Michael L. Kabik is a widely recognized leader in the Immigration Bar and legal community. A mentor to younger practitioners in the field, Mr. Kabik regularly directs and teaches Immigration Law Continuing Legal Education courses to other lawyers.
Mr. Kabik concentrates his practice exclusively on Immigration Law and is Chairman of the Shulman Rogers' Immigration, Nationality, and Consular Practice Group. He provides clients with a broad full-service employment-based, family-based, naturalization, and litigation immigration practice. Clients include large, medium, and small businesses engaged in the domestic and international transfer of foreign personnel, including executives, managers, and other highly skilled professionals, and those individuals of extraordinary and exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, and athletics, as well as individuals seeking to unite with family members, and those in Removal Proceedings before the U.S. Immigration Courts and appellate courts.
Mr. Kabik counsels corporate and institutional clients on the temporary employment and permanent residence sponsorship of foreign personnel. He also advises these clients with respect to compliance with other federal immigration laws including those relating to I-9 compliance/employer sanctions and the myriad effects of corporate restructuring on the employment and sponsorship of foreign personnel. Counsel is also provided to educational institutions with respect to the unique issues related to employment of foreign academics and scholars and enrollment of foreign students.
Representation is provided to clients across many industries including: High Tech, Life Sciences, Medical & Health Care, Education, Hospitality & Restaurant, Service, Entertainment & Arts, Athletics, Telecommunications, Import/Export, Finance, Consulting, Manufacturing, Advertising, and Marketing. In particular, Mr. Kabik works with entrepreneurs and start-up companies in the Technology and Life Sciences arenas and is familiar with the specialized and unique immigration legal issues these companies face as they enter the U.S. market and develop.
Mr. Kabik has been widely recognized by his peers as among the most highly regarded attorneys in the field of Immigration Law. He has been selected to both the Maryland and Washington D.C. Super Lawyers listings, as well as being named in the Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition. This rigorous peer nomination and evaluation process, based on peer recognition and professional achievement, places Mr. Kabik in the top five percent of attorneys practicing in the field of Immigration Law.
Mr. Kabik has completed four consecutive terms as Chair of the Immigration Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County Maryland and in 2001 was a recipient of the Outstanding Section Chair of the Year Award. He is also active in other national and local bar associations. Mr. Kabik has been very involved in the American Bar Association, Section of International Law and Practice, holding several leadership positions including Vice Chair of the International Law and Practice Section's Immigration and Nationality Committee. He is active in the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, having served as Co-Chair of its Young Lawyers Division and Co-Chair of its Immigration Ethics Committee. Mr. Kabik is also a member of the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association and served on its Board of Directors from 1995 through 2008. A strong supporter of adult literacy in our community, Mr. Kabik is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the Literacy Council of Montgomery County, Maryland.
Mr. Kabik regularly mentors and teaches other lawyers in the field of Immigration Law. He directed the highly acclaimed MICPEL Maryland Continuing Legal Education courses "The Nuts and Bolts of Immigration Practice Series." He is also a regular speaker to nonlegal audiences on a variety of immigration-related topics. Mr. Kabik is sought after in the local media as an authority on Immigration Law. He has appeared as a featured legal guest on radio and internet broadcasts including Washington Post Radio and Washington Business Radio as well as on television commenting on a broad range of immigration issues affecting the business and immigrant communities. Mr. Kabik has authored and edited numerous published articles. He has also been qualified and has testified as an Expert Witness on Immigration and Nationality Law before the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission as well as the Circuit Court of Maryland for Montgomery County.
Mr. Kabik is also Shulman Rogers’ Managing Representative to the Lawrope International Group of Lawyers, an integrated organization of leading independent mid-sized business law firms headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, concentrating on both domestic and cross-border matters and working together to provide seamless client-focused international legal services. Lawrope member firms are predominantly based in Europe in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Outside of Europe, Lawrope has member firms in Brazil, India, Mexico, and the United States. One of two U.S. law firm members of Lawrope, Shulman Rogers was the first U.S. law firm elected to Lawrope along with a second U.S. law firm based on the West coast in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Kabik was instrumental in establishing Shulman Rogers as Lawrope’s first U.S.-based member and he presently serves as the Firm’s liaison to Lawrope and manages all aspects of Shulman Rogers’ relationships with other Lawrope member firms. He serves on several Lawrope committees and regularly participates in Lawrope meetings with members of other Lawrope firms both in Europe and via video conference.
Admitted to practice Immigration and Nationality Law throughout the United States, Mr. Kabik regularly represents domestic and foreign corporations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, individuals, and families before the Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection), the Department of Labor, the Department of State, and the U.S. Immigration Courts across the Nation, as well as before U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad.
