Immigration Law Attorneys
Serving the Immigration and Nationality Law goals of their Clients
Our Staff
Michael B. Berger is a senior partner in the firm of Berger & Berger. He graduated in 1973 from the SUNY Buffalo School of Law. He was admitted to the practice of law in New York State in 1974. He has practiced in the area of Immigration Law since 1975. Mr. Berger has developed over 30 years of experience in the area of Immigration & Nationality Law. His practice includes all aspects of Immigration & Nationality Law from business visas and waivers to deportation and visa processing as well as waivers for foreign medical graduates wishing to immigrate to the United States.
Michael B. Berger was one of the founders of the Upstate New York Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 1977. He served as Chairman of the Upstate New York Chapter of AILA from 1977 to 1981. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association for a period of four years. Mr. Berger was the founder of the Immigration and Customs Law Committee of the Erie County Bar Association and served several years as its Chairman. Mr. Berger has taught courses in the field of Immigration & Nationality Law across the United States as well as at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School.
Mr. Berger has served on many Boards as a Director and Trustee including the International Institute and Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation located in Rochester, New York. He was voted one of the Best Lawyers in America in the field of Immigration Law in every year from 1994 to the present. This is a vote cast by fellow Immigration lawyers recognizing the best 100 lawyers in their respective areas of practice in the United States. Mr. Berger was awarded The Presidents Award from the Minority Bar Association in 2001. In addition, Mr. Berger was voted as among The Top Lawyers in New York in the field of Immigration Law and also Best Lawyer in the Practice of Immigration Law in Erie County, New York by fellow Immigration Lawyers.
Mr. Berger has been recognized for his outstanding achievement in the practice of Immigration Law by the following national and local organizations: New York Area’s Best Lawyers, Buffalo’s Business First “Who’s Who in Law,” and The Best Lawyers in America. He is also a member of National Register’s “Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals” and Strathmore’s “Who’s Who” where inclusion is limited to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their occupation or profession. In addition, Mr. Berger is qualified for Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating.
William H. Berger, Esq.
William H. Berger heads up the Atlanta, Georgia office of Berger & Berger. He received his B.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, his M.A. from the University of Illinois Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations and his J.D. from Cornell Law School. Mr. Berger is retired as a trial and appellate attorney from the U.S. Department of Labor, after 27 ½ years, where he served as Senior Trial Attorney, Counsel for Employment Discrimination Law and Deputy Regional Solicitor in the Atlanta Regional Solicitor’s office.
Andrew Slepian, Esq.
Andrew Slepian is currently handling all court matters at Berger & Berger. He received his B.S. in Economics from Penn State in 2005. Mr. Slepian attended Brooklyn Law School and received his J.D. in 2008. He was sworn in as an attorney in February 2009 and began working at Berger & Berger in March 2009. He is currently a member of the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the New York State Defenders Association, the New York County Lawyers Association, the Erie County Bar Association, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Sam Tiranno
Sam Tiranno is currently working with Berger & Berger processing L-1 and TN statuses. He began his career with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1974. He worked on the Peace Bridge as an Immigration Inspector from 1975 to 1989. Mr. Tiranno was on the Primary Inspection line inspecting vehicles and applicants for admission into the United States. In 1989, when Canada and the United States entered into the Free Trade Agreement, he became a Free Trade Officer. He held that position until he retired in 2008. While working as a Free Trade Officer, he worked with many immigration attorneys who represented Canadian citizens at the Border who were applying for admission for L-1 or TN status. He became proficient at applying the Immigration Laws relating to the adjudication and admitting of applicants in accordance with the Free Trade Agreement.
Richard Murajda
Richard Murajda is currently a Law Clerk with Berger & Berger. He is awaiting his results from the New York State 2009 Bar Exam. Mr. Murajda received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Niagara University in 2006. He attended the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2009. While attending Law school, he was an Associate Editor for the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review and Assistant Director of Publications for the University of Detroit Mercy Moot Court Board of Advocates.
Nathan Kerstein
Nathan Kerstein is currently a Law Clerk with Berger & Berger handling research and motions. He received his B.A. in Philosopy, Politics and Law from Binghamton University in 2007. He currently is in his third year at the University at Buffalo Law School and will graduate in 2010 with his J.D.
Judith Field
Judith R. Field is the Senior Paralegal at Berger and Berger. She joined Berger and Berger in 1985 and has worked in several areas of our immigration based practice. Mrs. Field holds an Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies from Bryant and Stratton.
Ms. Field’s work currently centers on the preparation and submission of Adjustment of Status Applications for our employment-based immigration section. She assists clients and their employers through the process of second and third preference immigrant petition categories of the green card process. Ms. Field also obtains employment and travel authorization for our clients while they are awaiting the adjudication of their green card applications.
Kelly Cipolla
Kelly Cipolla is a Paralegal in our employment-based immigration section. Ms. Cipolla joined Berger & Berger in 1999. She obtained a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Programs with a concentration in Legal Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1999.
Her work focuses on permanent labor certification applications, physician J-1 visa waivers, second and third Preference immigrant petitions, including Physician National Interest Waivers. Ms. Cipolla also has experience in preparing H-1B nonimmigrant petitions.
Melissa Zizzo
Melissa Zizzo currently works as a paralegal with Berger & Berger, handling all applications and petitions for family-based immigration visas and H-1B non-immigrant visas. She joined the firm in March 2009. Ms. Zizzo obtained her B.A. in Psychology from Alfred University in 2002. She attended Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA and received her J.D. in 2006.
Our Support Staff
Patricia Enzinna, Secretary
Margaret A. Bianchi, Billing
Laura Andrzejewski, Marketing
