Best Family Lawyer in Long Island

Joseph D. Nohavicka

Family Lawyer

With over 30 years of experience in the law, Joseph D. Nohavicka (Joe) is fully-qualified to take on any kind of case at any given moment. Joe’s practice focuses on employment, commercial, insurance, ethics, criminal, and general appellate trial and pre-trial litigation.

Joe is acknowledged in the profession for his performance in the courtroom, but he is also a prolific legal commentator with multiple publications in the prestigious New York Law Journal and the New York State Bar Journal.

His experience in the business arena has made him sensitive to the time and efficiency needs of all the firm’s commercial clients and has created a personal understanding that the marketplace will sustain neither the fear of risk nor the disrespect for time.

Joe is also an Arbitrator in Small Claims Civil Court of the City of New YorkBronx County (2009 Arbitrator of the Year), and a Certified New York PIP Arbitrator, Arbitration Forums, Inc., New York District (Appointed 2004) (arbitration of disputes between insurance companies with respect to coverage issues, property damage and personal injury protection benefits loss transfer) (2004 Arbitrator of the Year).

He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1994.

Federal Court Admissions:

  • United States District Court
  • District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States

Emiliano Perez

Family Lawyer

Emiliano Perez is admitted to the New York and Florida state courts and the federal district courts of the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the Southern District of Florida.  He has been practicing since 2009, when he was first admitted to the New York bar. Mr. Perez is a proud member of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County, where he served as the second vice president.

Mr. Perez has extensive experience representing injured plaintiffs and defendants in lawsuits, including but not limited to automobile accidents, construction accidents, falls, false arrests, motorcycle accidents, and trucking accidents.  Mr. Perez’s experience on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants allowed him to learn the ins and outs of the business, including how insurance companies evaluate claims and assess their value.

In addition, Mr. Perez has practiced employment law, including but not limited to wage and hour claims. He further has experience representing buyers and sellers in real estate transactions. 

If you have been injured in an accident, wronged by your employer, or need assistance buying or selling property, please do not hesitate to call us.

Matthew Ian Marks

Family Lawyer

Matthew utilizes his refined knowledge of employment law and civil rights to successfully represent clients throughout the administrative and litigation processes, in cases involving sexual harassment, unpaid overtime, and all manners of discrimination. Prior to founding Ricotta and Marks, P.C., Matthew was a senior associate at a large employment discrimination firm where he handled complex litigation, with an emphasis on employment law and civil rights litigation. In this role, he was known for his development of novel legal arguments, many of which have been noted by opposing attorneys and judges alike. He has successfully handled several cases of first impression. Matthew’s clients include both plaintiffs and small employers and he has also successfully defended numerous teachers in 3020-a proceedings brought by the DOE. Matthew works tirelessly to listen and understand the goals of his clients and then to achieve those goals.

Matthew is a frequent speaker at in-person and virtual events about ways to combat workplace discrimination and has been quoted in the New York Law Journal and the New York Post.

Matthew handles complex litigation, with an emphasis on employment law and civil rights litigation. He also handled restrictive covenants and contract litigation. In this role, he was known for his complex and novel legal arguments, many of which have been noted by opposing attorneys and judges alike. He has successfully handled several cases of first impression. Matthew utilizes his refined knowledge of civil rights and employment law to successfully represent clients in cases involving policies and procedures related to workforce diversity; contract compliance; Titles VI, VII and IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; relevant federal and New York State laws; equal employment opportunity law; and educational equity. He has also worked for the Law Department of the City of New York. There he defended the City in several major, high-profile class action civil rights litigations.

Matthew joined Ricotta & Marks, P.C., in 2011. Here, he is committed to giving his clients personalized attention and getting them the highest possible awards in their cases.

Matthew I. Marks, Esq., graduated from The State University of New York at Albany in 1996. He then received his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law in 1999, where he was a member of the Hofstra Law Review. Matthew was admitted to the New York State Bar, The Southern and Eastern District Federal Courts of New York, in 2000.

