September 11, 2020 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce that the Cleveland Jewish News has named David W. Leopold, Partner and Group Leader of Ulmer’s Immigration Law Group, to its 2020 list of “18 Difference Makers.” This award honors and celebrates individuals who make invaluable contributions for the betterment of Northeast Ohio’s Jewish community.
The “18 Difference Makers” awards were created to recognize community members who embrace “tikkun olam,” a tenant of Judaism that encourages performing acts of kindness to perfect or repair the world. Leopold was selected for this honor by a panel of judges who considered his active involvement to better the Jewish community, efforts to safeguard those who may be at a disadvantage, and characteristics of integrity and generosity.
“David exemplifies what this award seeks to celebrate through his tireless commitment to advocating on behalf of vulnerable immigrants and communities,” said Patricia A. Shlonsky, Cleveland Partner-in-Charge. “His advocacy and passion are admirable and we are very proud that he will be honored as a Difference Maker.”
Leopold is nationally recognized as a dedicated immigration attorney, passionate reform advocate, and respected writer and public speaker. With more than two decades of experience counseling diverse clients on a wide array of issues related to U.S. immigration, visa, and citizenship law, he focuses his practice on employment and family-based immigration, the representation of employers in Form I-9 compliance matters, complex removal cases including administrative trials and appeals, and federal court litigation.
In addition to his robust immigration practice, Leopold previously served as President and General Counsel of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the premier bar association of immigration lawyers and professors in the United States. He also serves as a “go-to” analyst on cutting-edge immigration issues for major media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Newsweek, and Fox News, and regularly handles high-profile, politically charged matters that draw national attention.
As the son of a Holocaust survivor, Leopold has personally and professionally made it his mission to support opportunities for newcomers, to use the courts to drive change, and to improve and enhance U.S. immigration law and policy. He was recently appointed to the national Platform Committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention by the Biden for President Campaign and to the Board of Directors of Global Cleveland, a nonprofit that attracts, welcomes, and connects international newcomers to economic, social, and educational opportunities in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
The 2020 “18 Difference Makers” honorees will be featured in a special section of the Cleveland Jewish News on November 20. Click here to learn more about the “18 Difference Makers” awards.