About/Contact US
Mona Shah & Associates
MONA SHAH, ESQ.
e-mail: mona@mshahlaw.com
Mehreen Shah, LLB (Hons) or Mona Shah as she is more commonly known.
Born in the UK, Mona graduated from the University of Northumbria in England in 1990. Mona was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales in 1993, and was admitted to the New York Bar and the United States Federal Bar in 1997.
While in England, Mona trained with various firms before her appointment as a Crown Prosecutor with the British Crown Prosecution Service, Here she became proficient in advocacy, handling several complex cases. After moving to New York, she established her own law firm in New York City in 1997. The firm handles legal matters for clients worldwide. Mona has over 19 years of legal experience, with more than 14 years concentrated in U.S. immigration and litigation.
Mona’s extensive knowledge of all facets of U.S. immigration law, and her practical expertise ranges from specialist business petitions to complicated, multi-issue deportation and removal litigation. Her firm, Mona Shah and Associates, represents individual, high profile and corporate clients from all over the world.
Mona is highly proficient and experienced in EB-5 law and practice, and is the author of a published book for investors on the EB-5 laws and procedures (EB5 for the Chinese Investor, available on Amazon). The second updated edition is scheduled to be published in late spring of 2013. Mona has hands-on experience setting up, working with and establishing EB-5 Regional Centers, as well as an impressive track record of many years handling complex immigration matters, including private non-regional center investor cases. In addition, she has dealt with complex, multifaceted RFE’s for both the Regional Centers as well as for the Investor.
Mona was also one of the 4 original founders of New York City Regional Center and the only Immigration Attorney on the team. Mona also founded the New York Immigration Fund, RC; her firm, Mona Shah & Associates, exclusively handled the Times Square Hotel project.
Mona Shah & Associates handles the EB-5 Investor petitions for multiple regional centers.
Mona’s substantial litigation background includes her representation of clients in both state and federal courts on the trial and appellate levels. She has litigated in over 9 states and the District of Columbia, and handled complex immigration law appeals before the United States Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Second, Third, Fifth, and Eleventh circuits. Mona has wide-ranging litigation experience, including Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as well as trial-court experience on both the trial and appellate levels, in both State and Federal courts. Mona is also proficient in UK Immigration law.
Mona has authored and published numerous articles including EB-5 related articles. She has written and spoken extensively on immigration law, both in the US and overseas. She is often featured as a guest speaker at legal seminars and has appeared on local television news programs. Mona also previously hosted a cable television program focused on immigration issues. She has been honored for her work by various groups and non for profit organizations.
Mona is a member of legal organizations in both the United States and England (UK). She is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales; the American Immigration Lawyers Association; the Federal Bar Association; the New York County Lawyers Association; the American Bar Association; and the International Bar Association.
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YI SONG, ESQ. – Attorney
e-mail: yi@mshahlaw.com
Yi is a licensed attorney in the US; she also passed the national bar examination in Peoples Republic of China. Yi was admitted to practice as an Attorney and Counselor at Law in the State of New York and before the Southern District Court of New York. She was granted admission to the bar in Peoples Republic of China.
Yi Song has an impressive resume. Yi graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC with the Masters of Law degree. Yi has been the recipient of a number of honors and awards. At Georgetown Law School, she received honor for her legal research and writing. During her studies for the dual Bachelor’s degrees in Law and English Literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University, she received the highest scores and honor from Intellectual Property Law class and she represented her school in the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and made the Top 5 Team in the China Round.
Yi’s legal experience includes securities litigation and class action lawsuits. She also worked for Professor Susan Roosevelt Weld at Georgetown Law-Asia writing and researching on the Open Government Information Act in China. Yi practiced with PricewaterhouseCoopers Beijing office as a tax attorney. She worked at the largest Chinese law firm King & Wood in the Intellectual Property Litigation Department. Yi clerked at the Supreme Court of People’s Republic of China, the highest court in the country.
Yi’s legal practice focuses on EB-5 law and Securities Law Compliance issues. She is experienced working with regional centers, private investors, project developers and intermediate entities both in the US and in China. Yi has authored and co-authored numerous published articles on EB-5 financing and SEC rules on general solicitation and unregistered broker/dealer liability.
