoral?,” 9th Annual Immigration Law Institute, November 2011, Columbus, Ohio
• Moderator- “District Court Litigation,” Introduction to Federal Court Litigation, AILA 2011 Fall Seminar
• Panelist- “Effective Representation in Immigration Court,” 7th Annual Federal Bar Association Immigration Seminar, Memphis, Tennessee
• Panelist- “Immigration Remedies in Federal Court: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, and APA Claims,” 7th Annual Federal Bar Association Immigration Seminar, Memphis, Tennessee
• Panelist- “Crimes of Violence: Recent Developments in the Law, How to Analyze a Conviction to Determine if it Constitutes Domestic Violence or an Aggravated Felony,” 8th Annual Federal Bar Association Immigration Seminar, Memphis, Tennessee
• Panelist- “Mock Immigration Court Hearing with Decision from an IJ,” 8th Annual Federal Bar Association Immigration Seminar, Memphis Tennessee
• Panelist- “Inadmissibility and Removability,” 2005 Annual Conference on Immigration Law, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Discussion Leader- “Motions to Reopen,” Chicago, Illinois American Immigration Lawyers Association

Professional Associations

Bar Admissions

• Northern District of Illinois
• Eastern District of Wisconsin
• 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States Supreme Court

Published Decisions

• Niam v Aschroft, 354 F.3d 652 (7th Cir. 2004)
• Abdelqadar v Gonzalez, 413 F.3d 668 (7th Cir. 2005)
• Tabaku v Gonzales, 425 F.3d 417 (7th Cir. 2005)
• Giday v Gonzales, 434 F.3d 543 (7th Cir. 2006)
• Hashish v Gonzales, 442 F.3d 572 (7th Cir. 2006)
• Skorusa v Gonzales, 482 F.3d 939 (7th Cir. 2007)
• Zeqiri v Mukasey, 529 F.3d 364 (7th Cir. 2008)
• Patel v Holder, 563 F.3d 565 (7th Cir. 2009)
• Stanojkova v Holder, 645 F.3d 943 (7th Cir. 2011)

Erin Cobb is a member of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, where she practices immigration law exclusively. She focuses her practice on asylum, family-based immigration, complex naturalization, removal defense, and federal court litigation.  She has served as an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University College of Law, teaching Immigration and Nationality Law.  Erin practices before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Seventh Circuits.  She was previously an attorney with a major legal services organization in Chicago, Illinois, and continues to perform pro bono work through a number of community-based organizations.

Prior to her career as an immigration lawyer, Erin taught English as a Second Language classes to immigrants and intending immigrants both in Chicago and abroad.

Speaking Engagements

• Midwest Regional Conference, Discussion Leader, “Practice Skills in Immigration Court,” 2016, Chicago, Illinois, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Fall Litigation Workshop, Panelist, “Getting Prepared for Trial,” 2013, Chicago, Illinois, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Spring Ethics Conference, Panelist, “Ethics in Removal Proceedings,” 2012, Chicago, Illinois, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Reframing Reform: Immigration As the Solution, Panelist, DePaul University College of Law, 2011, Chicago, Illinois
• Annual Conference, Panelist, “Mexican Asylum Claims,” 2011, San Diego, California, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Seminar, Organizer, “Strategies for Representing Survivors of Domestic Violence and Crime Victims,” 2011, Chicago, Illinois Chicago Bar Association
• Midwest Regional Conference, Panelist, “My Case Was Denied, Now What Do I Do?”  2011, Chicago, Illinois, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Midwest Regional Conference, Discussion Leader, “Ethical Issues in Immigration Practice,” 2009, Chicago, Illinois, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Midwest Regional Conference, Discussion Leader, “Litigation for the Business Immigration Practitioner,” 2008, Chicago, Illinois, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Erin has also given numerous presentations to professional organizations, community-based organizations, and even high school students on topics such as naturalization, petitions for mandamus, practice before the Immigration Courts, asylum, and the ramifications of criminal offenses on immigration status.  Before practicing immigration law exclusively, she gave lectures and workshops on domestic violence, family law, and various consumer and housing laws protecting aliens and citizens alike.

Professional Associations

• American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member, 2007 – present
• Co-Chair, ICE Office of Chief Counsel Liaison Committee, 2013 – 2015
• Co-Chair, Asylum Office Liaison Committee, 2010-2011
• Member, USCIS District Director Liaison Committee, 2010-2013
• Member, Legal Services for Detainees Committee, 2010 – 2014
• Member, Midwest Regional Conference Planning Committee, 2009-2010, 2014-2015
• Chicago Bar Association, Member, 2010 – present
• Co-Chair, Immigration & Nationality Law Committee, 2010-2011

Bar Admissions

• State of Illinois
• Northern District of Illinois
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Education

• J.D., DePaul University College of Law, summa cum laude, 2006
• B.A., University of Missouri, summa cum laude, 1999

Published Decisions

• Karroumeh v. Lynch, 15-2198 (7th Cir. 2016)
• Hamdan v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 986 (7th Cir. 2008)
• Rama v. Holder, 607 F. 3d 461 (7th Cir. 2010)

Matthew Kriezelman is a member at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. He regularly practices Immigration law before the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeals.

Matthew has traveled extensively throughout the country to represent immigrants before USCIS, ICE and various Immigration Courts.

