GUIDING LEGAL PATHWAYS:
Navigating the Complexities of Business Immigration Law
BY KEITH PIERCE
From law school to Fragomen, how Rahul Shah ’02 is shaping global mobility
As global events reshape immigration policies, businesses and individuals face growing uncertainty in navigating complex legal landscapes. From geopolitical instability to shiſting compliance measures, the demand for skilled immigration lawyers has never been greater. AUWCL alumnus Rahul Shah ’02, a seasoned leader in business immigration law, understands these challenges firsthand. Now heading Fragomen’s Matawan, New Jersey, office, he helps multinational companies anticipate and address immigration hurdles — ensuring workforce mobility in an era of heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Shah first gained exposure to immigration law through specialized coursework and practical experience. As a student attorney, he represented applicants before U.S. immigration judges. “That experience
Interim Dean Heather Hughes. “His work in business immigration law, from representing asylum seekers to advising multinational corporations, embodies the values we instill at AUWCL — excellence, value-driven advocacy, and global impact.”
Upon graduating, Shah joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s Attorney General’s Honors Program as a staff attorney at the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), where he honed his legal research and writing skills.
Rahul Shah ’02
solidified my passion for immigration law,” he recalls. “I also externed for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, working on immigration issues within the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. That gave me firsthand exposure to the legislative and policy aspects of immigration.”
“Rahul Shah is a true testament to the power of dedication, practical experience, and a commitment to justice,” says AUWCL
“My time at the BIA gave me critical exposure to the appellate process,” he explains. “But aſter two years, I was eager to transition into client representation. The opportunity to join Fragomen, a global leader in corporate immigration, was a pivotal moment.”
Since joining Fragomen in 2004, Shah has guided multinational corporations through complex regulatory frameworks. Leading the firm’s Matawan office, he oversees immigration strategies for corporate clients navigating global mobility challenges.
Immigrant Justice Clinic Helps Holocaust Survivor Gain U.S. Citizenship Holocaust Survivor Finally Becomes U.S. Citizen After 73 Years
Ryan Durazo ’21 (leſt), Henry Pachnowski (center), and Professor Jayesh Rathod (right) aſter Pachnowski was sworn in as a U.S. citizen.
32 THE ADVOCATE SUMMER/FALL 2025
After decades of uncertainty, Henry Pachnowski, an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor, was finally sworn in as a United States citizen. The WCL Immigrant Justice Clinic played a pivotal role in securing his citizenship, helping him overcome legal
hurdles that had plagued him for most of his life. Pachnowski first arrived in the United
States in 1951, fleeing the horrors of the Holocaust with his family. Despite being granted permanent residency, his legal
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