Yi is currently a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Yi enjoys canvas oil painting, reading and traveling. She is a native speaker of mandarin Chinese. She also speaks fluent English and basic French.
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Peta-Gaye Ricketts, ESQ. – Attorney
e-mail: petagaye@mshahlaw.com
Peta-Gaye Ricketts is a Senior Attorney with Mona Shah & Associates.
Peta-Gaye’s practice at MSA is primarily focused on complex EB-5 cases, EB-1 cases, employment-based (non-immigrant and immigrant) cases, family-based cases, and consular matters. Peta-Gaye possesses significant experience in EB-5 investor cases and has successfully counseled investors and their representatives on a myriad of EB-5 related issues. She has successfully dealt with numerous complex RFEs in almost all areas of immigration law.
In addition, Peta-Gaye is the firm’s consular specialist. She has handled hundreds of consular cases at posts worldwide, dealing with complex issues, such as consular waivers, problematic “Age Out” issues, multi-faceted adjustment of status cases, and immigrant visa applications.
Peta-Gaye is well versed in immigration law. She has authored published articles, often counseling and trouble-shooting for other senior attorneys. Peta-Gaye is responsible for the content of the firm’s website, monthly newsletters, and other publications.
Prior to joining MSA, Peta-Gaye practiced as an attorney at the highly-rated Murthy Law Firm in Owings Mills, MD, where she represented Fortune 500 companies, small and mid-sized companies, and individuals undergoing the U.S. immigration process. At the firm, Peta-Gaye handled a variety of immigration matters, including family-based, adjustment of status, naturalization, and employment-based cases with an emphasis on H1B cases.
Peta-Gaye was admitted to the Maryland Court of Appeals in December, 2006. Peta-Gaye earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Washington College of Law (WCL) at the American University, located in Washington, D.C. in 2006. Peta-Gaye also holds a Master of Arts degree (Magna Cum Laude) in International Affairs from the School of International Service at American University. While at WCL, Peta-Gaye served as a Student Attorney in the Immigration Law Clinic where she assisted new U.S. asylees in finalizing their paperwork, including filing derivative petitions and adjustment of status applications with USCIS. Peta-Gaye completed her undergraduate studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in an International Studies major and Spanish minor. Peta-Gaye is fluent in Spanish.
Peta-Gaye is currently a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Maryland State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
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Rebecca Singh, ESQ. – Attorney
e-mail: rebecca@mshahlaw.com
Rebecca is an experienced attorney with Mona Shah & Associates.
Rebecca focuses primarily on immigration law, but also deals with matrimonial cases and litigation.
In the sphere of immigration law, Rebecca deals with complex EB-5 issues, including regional center set up as well as I- 526 petitions. Rebecca has successfully handled complex source of funds issues from clients worldwide. In addition, Rebecca has attained experience in Appellate issues including Circuit Court law, representing clients in EOIR litigation- deportation and removal proceedings – asylum cases, as well as family-based cases and employment visas.
Rebecca is admitted to practice law in the State of New York. She is a 2010 graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law (FCSL), where she received her Juris Doctorate degree and International and Comparative Law Certificate. While at FCSL, Rebecca received the Book Award for the highest grade in Legal Research and Writing, and was on the Dean’s List. She also participated in the International Law Society, South Asian Law Students Association, and the Caribbean Law Society. In 2009, Rebecca was selected as a brief writer for the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Proud to be a Hokie, Rebecca graduated from Virginia Tech in 2007, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and magna cum laude honors.
As a college student, Rebecca interned with the Law Offices of Haller & Hudson and the Office of the Public Defender in Georgetown, Delaware. However, she quickly fell in love with immigration law after working with The Ruiz Law Firm, LLC in Jacksonville, Florida. She continued in the field by working with the Community Legal Aid Society in Delaware and subsequently joined the team at Mona Shah & Associates.
Rebecca is a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, and South Asian Bar Association of New York. She speaks English, Guyanese-Caribbean Hindustani, and basic Spanish.
