The 11th Annual Northern Border Immigration Conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Buffalo, NY, on Friday, September 20, 2019.
You can register for the conference here: http://www.upstatenyaila.org/index.php/registration-for-upstate-ny-aila-events/
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Hyatt at a preferential rate. The room block can be accessed here: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/BUFFA/G-AILA
The program will feature many prominent speakers from private practice and government, who will discuss current US and Canadian immigration topics. We have invited Sonya Tsiros, United States Consul in Toronto to be our luncheon keynote speaker and her office has asked that we provide them with questions and topics of interest ahead of the conference. As soon as possible, please send Lucrecia Knapp (lknapp@hselaw.com) your questions and topics that you would like for Sonya to discuss.
We have also invited local CBP officers to join our CBP panel, and there will be an update from Canadian attorneys and CBSA officers on the impact of cannabis and drinking and driving legislation in Canada. This is a great chance to network and hear renowned speakers on timely topics. We also have a new feature this year – AILA national Practice Management Advisor, Charity Anastasio, will be offering a limited number of 30-minute one-on-one consultations.
Conference Program:
8:00 a.m. – 8:55 a.m. Full breakfast, Check-in, Networking
8:55 a.m. Welcome and Introduction, Conference Co-chairs: Sergio R. Karas, Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation (Toronto)
Lucrecia Z. Knapp, Upstate NY Chapter of AILA Chair, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP (Rochester)
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CBP Northern Border Update
Discussion Leader: Rosanna Berardi, Berardi Immigration Law (Buffalo)
Panel Speakers: Danielle Rizzo, Harris Beach PLLC (Buffalo); Alexis Axelrad, Barst Mukamal & Kleiner LLP (New York); CBP of cers*
10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. CBSA Update: Ports of Entry Procedures, and the Impact of New Cannabis and Drinking and Driving Legislation
Discussion Leader: Sergio R. Karas, Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation (Toronto)
Panel Speakers: ; Michael Prosia, Chief Southern Ontario Region, CBSA; Tina De Luca, Chief Southern Ontario Region, CBSA;
David Garson, Garson LLP (Toronto); Chantal Desloges, Desloges Law Group (Toronto)
11:10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Coffee Break
11:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m. Hot Topics on Visas, Work Permits, Residence, and Old and New Issues on Both Sides of the Bordec
Discussion Leader: Daniel Joyce, Fiegel, Carr & Joyce (Buffalo)
Panel Speakers: Naseem Malik, Stringer LLP (Toronto); Nan Berezowski, Berezowski Business Immigration Law (Toronto); David
Wilks, Miller Mayer LLP (Ithaca)
12:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker Sonya M. Tsiros*, Consular Section Chief, U.S. Consulate General (Toronto)
Introduction: Joseph C. Grasmick, Past Chapter Chair
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Presentation of Peter J. Murrett III Pro Bono Award
2:10 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Ethics Roundtable: Dealing with Dif cult Cases and Clients
Discussion Leader: Craig Dobson, Dobson Law LLC (New York)
Panelists: Randolph Hahn, Garson LLP (Toronto); Barbara Brenner, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP (Albany)
3:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Practice and Risk Management and Professionalism: Tips from the Pros on how to Improve your Practice and Reduce Stress
Panelists: Katie James, Claims Counsel, Law Pro (Toronto); Charity Anastasio, Practice Management Advisor, AILA National
(Washington, D.C.)