Usman B. Ahmad

Family Lawyer

Mr. Ahmad is the president and owner of the Law Office of Usman B. Ahmad. Mr. Ahmad handles all aspects of U.S. Immigration Law and leads the incredibly talented Attorneys at the Law Office of Usman B. Ahmad. As one of the most diverse firms in New York, Mr. Ahmad has successfully helped and assisted individuals, families and businesses for over 18 years. Based in Long Island City, NY since 2003, Mr. Ahmad’s firm has represented clients throughout the United States and the World. Mr. Ahmad meets with all of his clients at the LIC Office, and personally sets the strategies for each case. It has been his belief that everyone deserves to be represented properly and that every complicated situation has a solution.

Mr. Ahmad has developed an extremely effective approach in representing and defending clients in Immigration Court and has been recognized for his expertise in Asylum Law. Mr. Ahmad has been actively involved with the annual New York Asylum and Immigration Conference as an Organizer, Moderator and Panelist since 2016. Mr. Ahmad is committed to being a leader in Immigration Law and has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 2001.

Mr. Ahmad is also an active and dedicated member of his community in Long Island City, and participates in numerous community events with his family. Currently Mr. Ahmad is a Board Member at the YMCA in LIC. Mr. Ahmad, is known for his hands-on approach with each and every case, but also with the lawyers and support staff at the Firm. One of Mr. Ahmad’s biggest accomplishments has been growing and developing the Firm with energetic and talented Immigration lawyers and professionals. Mr. Ahmad’s most important goal right now is to develop the next group of immigration experts and industry leaders.

William (Bill) Teitler

Family Lawyer

Having personally dealt with a serious injury due to the negligence of others and experiencing discrimination myself, I have a first-hand understanding of the incredible pain and harm personal injury and discrimination cause. These life experiences fuel my passion and dedication to personal injury and select employment law matters.

Recognized as one of the “Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys” in New York, “Best Personal Injury Lawyers” in Queens, “Best Car Accident Lawyers” in Queens, and “Top 40 Lawyer Under 40” in Employment Law, I have assisted clients in successfully recovering millions of dollars in compensation.

My extensive experience includes car accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, gym accidents, severance agreement review, severance agreement negotiations, employment agreement review, and numerous other personal injury and employment law matters.

Tenzin Wangyal

Family Lawyer

The Law Offices of Tenzin Wangyal, PLLC was founded in 2011. We handle complex immigration and family law matters as well as other practice areas.

The Law Offices of Tenzin Wangyal provides legal representation in the following areas: immigration law; wills, trusts and estate planning; personal injury; real estate; small business law; civil litigation; criminal defense; family and divorce; and other legal matters. 

Attorney Tenzin Wangyal is licensed to practice law in New York and Massachusetts. Apart from providing quality legal representation in wills, trusts and estate planning; personal injury; real estate; small business law; civil litigation; criminal defense; family and divorce; and other legal matters in New York and Massachusetts, the Law Offices of Tenzin Wangyal also serves clients in all 50 states for immigration law matters. Languages Spoken:English, Tibetan, Nepali, Hindi/Urdu and basic Spanish.

DAVID KASELL, ESQ.

Family Lawyer

After being admitted to the bar in 1996, David spent a year working for a small general litigation practice in Lower Manhattan. He then obtained his Series 7, 63, 65, and New York life and health licenses in the retail brokerage industry where he was a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and Dreyfus. His experience as a financial professional provides him with extensive insight into the securities industry, making him well versed in all aspects of retail account management and an array of financial tools and their proper deployment by investment professionals.

David has defended and prosecuted cases in court and in arbitration. He has experience handling matters on behalf of consumers as well as for broker-dealers and their employees in state and federal courts in New York as well as FINRA, AAA, JAMS, and NAF.

David has represented broker-dealers, registered representatives, and individual investors. David is well versed in New York State’s Lemon Law and federal statutes like the TILA, FCRA, FDCPA, RESPA, and other consumer protection statutes that shift fees from consumers back to sellers and/or manufacturers.