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SHAGUFTA SHAIKH, BCom - Head of Human Resources and EB-5 Consultant
e-mail: shagufta@mshahlaw.com
Shagufta is an experienced paralegal and EB5 consultant. Having graduated from the University of Bombay with a Bachelors degree in Commerce (B. Com), Shagufta went on to complete a Masters in Computer Programming before joining Mona Shah & Associates in November 2003.
With over seven years of legal experience, LexisNexis awarded Shagufta a Paralegal Certificate of Mastery. Over the years Shagufta has attended numerous legal seminars and is currently enrolled with the New York Paralegal School in a Dual-Diploma Program (Paralegal/Litigation Specialist Assistant Program). She is proficient in Legal Research and Writing, Civil Procedures, Corporate Law, Criminal Law and in Immigration Law.
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Support Staff
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Lawrence Chan- Director of Marketing, China Operations
e-mail: lawrence@mshahlaw.com
Lawrence Chan graduated from University of Hawaii with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. He is also a computer software engineer educated at Stony Brook University in New York. Lawrence is a seasoned businessman with over 15 years of experience in business finance, management, and operations. He has owned, managed, and operated various companies in different businesses ranging from IT industry, Real Estate, Fashion to Entertainment, Retail, and Tourism.
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NAWEED RIAZ, ESQ.
e-mail: nriaz@silvers.co.uk
Naweed Riaz, LLB (Hons) was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales in 1990.
Having worked at a Top 500 law firm in London, Naweed has extensive experience in all aspects of contentious business and was involved in complicated commercial litigation, including mediation and dispute resolution, acting predominantly for blue chip clients and wealthy individuals. He is experienced in corporate law, acquisitions and mergers, the incorporation of companies, commercial property and construction/building contracts for multinational corporations as well as individuals.
During his 20+ years in practice, Naweed has also specialized in all areas of matrimonial law. Naweed is a member of the prestigious Law Societys Panel of Family Law. This specialist panel is acquired only after years of practice and expertise. Such expertise has assisted our handling of international child abduction and international child custody battles, from both the UK as well as the US. He has extensive experience in all elements of family work. Naweed has conducted very involved and protracted child custody disputes involving multi jurisdictions, including the U.S. He continues to deal with complex, high net worth cases on matrimonial breakdown, investigating and gathering information on property and money disputes.
Naweed has undertaken numerous aspects of immigration work and has considerable knowledge in this area. His expertise covers investment visas and business visas, including proficiency in obtaining green cards through investment through regional centers in the U.S.
Mona Shah & Associates is a full service Law Firm based in New York City, US and London, UK
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.~Voltaire
Legal Services That Make A Difference!
At Mona Shah & Associates you will find experienced and qualified staff well versed to meet the needs of the client and to provide personalized services. We consistently provide creative, high-quality and cost-effective solutions to legal problems.
Mona Shah & Associates is internationally licensed to practice both in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Collectively we possess over 47 years of legal experience. We have a diverse client base representing individual, institutional, academic and corporate clients around the globe. We are proud of our reputation for responsiveness and superior services.
Our London office is situated in the heart of London city. The New York office is located in downtown Manhattan just a few blocks from the famous Financial District and Wall Street.
We specialize in several key areas including:
- US and UK Immigration Law, EB-5 & Regional Center Practice; Criminal Immigration Waivers and Deportation;
- Matrimonial and Family Law, including International Custody disputes;
- Federal Litigation and Arbitration and
- Corporate law, including International Corporate Formation, EU law, UK Trade Marks and Patents, Shipping Contracts, Agents, Trade and Customs and E-Commerce.
EB-5 Marketing:
Images show: Mona Shah, Esq. speaking at an EB-5 seminar hosted by a leading Chinese agency, with former Governor of New York, David Patterson.
Mona Shah & Associates (MSA) boasts a special edge in EB-5 overseas marketing. The firm’s principal, Ms. Mona (Mehreen) Shah, Esq. is frequently invited to speak at seminars worldwide, including China and the United Kingdom. MSA’s marketing team is actively pursuing EB-5 opportunities in Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Dubai, India, and Hong Kong (China). Mona Shah & Associates maintains strong and cordial working relationships with various global migration agencies. Our firm also provides in-house securities advice to ensure that all EB-5 project marketing endeavors, including private placement offerings, are in compliance with SEC regulations. Mona Shah & Associates has the ability to galvanize high profile political support for various projects across the United States.
