To say that Chris is passionate about the practice of immigration law would be an understatement. Chris thrives on helping those in destitute situations trying to make a better life for themselves. Chris's passion stems from his upbringing overseas. Chris was born in Thailand in 1978 close to the Cambodian border where he regularly saw refugees housed behind barbed wire fences as a result of the civil war in Cambodia.
After graduating from Auburn University in 2001, Chris moved to Cambodia where he spent two years teaching English at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and working at an internal displacement camp. It was Chris's weekly interactions with internally displaced peoples that reignited his passions for helping those in desperate situations.
Upon returning to the United States in 2003, Chris moved to the Bay Area where he received his master of arts in theological studies. Immediately thereafter, Chris moved to Baton Rouge in 2007 where he attended Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. During his studies, Chris attended an immigration law clinic where he successfully represented clients seeking a U visa and filing a VAWA petition. In 2010, Chris graduated cum laude (top 25%) where he received his juris doctor degree.
Chris has excelled throughout his nine year tenure as an attorney. In Chris's first five years of practice, he worked for a mid-sized law firm which was recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the top rated law firms in the United States in 2013. In 2019, Chris was selected by Super Lawyers Magazine to the list of 2019 Louisiana Rising Stars, a recognition reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in Louisiana.
Since 2010, Chris has primarily focused his practice in immigration law where he handles all types of immigration matters. Chris spends much of his time travelling across the state of Louisiana where he visits his many immigrant clients detained all across detention centers throughout middle and northern Louisiana. Chris also has served as an adjunct professor of immigration law at a local university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Chris is proficient in Spanish, Thai and Khmer. He is licensed to practice across all immigration courts in the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, all federal district courts within the state of Louisiana and the Supreme Court of Louisiana. Chris's representative matters include the following:
After graduating from Auburn University in 2001, Chris moved to Cambodia where he spent two years teaching English at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and working at an internal displacement camp. It was Chris's weekly interactions with internally displaced peoples that reignited his passions for helping those in desperate situations.
Upon returning to the United States in 2003, Chris moved to the Bay Area where he received his master of arts in theological studies. Immediately thereafter, Chris moved to Baton Rouge in 2007 where he attended Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. During his studies, Chris attended an immigration law clinic where he successfully represented clients seeking a U visa and filing a VAWA petition. In 2010, Chris graduated cum laude (top 25%) where he received his juris doctor degree.
Chris has excelled throughout his nine year tenure as an attorney. In Chris's first five years of practice, he worked for a mid-sized law firm which was recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the top rated law firms in the United States in 2013. In 2019, Chris was selected by Super Lawyers Magazine to the list of 2019 Louisiana Rising Stars, a recognition reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in Louisiana.
Since 2010, Chris has primarily focused his practice in immigration law where he handles all types of immigration matters. Chris spends much of his time travelling across the state of Louisiana where he visits his many immigrant clients detained all across detention centers throughout middle and northern Louisiana. Chris also has served as an adjunct professor of immigration law at a local university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Chris is proficient in Spanish, Thai and Khmer. He is licensed to practice across all immigration courts in the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, all federal district courts within the state of Louisiana and the Supreme Court of Louisiana. Chris's representative matters include the following:
- Consults with local businesses on how to comply with national immigration laws when hiring immigrant workers
- Assists and defends businesses in investigations conducted by the United States Department of Labor
- Works with district attorney’s offices in developing a system of best practices when non-citizens face criminal proceedings
- Consults with local and statewide criminal defense attorneys regarding their representation of clients who are not citizens of the United States
- Assists clients in their path to permanent residency and United States citizenship
- Represents clients in immigration court facing removal proceedings
- Serves as primary counsel and coordinates with consulate of Saudi Arabia in representing detained citizens of Saudi Arabia in Louisiana facing removal proceedings
- Helps businesses obtain the proper visas for their non-immigrant employees
- Successfully represented non-profit corporation against claims brought by plaintiffs seeking dismissal of board members
- Successfully represented major commercial trucking manufacturer in federal court against claims for wrongful death and violation of the Louisiana Products Liability Act
- Successfully defended business owner against alleged business partner seeking recognition Of an ownership interest in a $30 million business acquisition
- Helped obtain release of an attorney incarcerated for contempt of court by seeking an emergency writ with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Has successfully represented contractors and homeowners across the state in construction defect cases
- Has successfully defended numerous fast-food chains and other places of public accommodations against personal injury claims