AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Presents Ronald Klasko with the Founders Award

6/19/19 AILA Doc. No. 19062036.
CONTACTS:
George Tzamaras
202-507-7649
gtzamaras@aila.org
Belle Woods
202-507-7675
bwoods@aila.org

Washington, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recognizes H. Ronald Klasko, of Philadelphia, PA, with the Founders Award, which is given from time to time to the person or entity having the most substantial impact on the field of immigration law or policy. He will receive the award this week during AILA's Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.

H. Ronald Klasko is widely recognized by businesses, universities, hospitals, scholars, investors, and other lawyers as one of the country's leading immigration lawyers. Klasko is the Managing Partner of Klasko Immigration Law Partners and has practiced immigration law exclusively over three decades. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to 93 people and has been chosen as a "Best Place to Work" in Philadelphia for three consecutive years.

A former National President of AILA, Klasko served as General Counsel for three Presidents and has been a member of its Board of Governors since 1980. He has served as National Chair of AILA's U.S. Department of Labor Liaison Committee, Business Immigration Committee, INS General Counsel Liaison Committee and the National Task Forces on Labor Certifications, H-1 visas, L-1 visas and Employer Sanctions.

Klasko leads the firm's E-2 and EB-5 practice. He served five terms as National Chair of AILA's EB-5 Committee. He was the lead attorney on the famous Matters of Walsh and Pollard, which established the key precedent for treaty investor visas. Klasko is also the North American Regional Representative of the Investment Migration Council.

Under his leadership, the firm has been chosen by Chambers Global as one of the top five immigration law firms in the United States; Klasko himself has been recognized as being in Tier One of immigration lawyers. In addition, he has been included in the highly regarded Best Lawyers in America for over two decades and has also been selected in Lawdragon's/Human Resource Executive's list of The Most Powerful Employment Attorneys Guide's Hall of Fame. Who's Who Legal in Corporate Immigration named him as the most highly regarded immigration lawyer in the world.

Klasko is the recipient of the 2019 AILA Founders Award for his leadership in chairing AILA's Administrative Litigation Task Force, after having received the award in 1999 for his work as General Counsel on 3/10-year bar, 245(i) grandfathering and other issues.

Klasko is one of the most sought-after immigration law speakers in the country on a diverse range of the latest and most significant immigration issues. He is also a prolific writer and blogger and has published hundreds of articles in national and international publications.