Leon Wildes, Founding and Senior Partner of Wildes & Weinberg, P.C., began his intense study and practice of immigration law in 1960 as a migrations specialist at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and has practiced immigration law ever since.
In 1970 he was National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served as a member of its board of governors ever since. AILA conferred upon him its Edith Lowenstein Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Immigration Practice and he was also awarded the Elmer Fried Prize for Excellence in Teaching Immigration Law. Best known for his successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his artist wife Yoko Ono in deportation proceedings, he has published 5 law review articles on issues of law raised in the extraordinary litigation connected with that case.
A magna cum laude graduate of Yeshiva College in 1954, Leon Wildes completed his law school education at the New York University School of Law in 1957 when he was granted a Jurist Doctor Degree. In 1959 he obtained a Master of Laws Degree at the same school.
Wildes was also an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law for over 32 years. In addition, he supervised the immigration externship program.
Moreover, Mr. Wildes He has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to immigration law by publications such as Super Lawyers, Who’s Who in America Law, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the World, as well as The Best Lawyers in America; such amazing accomplishments.