Our History
Founded in 1978 by Michael Berger, the firm began as a dedicated immigration practice with a clear mission: to provide skilled, compassionate immigration representation to individuals and families seeking opportunity in the United States. From its beginnings in Buffalo, New York, the firm has grown into one of Western New York’s longest-standing full-service immigration practices. For more than four decades, we have remained committed to guiding clients through an ever-changing immigration system, building a legacy rooted in experience, advocacy, and life-changing results.
Our Promise
As one of Western New York’s oldest full-service immigration firms, we support clients across every pathway to the United States. With more than 50 years of experience handling complex immigration matters, our team at Berger, Berger & Sobieski provides the personalized and effective solutions you need to secure your visas and navigate all obstacles along the way. With us, you can be confident you have a trusted, experienced partner guiding you through every step of your immigration journey.
Get To Know Our Immigration Team!
Michael B. Berger
Founder and Partner with Berger Berger & Sobieski
Email: mberger@usavisa.net
Phone: (716) 634-6500
Mr. Berger was born in Rochester, New York, and later attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Master’s in Social Work, and obtained his Juris Doctor. He has since returned to his alma mater to teach courses at the Law School. Mr. Berger and his wife, Joanne, have made Buffalo their home, where they raised their three children.
Mr. Berger has a long-standing history of advocacy that began during his university years where he was a leader among groups dedicated to pursuing social justice with and on behalf of others. This early commitment shaped his future and ultimately led him to the legal field. It has since become the foundation of his professional life and continues to drive his immigration practice, where he works tirelessly to help clients navigate complex challenges and achieve life-changing outcomes.
As leader in the local field of immigration, Mr. Berger founded the local chapter of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association and served as its first President. He remains deeply involved in the community, serving on the boards of numerous organizations.
Mr. Berger prides himself on delivering creative solutions to complex immigration challenges. He takes a holistic approach to each case, carefully examining and exhausting every potential legal pathway to ensure all viable options are presented to his clients. Mr. Berger is deeply committed to finding effective, tailored solutions for even the most challenging matters.
Over the course of his distinguished career, he and his firm have been recognized with honors such as Top Attorney in North America, New York Area’s Best Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and Buffalo Business First’s Who’s Who in Law. He is also listed in the National Register’s Who’s Who in Professionals.
With more than 50 years of legal experience, Mr. Berger has dedicated his largely legal practice exclusively to Immigration and Nationality Law, earning a reputation as a trusted advocate and respected authority in the field.
Education:
State University of New York at Buffalo:
Bachelors of Science in Political Science
Masters in Social Work
Juris Doctor
Admissions:
The State of New York
United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit
Affiliations:
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Wolk Foundation, Board of Directors.
International Institute, Past Board of Directors.
Jewish Family Services, Past Board of Directors.
Bureau of Jewish Education, Past Board of Directors.
Jewish Community Center, Past President, Board of Directors.
Temple Beth Am, Prior President and Board Member.
Tonawanda Industrial Economic Corporation.
Achievements:
Top Attorney in North America.
New York Area’s Best Lawyers.
The Best Lawyers in America.
Buffalo Business first Who’s Who in Law.
Lee M. Sobieski
Senior Partner with Berger Berger & Sobieski
Email: lsobieski@usavisa.net
Phone: (716) 634-6500
Lee Sobieski is a partner at Berger Berger & Sobieski, where he has been with the firm for approximately eleven and a half years, total. He has been practicing law since 2011, when he was first admitted to practice by the New York Bar. He assists clients in various immigration-related issues, including employment and family-based immigration. He assists many clients in obtaining work Visas, usually H-1B Visas, which he has specialized in ever since joining the firm. Additionally, he handles the vast majority of the firm’s Removal Proceedings in Immigration Court, where he has claimed numerous difficult victories, in front of various Immigration Judges, many of which have been very difficult cases, particularly recently, in lieu of all the changes in the field of Immigration law, many of which have made it significantly more difficult for asylum seekers to be granted legal relief.
Mr. Sobieski has previously served semi-regularly as a Volunteer / Pro Bono Attorney for the Volunteer Lawyers Project on behalf of tenants appearing in front of Buffalo City Court for eviction matters since June of 2016. Additionally, he has given various presentations in the field of Immigration Law at Buffalo State University, in Buffalo, New York, and the Saturn Club, in Buffalo, New York, and has previously served as a Volunteer Evaluator for the first round of the February 2011 National Trial Competition, at Buffalo City Court, in Buffalo, New York. Mr. Sobieski was also featured on the Sharkpreneur Podcast, with host Seth Greene, on April 19, 2021, where he discussed various immigration issues, and is currently being considered for a follow-up to this podcast, through another local agency. Additionally, and most proudly, Mr. Sobieski served as a Presenter / Speaker at the Upstate New York AILA Chapter 2021 Fall Conference, speaking all about H-1B Visas and their effect on Immigration Law as a whole.
Mr. Sobieski graduated from State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts (BA), in Social Sciences with a Concentration in Legal Studies in 2007. He then received his Doctorate of Law (JD), in 2010 from the University at Buffalo Law School. In addition to being a member of AILA, in good standing, he is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and the Erie County Bar Association. He has also previously served as President of a regional networking group from 2018 to 2019.
Mr. Sobieski has lived in the Buffalo area nearly all his life, and is proud to call this area home. He is married to his wonderful wife Christina since May of 2018, and his dog, Burdy, and he is the youngest of two siblings. He currently resides in Depew, New York, and truly enjoys spending his time with his family, especially his nieces and nephew, and considers himself quite the movie buff, as well as a master puzzle solver on the popular game show, Wheel of Fortune. He is also an avid and lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, and dreams of one day retiring in Italy with his lovely bride.
