J. Simon v. Taft

Simon Taft has more than a decade of experience in immigration and nationality law. Mx. Taft received their B.A. in English Literature and Women’s Studies from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia in 2009. After earning their J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law, Mx. Taft was admitted to practice in New York in 2013. 

Mx. Taft has experience practicing employment-, family-, and humanitarian-based immigration law. Prior to joining Barst, Mx. Taft served as a Counsel Writer for Ogletree Deakins from 2021 until 2023. At Ogletree Deakins, Mx. Taft focused on L-1, EB-1B, EB-1C,  and O-1 petitions and Request for Evidence (“RFE”) responses for a range of clinical research, biotechnology, financial, and consumer goods companies. Before joining Ogletree Deakins, Mx. Taft served as an Attorney for McKinney Immigration Law where they prepared a range of humanitarian- and family-based petitions, such as complex I-601 and I-212 waivers and I-589 asylum applications. In this position, Mx. Taft was also on brief for several appeals, including the published precedential decision in Ortez-Cruz v. Barr, 951 F.3d 190 (4th Cir. 2020) (holding the BIA erred in finding DHS rebutted the future-threat presumption in a Central American Withholding of Removal case), and prepared various complaints, including for the published win in Kuffour v. Nielsen, 412 F.Supp. 3d 581 (M.D.N.C. 2019) (holding DHS commencement of removal proceedings did not deprive district court of subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s naturalization application; actual case or controversy made declaratory judgement available remedy). Finally, Mx. Taft’s experience includes serving as Legal Services Coordinator for a refugee resettlement organization. This well-rounded experience in U.S. immigration law gives Mx. Taft a unique perspective and ability to advocate for clients.

Education

Agnes Scott College, B.A.
Saint Louis University School of Law, J.D.

Admissions

State Bar of New York