Articles and Presentations
NEWS
PUBLICATIONS
- The Nuts & Bolts of Immigration Practice Series, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2007
- The Nuts & Bolts of Family Immigration and Naturalization, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2007
- The Nuts & Bolts of Business and Employment Immigration, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2007
- The Nuts & Bolts of Deportation and Removal, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2007
- The Nuts & Bolts of Immigration Practice Series, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2005
- The Nuts & Bolts of Family Immigration and Naturalization, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2005
- The Nuts & Bolts of Business Immigration, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2005
- The Nuts & Bolts of Deportation and Removal, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2005
- Employment of Foreign Scientific Personnel in the Biotechnology Industry, Business Gazette, October 4, 2002
- The Nuts & Bolts of Immigration Practice, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, 2002
- The Impact of Domestic Violence on Immigration Status, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, Domestic Violence Training Manual, 2001
- The 'Nuts and Bolts' of Labor Certification, ABA, Center for Continuing Legal Education and Section of International Law and Practice, 1998
- The Dilemma of 'Dumping' from Nonmarket Economy Countries, Emory University School of Law, 6 Emory International Law Review 339, 1992
- Through the Looking-Glass: International Trade in the 'Wonderland' of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley, 9 Internat'l Tax & Business Lawyer 408, 1992
EVENTS
SEMINARS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Maryland Judicial Conference - Federal Immigration in State Courts: The Judiciary's Guide to Family and Individual Immigration Status
- Testimony before the Governor's Commission to Study the Impact of Immigration in Maryland re: The Impact of Immigration on Maryland's High Tech and Life Sciences Sectors
- Featured Guest on legal programs including Washington Post Radio, Washington Business Radio and local television
- Nuts and Bolts of Immigration Practice Series, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL)
- Navigating the Immigration Maze: Strategies and Solutions from Work Visas through Greencards (Various Audiences)
- Navigating the Immigration Maze: Employment of Foreign Scientific Personnel -- Visa Options for the Bio Tech and High Tech Sectors (Various Audiences)
- Navigating the Immigration Maze: Strategies and Solutions from Student to Work Visa (Various Audiences)
- U.S. Immigration Strategies for Success in International Business (Various Audiences)
- Coming to America and Staying Here: All You Wanted to Know About Immigration (Leadership Montgomery)
- Moving Business and People Across Borders: Strategies for Success in International Transactions (World Trade Center Institute, Embassy Day Conference)
- Technology Incubator Series: Strategic Immigration Planning for High Tech and Bio Tech Companies (Rockville Innovation Center, Silver Spring Innovation Center, and Shady Grove Innovation Center)
- Strategy and Solutions for Today's Immigration Challenges (Israeli Business Network-DC)
- Strategic Immigration Planning for International Business Ventures (Various Audiences)
- Jet Set Divorce: Issues for a Borderless World - Critical Immigration Issues for the Family Law Practitioner (Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland)
- Immigration Law: Critical Issues for the Family Lawyer (Various Audiences)
- Strategic Immigration Planning for Bioscience Organizations (Bio/Pharma HR Network)
- Immigration Solutions for Foreign Workers: Temporary Work Visas and Permanent Residence Options (Various Audiences)
- SEVIS Workshop: NSEERS Special Registration, NAFSA -- Association of International Educators, Embassy Dialogue Committee (Embassy of Kuwait, Washington, DC)
- SEVIS Workshop: Spouses and Children of Students/Exchange Visitors, NAFSA -- Association of International Educators, Embassy Dialogue Committee (Embassy of Kuwait, Washington, DC)
- The Impact of Domestic Violence on Immigration Status (Various Audiences)
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
- Lawrope - International Group of Lawyers, Shulman Rogers Managing Representative to Lawrope, 2008 to present
- Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL- a joint venture of the Maryland State Bar Association, The University of Baltimore School of Law, and The University of Maryland School of Law), Director/Program Chair, Nuts and Bolts of Immigration Practice Series continuing legal education courses, 2002 to 2010
- Bar Association of Montgomery County, MD, Immigration Section, Chair, 1997 to 2001, Vice Chair, 1996 to 1997
- Maryland State Bar Association, Immigration Section, Formation Committee, 2008 to 2009; Immigration Section, 2009 to present
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Washington, D.C. Chapter, Several committees including: Immigrant Achievement Awards, Ethics (Co-Chair), and Young Lawyers (Co-Chair)
- American Bar Association, International Law and Practice Section, Vice-Chair, Immigration and Nationality Committee, 1997 to 1998, Editor, International Practitioners' Workshop Series, 1993 to 1996
- Literacy Council of Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Directors, 2012 to present
- Maryland Hispanic Bar Association, Board of Directors, 1995 to 2008, Several committees including: Annual Gala, Outreach, Pro Bono, Judicial Selections, Legislative, Website, and Immigration (Chair)
- World Trade Center Institute, Capital Region International Business Advisory Committee, 2008 to 2010, Maryland International Trade and Embassy Conference Committee, 2006 to 2010.
- Maryland Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Asian American Business Conference, Planning Committee, 2008 to present
- Maryland/Israel Development Center, Several committees focusing on promoting trade, joint ventures, and investment between Maryland and Israeli businesses and research institutions, 2001 to present
- Technology Council of Maryland, International Committee, 2007 to 2010
- Society for Human Resource Management, Montgomery County, Maryland Chapter
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Embassy Dialogue Committee, 2002 to 2006, 2009 to present
