TOP EB-5 INDUSTRY RISING STARS
MATTHEW T . GALATI Senior Associate Green and Spiegel LLC
Matthew T . Galati is a senior associate in
Green and Spiegel LLC ’ s Philadelphia office , where he leads the firm ’ s EB-5 and Grenada Citizenship-by-Investment functions . Green and Spiegel was founded in 1962 and is one of North America ’ s oldest immigration law firms . The firm offers comprehensive immigration solutions on both sides of the U . S . and Canada border .
Since the beginning of his career , Galati has been responsible for the filing of hundreds of EB-5 petitions . He also routinely counsels entrepreneurial clients on the treaty trader and investor e-visas , intracompany transferee L-1 visas and EB-1 visa alternatives . Galati is an active member of AILA , where he serves on the Philadelphia Chapter ’ s Executive Committee . He has authored dozens of industry-related articles and is quoted in national media . Galati has presented on the EB-5 program coast-to-coast and throughout Asia . He was twice named as a SuperLawyers Rising Star in the field of business immigration .
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
I see more investors looking at EB-5 with frustration fueling their investment motives . Major parts of our employment-based visa system are dysfunctional , the most egregious is the perennial shortfall of H-1B visas and the prohibitively-long waiting times affecting applicants from certain countries in EB-2 and EB-3 categories . With the exception of China , a parent gifting the investment funds to a child early enough in the latter ’ s college career can secure residency upon graduation . In China , more investors are looking to the E-2 through Grenadian citizenship to minimize the disruption of visa retrogression .
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
My grandfather immigrated after docking in New York Harbor , and my wife immigrated after an interview with me at her side in a USCIS office , so I have a deep personal connection with my clients ’ circumstances . Regarding EB- 5 , I was fortunate to work with some of the industry ’ s brightest minds early in my career . Their passion for this program fueled mine . It is rewarding knowing that I am representing a family so they can achieve the American dream , while at the same time raising the economic outlook for my fellow Americans .
RAYMOND G . LAHOUD Chair , Immigration Law Practice Norris McLaughlin & Marcus P . A .
Raymond G . Lahoud is chair of the Norris
McLaughlin & Marcus P . A . Immigration Law Practice . His EB-5 experience spans every aspect of the program including : formations and management of regional centers and representation of investors from across the world , including the Middle East , Asia , Europe , Central and South America , Australia and Europe . His experience of direct and regional center investments includes travel to several Middle Eastern , European and Asian countries to present educational sessions for possible investors . Lahoud offers leadership and counsel with economic development organizations , municipalities , developers , quasi-government entities and planning commissions to implement and market the EB-5 program as an alternative funding source for public and private projects . When a client seeks EB-5 related work – whether it be an individual proposing a possible EB-5 project or wanting to create a regional center or an investor from any country , Lahoud directs the process from start to finish .
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF THE EB-5 INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE ?
The EB-5 program is likely to experience much-needed reform , which will include measures such as addressing the need to increase the minimum investment thresholds for potential EB-5 investors , both those in TEAs and those outside of TEAs , and allow for annual increases in the threshold that are beyond the minimal inflation rate . Further , the future of the EB-5 program will likely include increasing federal scrutiny , investigations and minimum qualification thresholds given the recent unfortunate increase in the number of EB-5 fraud related matters .
WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE EB-5 INDUSTRY ?
Until recently , the EB-5 program was relatively unknown and limited geographically both in and outside the United States . Over the last few years , the benefits of the EB-5 program have become increasingly well-known throughout the Middle East , Australia , South and Central America and in many African countries . Additionally , American businesses , local municipalities , universities , colleges , developers , economic and planning groups and agencies have become increasingly knowledgeable and willing to participate in the EB-5 program through regional center investments . These organizations understand that the EB-5 program is a more efficient and inexpensive way to fund all types of public and private projects .
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