Gendelberg Law has added former U.S. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge David Cheng as a full-time attorney, bringing decades of government, judicial, and immigration law experience to the New York-based firm’s immigration practice.
Cheng served within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review as an Immigration Judge at the Newark Immigration Court and later as an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge. In that leadership role, he led multiple immigration courts, supervised and trained judges, and oversaw both detained and non-detained dockets.
Before his appointment to the immigration bench, Cheng spent approximately 15 years with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Newark, where he served as an Assistant Chief Counsel and later as a Senior Attorney. Earlier in his career, he practiced law in New York City and served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York City Department of Finance.
At Gendelberg Law, Cheng will work on immigration matters spanning removal defense, asylum, detention and appeals, family-based immigration, employment and investor immigration, humanitarian relief, and other cases. The firm said his experience from multiple sides of the immigration system gives clients an additional perspective on how cases are evaluated and where procedural problems can arise.
Gendelberg Law is devoted exclusively to U.S. immigration matters and maintains offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York, and Washington, D.C. The firm’s multilingual legal team represents individuals, families, and businesses across the United States and internationally.
The hire adds a former judge to a team already focused exclusively on immigration law, giving the firm another resource for matters that may involve complex courtroom procedure, agency practice, or removal proceedings. Cheng’s role will be client-facing and full time.
KEY QUOTES:
“When I founded Gendelberg Law, my goal was to build an immigration firm where we would never stop looking for ways to become better advocates for our clients. Immigration cases are not simply files on a desk. The outcome can determine whether someone remains with their family, keeps the life they have built, or has the opportunity to begin a new one in the United States. Throughout his career, David has seen the immigration system from perspectives that very few attorneys have—as an attorney in private practice, a government attorney, an Immigration Judge, and an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge. Having him now bring that experience and perspective to our firm is an extraordinary resource for our attorneys and, most importantly, for the individuals and families who place their trust in us.”
Leonard R. Gendelberg, Founder And Managing Attorney Of Gendelberg Law
“After more than two decades of federal service, I felt the time was right to use my experience and knowledge in a more direct way. My years in government gave me a deep understanding of immigration law, courtroom practice, and the challenges that arise throughout the process. Private practice allows me to apply that experience directly on behalf of individuals and families.
As an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, I managed multiple immigration courts, supervised and trained judges, and oversaw both detained and non-detained dockets. That experience gave me a broad understanding of immigration law, policy, and court operations, as well as how cases are evaluated and where problems often arise. I bring that broader, system-level perspective to identifying issues early, anticipating potential obstacles, and providing clients with clear, practical, and candid advice.”
David Cheng, Former U.S. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge And Attorney At Gendelberg Law
“Behind every A-number is a human being who may be separated from a spouse, a child, or an entire life they have built here. Having a former Immigration Judge on our team gives us another perspective when we ask ourselves the most important question: If we were sitting on the other side of that bench, what would we need to see and hear to truly understand this person’s story?”
Sopiko Gugunava, Senior Legal Analyst At Gendelberg Law