Catrina Young, Esq

Family Lawyer

Catrina Young, Esq. is an experienced Family/Matrimonial Law Attorney. She graduated from Albany Law School. Being a part of a family court proceeding as a minor, Catrina Young can relate and apply her firsthand experience in family/matrimonial matters in the best interests of her clients.

Education

  • SUNY Albany, Bachelors in Psychology and Criminal Justice
  • Albany Law School, J.D.

Admitted Jurisdiction(s)

  • New York

Who Qualifies for an Asylum Visa in 2024?

An asylum visa offers protection to individuals fleeing persecution or fear of harm in their home country. In 2024, the criteria for asylum remain rooted in international laws and agreements, including the Refugee Convention of 1951 and other human rights treaties. However, each country may have specific application processes, requirements, and interpretations. Below is a general overview of who qualifies for an asylum visa in 2024.

1. Well-Founded Fear of Persecution

To qualify for asylum, an applicant must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country. This persecution must be based on one or more of the following protected grounds:

  • Race: Individuals persecuted due to their ethnicity or racial background.
  • Religion: Those facing harm because of their religious beliefs, practices, or refusal to follow a state-sanctioned religion.
  • Nationality: People persecuted because of their national identity or citizenship status.
  • Political Opinion: Those who are targeted for their political views, affiliations, or opposition to their government.
  • Membership in a Particular Social Group (PSG): This can include gender, sexual orientation, familial ties, or belonging to a specific cultural group. It also covers individuals who are part of groups that face discrimination, such as LGBTQ+ individuals or survivors of domestic violence.

2. Inability to Seek Protection in Home Country

To qualify for asylum, an individual must demonstrate that they cannot return to their home country because their government is either responsible for the persecution or is unable or unwilling to provide protection. In many cases, this includes:

  • Countries with weak legal systems or state corruption.
  • Situations where the government is the persecutor or enables persecution by other groups.

3. Fear of Torture or Inhumane Treatment

Asylum seekers may qualify if they face a credible threat of torture, inhumane, or degrading treatment in their home country. This includes cruel or inhumane treatment that violates basic human rights, such as arbitrary detention, violence, or abuse.

4. Individuals Facing Humanitarian Crises

In some cases, individuals fleeing severe humanitarian crises may also qualify for asylum. While not every humanitarian crisis leads to automatic qualification, people who flee conditions such as armed conflict, civil war, or natural disasters may be granted asylum if they face persecution alongside these challenges.

5. Special Categories

In 2024, some countries provide additional protection to certain categories of people, such as:

  • Unaccompanied Minors: Children who arrive without a legal guardian and face persecution or harm.
  • Victims of Human Trafficking: Those who are trafficked for forced labor, prostitution, or other forms of exploitation may qualify for asylum under certain circumstances.
  • Gender-Based Violence: Women and girls facing gender-based violence, such as forced marriage, honor-based violence, or female genital mutilation, may qualify under the “particular social group” ground.

6. Exclusion from Asylum Eligibility

Certain individuals may be excluded from asylum eligibility, including:

  • Criminals or Perpetrators of Serious Crimes: Individuals who have committed serious crimes, including acts of terrorism or war crimes, are generally barred from seeking asylum.
  • Those Who Pose a Security Risk: Anyone deemed a threat to national security or public safety is typically excluded.
  • Resettlement in a Safe Third Country: If an individual has already been resettled or can seek protection in another safe country, they may not be eligible for asylum.

7. Timely Application Process

In most countries, asylum seekers are required to apply for asylum within a specific timeframe after entering the country. For example, in the U.S., asylum applications must generally be filed within one year of arrival unless extraordinary circumstances apply.

Conclusion

To qualify for an asylum visa in 2024, individuals must demonstrate a credible fear of persecution based on one of the five protected grounds—race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. They must also show that they cannot find safety or protection within their home country. While the process can vary by country, asylum remains a crucial option for those facing persecution and seeking protection from harm.

If you or someone you know is considering seeking asylum, consulting with an experienced immigration attorney or legal advisor is highly recommended to navigate the application process and ensure eligibility under current laws.

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