Leslie K. Dellon has been practicing immigration law for more than 20 years. Her first client in an immigration matter was the U.S. Department of Labor, when she was a Trial Attorney from 1983-1986 in the Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. As a Trial Attorney, Ms. Dellon successfully defended the U.S. government in several significant cases in federal court. She received the Assistant Attorney General’s Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Service. Ms. Dellon joined the Washington, D.C. firm of Lepon Holzworth & Kato, PLLC, where she became a member in 1988 and led the immigration practice until 2009. Ms. Dellon’s practice primarily consisted of advising small to multinational businesses about immigration strategies. She has experience with visitors for business, nonimmigrant business classifications, entertainers, trainees, international organization employees and employment-based immigrant visa classifications, “J waiver,” naturalization and family-based filings. She joined Hammond Immigration Law, P.C. in February 2009, where she continues to concentrate on business immigration matters.

Ms. Dellon strongly supports the activities of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She served as Chair of the AILA Washington DC Chapter (including MD, DC and VA) from 2004-2005, overseeing the activities of the third largest chapter (then 700+ members). She served as Chair of the AILA National Pro Bono Committee from 2005-2006, where she encouraged pro bono activities, including the first nationwide AILA Citizenship Day, and oversaw the compilation of a resources list on AILA InfoNet. Most recently, Ms. Dellon has served as Chair of the AILA National NBC (National Benefits Center) Committee from 2007-2009. The NBC completes pre-interview processing primarily of family-based applications for lawful permanent residence, including denying applications of those who are not statutorily eligible and adjudicating employment and travel authorization documents. NBC has added other responsibilities recently, including adjudicating naturalization applications. Ms. Dellon has served as a panelist at AILA National and AILA DC Chapter conferences.

Ms. Dellon is a member of the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland Bars. She is a member of the Section Council (governing body) of the Maryland State Bar Association Immigration Section (Fall 2008-June 2009). Ms. Dellon is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the Third, Fifth and Tenth Circuits, the U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia and Maryland, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the Court of International Trade. Ms. Dellon received her J.D. with high honors, from the George Washington University National Law Center, where she was Topics Editor of The George Washington Law Review and a Member of Order of the Coif. Ms. Dellon holds a B.A., cum laude, in Political Science and Urban Affairs, from The American University.