He has extensive experience litigating Immigration related issues before the Federal District Court.  Matthew has filed numerous claims under the Administrative Procedures Act to ask that the District Court force the Department of Homeland Security to make a final decision in a case.  Often this has resulted in immediate decisions in cases which had been pending well beyond normal processing times.  Matthew has also filed numerous actions to ask that the District Court review denials of final administrative decisions.

Matthew currently serves as a co-chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Pro Bono clinic through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.

Matthew maintains offices in Chicago and Waukegan.

Bar Admissions

• Northern District of Illinois
• 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
• US Court of Federal Claims

Memberships

• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
• Lake County Bar Association

Speaking Engagements

•   Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity (January 2014) -IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Speaker and Organizer, Continuing Legal Education Class
• What’s Next for Immigration Reform (August 2013) – Speaker and Moderator, American Jewish Committee, Chicago, Illinois
• Temporary Protected Status Seminar (April 2010) – Speaker, Indian American Bar Association, Chicago, IL, Continuing Legal Education Class
• Removal for Beginners (June 2009) – ILW.COM – Speaker, Continuing Legal Education Class

Publications

• The Removal Book, 2nd Edition(2013) – ILW.COM – Authored 2 chapters.
• “While Congress Debates Immigration Reform There Remains Two Recent Policy Implementations Which Allow Certain Unauthorized Aliens to Receive Benefits.”  – Lake County Bar Association Docket – (June 2013).

Awards

Lauren McClure is an Associate Attorney with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. She is admitted to practice law in the state of Illinois. She focuses her practice exclusively in the the areas of immigration law, including family-based immigration, asylum, removal defense, employment-based immigration and federal court litigation.  Lauren is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Seventh Circuit.She currently serves as a co-chair of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association’s Chicago Chapter Secretary of State Liaison Committee. She also served as the New Members Division chair for two years, as well as chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Immigration & Nationality Law Committee from 2014-2015.

Professional Associations

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association

Bar Admissions

• State of Illinois
• Northern District of Illinois
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Speaking Engagements

• Consular Processing Strategies: Pitfalls and Solutions in Consular Practice (January 2017) Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois.

Publications

• The Doctrine of Consular Non-Reviewability: Why It Still Matters, The Green Card, published by the Immigration Law Section of the Federal Bar Association, Fall 2016

Awards

• Super Lawyers- Rising Star 2015 and 2016

Brittni Rivera is an Associate Attorney with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC.  Prior to law school, Brittni graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University in 2011 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Spanish.  In 2014, she earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.  While at Chicago-Kent, Brittni was awarded two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in both Legal Writing and for her seminar article regarding President Obama’s executive action, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

While a law student, Brittni interned in the Immigration Law Clinic of the Law Offices of Chicago-Kent and worked as an intern at the Chicago Legal Clinic.  She also served as a judicial extern at the Chicago Immigration Court and worked for the Department of Homeland Security.  Brittni served as the President of the Immigration Law Society at Chicago-Kent.

Brittni is a first generation attorney whose family immigrated from Cuba in the 1970’s.  She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys learning about different cultures from her clients.  Brittni is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Bar Admissions 

• State of Illinois
• Northern District of Illinois

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Education

• J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2014
• B.A., DePaul University, magna cum laude, 2011

Kevin Raica is an Associate Attorney with Kriezelman Burton& Associates, LLC. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Illinois. He focuses his practice exclusively in the areas of immigration law, including family-based immigration, waivers, removal defense, asylum, and employment-based immigration. Kevin practices before the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Labor, Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Kevin is currently the Chair of the of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association’s Chicago Chapter Executive Office for Immigration Review Liaison Committee and he was Co-Chair from 2015-2016. He also served as Co-Chair of the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations liaison committee from 2013-2015.

Professional Associations 

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Chicago Bar Association

Bar Admissions 

• State of Illinois
• Northern District of Illinois
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Speaking Engagements 

• Immigration Court Practice (March 2017), Discussion Leader, AILA Midwest Regional Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
• Consular Processing Strategies: Pitfalls and Solutions in Consular Practice (January 2017) Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois.
• Employment-based immigration unit (August 2016, November 2015, April 2015, June 2014, August 2013), Speaker, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Chicago, Illinois.
• Customs and Border Protection: Entry and Admission Issues (June 2016), Speaker, AILA Chicago Chapter monthly meeting, Chicago, Illinois.
• Immigration Law and Procedure (November 2015), Guest Lecturer, John Marshall Law School.
• Complicated Lawful Permanent Resident Issues (October 2015), Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois.
• Immigration Practice Ethics (May 2015), Speaker, AILA Chicago Chapter Ethics Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
• Driver’s License and Social Security Issues for Immigrants (November 2014), Speaker, AILA Chicago Chapter Fall Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
• Preparing for Immigration Court (November 2013), AILA Chicago New Members Division monthly meeting, Chicago, Illinois.
• District Court jurisdiction (November 2011), AILA Chicago Chapter Fall Conference, Chicago, Illinois

Published Decisions 

• Lam v. Holder, 698 F.3d 529 (7th Cir. 2012)
• Gonzales-Gomez v. Achim, 441 F.3d 552 (7th Cir. 2006)

Awards 

• Leading Lawyers – Emerging Lawyer 2016 and 2017
• Super Lawyers- Rising Star 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014

Education 

• J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law
• B.A., Northwestern University