Education:
State University of New York at Buffalo:
Juris Doctor
Admissions:
The State of New York
Affiliations:
New York State Bar Association
Bar Association of Erie County
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Business Network International Premium Chapter, Past President
Phi Beta Kappa
Achievements:
Top Attorney in North America.
Buffalo Business first Who’s Who in Law.
Who’s Who Top Attorneys of North America.
Expertise.com Best Immigration Lawyers in Buffalo.
Top Attorney – Diamond Member: https://whoswhopr.com/2018/12/top-attorney-lee-m-sobieski/
F. Alejandro Gutierrez
Attorney with Berger Berger & Sobieski
Email: agutierrez@usavisa.net
Phone: (716) 634-6500
As an immigrant from Colombia, Mr. Gutierrez understands the need for an attorney that will provide effective guidance during the immigration process. He has broad experience across the field of immigration including affirmative applications and defensive proceedings in Immigration Court.
Outside of work, Alejandro is an artist who enjoys spending time with his demanding Australian Cattle Dogs.
Education:
St. John’s Preparatory School , Collegeville, MN.
State University of New York at Fredonia:
Bachelors of Science in Communications/Media
State University of New York at Buffalo
Juris Doctor
Admissions:
The State of New York
United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit
Affiliations:
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Aliza H. Berger
Attorney with Berger Berger & Sobieski
Email: aberger@usavisa.net
Phone: (716) 634-6500
Aliza Berger grew up in Buffalo, New York, with early exposure to immigration, cultural exchange, and the meaningful impact that thoughtful legal advocacy can have on individuals and families. These experiences fostered a genuine curiosity about the world, a love of travel, and a deep respect for different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. She is an enthusiastic traveler and food lover, finding that shared meals and cultural exchange often form the strongest human connections.
While in college, Ms. Berger volunteered as a tutor and mentor in the local refugee community. In this role, she provided academic support while also serving as a steady, encouraging presence as families adjusted to life in a new country. This experience shaped her understanding of the challenges immigrant families face and reinforced her belief that effective advocacy begins with listening, trust, and clear communication.
Her love of cultural exchange later led her to travel and live abroad. After college, Ms. Berger spent time in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam teaching English. Working closely with Vietnamese co-teachers and managing large, diverse classrooms strengthened her ability to communicate across language and cultural barriers with patience, creativity, and respect. Living abroad also deepened her appreciation for how challenging it can be to navigate unfamiliar systems far from home.
After graduating from law school, Ms. Berger began her career practicing corporate litigation and civil rights. That work sharpened her skills as both a litigator and advocate, experience she now brings fully into her immigration practice.
Ms. Berger is committed to being a zealous and dedicated advocate for her clients. She strives to ensuring that every client feels informed, respected, and supported throughout their immigration journey.
Education:
University of Pittsburgh:
Bachelor's of Art in Political Science and Business
State University of New York at Buffalo:
Juris Doctor
Admissions:
The State of New York
United States District Court for the Western District of New York
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
Affiliations:
American Immigration Lawyers Association.
New York State Bar Association.
Bar Association of Erie County, Young Lawyers Committee.
GOLD Group, UB Law Alumni Association, Board of Directors.
Woman’s Bar Association of Western New York.
U-CAN (United Community Action Network), Mentor.
Congregation Shir Shalom, Board of Trustee.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Committee Member.
Danielle Mengedoht
Attorney with Berger Berger & Sobieski
Email: d.mengedoht@usavisa.net
Phone: (716) 634-6500
Ms. Mengedoht has been an associate at Berger Berger & Sobieski since June 2025. She has been practicing law since 2024, when she was first admitted by the Vermont Bar. She assists with various immigration-related issues, including removal proceedings, asylum, and other humanitarian relief. She assists many clients and firm attorneys in preparing for their asylum hearings before EOIR.
Ms. Mengedoht has previously practiced as a public defender with private defense firm NEK Law, appearing before the Orleans’ Country Superior Court in Newport, Vermont for various criminal court matters. Prior to that she worked as a Law Clerk for NEW Law, the State of Alaska, and the State of Vermont.
Ms. Mengedoht graduated from Niagara Community College with an Associates of Science, with a major in Criminal Justice in December 2016. She then received her Bachelor’s of Science with a major in Criminal Justice and minor in Political Science in May 2018. She went on to graduate from Vermont Law and Graduate School with a Juris Doctor in May of 2022. She is a member of the Vermont Bar, in good standing. In addition, she has had the opportunity to volunteer through various internships including the South Royalton Immigration Clinic, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Sitka Alaska District Attorney’s Office, and assisted in holding an expungement clinic with the Orleans County Restorative Justice Center (now included in NEKCA) in Vermont.
Ms. Mengedoht grew up in Lockport, New York. She has spent time across the country including Alaska, Tennessee, Vermont, and New York. When not practicing law, Danielle can be found out and about riding her motorcycle, at home spending quality time with her dog Rosie, or online playing various video games. Visiting Japan, skydiving, and owning a SuperSport motorcycle are on her bucket list.
Education:
Niagara County Community College:
Associates of Science, Magna Cum Laude, in Criminal Justice
State University of New York at Brockport:
Bachelors of Science, Magna Cum Laude, with a major in Criminal Justice and minor in Political Science
Vermont Law and Graduate School
Juris Doctor
Admissions:
The State of Vermont