Raymond Lahoud Honored as NYSBA Empire State Counsel®
Raymond G. Lahoud, a Member of the Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A., and Chair of its Immigration Law Practice, was honored as one of the 2016 New York State Bar Association’s Empire State Counsel® in recognition of the outstanding contribution of performing 50 or more hours of free legal services to low income individuals.
Launched in 2006 by then Association President Mark H. Alcott, the Empire State Counsel® Program recognizes NYSBA members who, during the calendar year, performed 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services either through direct legal representation of a low-income/vulnerable individual, or donating free legal services to an organization whose services are designed primarily to address the legal and other basic needs of persons of limited financial means, or providing free legal services to an organization dedicated to increasing the availability of legal services to vulnerable and/or low-income populations. The contributions of Empire State Counsel® Honorees and their law firms were recognized during the Association’s Annual Meeting at the Justice for All Luncheon in January.
A resident of Easton, Lahoud focuses his practice primarily on immigration law and deportation defense for individuals and corporations in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania (Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, and the surrounding region). His practice includes Citizenship, U.S. Non-Immigration Visas, E Visas, E-3 Visas, H-1B Visas, H-2B Visas, L Visas, O Visas, P Visas, Q Visas, R Visas, TN Visas, U.S. Immigration Visas, EB5 Investor Visas, Exceptional Ability Immigrant Visas, Extraordinary Ability Immigrant Visas, K-1 Visas, K-3 Visas, Multinational Manager/Executive Immigrant Visas, Outstanding Professor/Researcher Immigrant Visas, PERM Labor Certification, Family Petitions, Adjustment of Status, Marriage Petitions, Asylum, and VAWA applications. Lahoud also has a long history of political and business management expertise.
Lahoud also works in the field of Immigration Waivers, such as the Visa Waiver Program, National Interest Waivers, Hardship Waivers, and J Waivers. His practice focuses specifically on Deportation Defense, at the Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Circuit Court levels. He has defended individuals against deportation across the United States. In state and federal appellate courts, he seeks post-conviction relief for the underlying crime that led to the commencement of the deportation. He also represents individuals who overstayed their visas or entered the United States without inspection.
Lahoud has received numerous accolades. He has been awarded the Empire State Pro Bono Counsel Award each year since 2012, has been selected as Lead Counsel, and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star, ranked as a Top Rated Immigration Attorney in the New York Metro Area.
Lahoud earned his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Lehigh University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
At Lehigh, Lahoud was Editor of The Lehigh Review, earned Deans List, was named a President’s Scholar, was inducted into Phi Beta Delta, and received, among other awards, the Williams Award, Treen Scholarship, and Littner Scholarship. Prior to that, he served as a United States Congressional Page, under then-Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL). He also served as a legislative aide to State Senator Lisa Boscola (D-PA).
In law school, Lahoud earned Deans List, received CALI awards in many courses, and worked on the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. He was actively involved in additional programs and other organizations including the Barristers’ Counsel, ABA Law Student Division, ACLU at GULC, Catholic Student Association, and the Innocence Project, and worked for the Honorable Joanne Seybert, Federal District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