EB-5 & Regional Center Practice:
We are thrilled to have worked with New York Immigration Fund, Regional Center, (NYIF www.nyifund.com); NYIF is a high powered regional center, located in the heart of Manhattan, with dynamic and inviting projects. Mona Shah & Associates handles the EB-5 Investor petitions for both NYCRC and NYIF, and other Regional Centers.
EB5 experience
Mona Shah & Associates (MSA) is highly regarded in the EB-5 field and has assisted many investors and Regional Centers (RCs) in navigating this complex, nuanced, and constantly changing area of immigration law.
The attorneys at MSA continuously follow the frequently changing interpretations of USCIS’ EB-5 regulations and policy guidelines
EB5 Investor Petitions:
The team at MSA, spearheaded by the firm’s Principal, Mona (Mehreen) Shah, Esq. has successfully used their expertise in filing approximately 180 EB-5 investor petitions with USCIS for investors from China, Vietnam, India, Dubai, the UK and Russia for the Time Square Hotel (TSH) Project launched by the New York Immigration Fund (NYIF) Regional Center as well as the Brooklyn Navy Yard project and the Steiner Studios project for NYCRC amongst others.
Filing with USCIS for Regional Center Status:
MSA is well versed with filing regional centers with USCIS.
Ms. Shah is also one of the 4 original founders of the highly reputable and well-known New York City Regional Center (NYCRC). Mona also filed for New York Immigration Fund, regional center.
Assisting Regional Centers and Attorneys with EB5 Issues:
The team at MSA are highly experienced and knowledgeable in assisting both regional centers and attorneys representing regional centers and Investors.
Due Diligence analysis for EB5 projects:
MSA offers comprehensive immigration assistance on all EB-5 matters, including the establishment of RCs, consular processing issues, and due diligence analysis.
Mona Shah & Associations is full-service firm not only in US immigration law, matrimonial law, contract law, corporate law, etc., we also offer legal solutions to China-based investors and companies seeking to conduct business in the US and to enter the US market. We have PRC qualified attorneys versed in Chinese culture and language to serve the legal needs of our China-based clients, in matters of corporate, litigation, contract, business immigration, securities, intellectual property and U.S. market due diligence.
Likewise, our China practice group also provides advice to US-based clients who seek to access the Chinese capital market. We have successfully financed 75 million dollars for Time Square Hotel in the center of Manhattan in New York City, for Brooklyn Nacy Yard, etc. through the EB-5 migrant investor program. We are well versed in in Chinese Individual Income Taxation Code and Corporate Taxation Code, Chinese Foreign Currency Exchange Rules and Chinese Banking Regulation. We also provide legal consultation in market strategy, project due diligence and comprehensive business plan.
Mona Shah & Associates has Chinese and US qualified attorneys who are well versed in Chinese and American law. With our expertise, investors are able to confidently structure the source of their investment funds in compliance with the controlling laws and regulations from both countries. Working with our expert team, investors can be assured that every aspect of their petition is managed appropriately and presented to DHS in an effective manner that is proven to deliver successful results.
Full Support Staff:
We have a full support staff, including associate attorneys, EB5 specialists, of counsel attorneys, paralegals and law clerks well versed in the needs of our client.
We genuinely enjoy our work and seek to share our excitement and talent. We make a difference for our clients.
Address:
299 Broadway, Suite 1005
New York, New York 10007
Click Here for Directions
Telephone:
(212) 233-7473
Fax:
(212) 233-4877
E-Fax:
(917) 210-3711
Email:
info@mshahlaw.com
Mona Shah & Associates is located in Manhattan, New York with satellite offices in London, UK. We offer our clients the experience of a large, premiere firm without sacrificing the personal service and cordiality expected of a small firm. Our lawyers work closely with clients to provide highly personalized support and service.
To speak with an attorney at our firm about your legal needs, call 212-233-7473 or use the contact form provided below.