Jathniel Shao

Jathniel Shao is a lawyer in New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and Manila. Originally from Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, Jath grew up bouncing between Asia and America and speaks Hokkien, Mandarin, and Tagalog fluently. He practices the full spectrum of immigration law, from the humanitarian asylum, refugee, or special immigration petitions to all types of family-based and employment immigration and removal defense. He is a member of the bars of New York, Ohio, and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jath received his BA from Beloit College in Wisconsin, and his JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was a founding board member of the Asian Law Student Association (ALSA) and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Ohio (FALA Ohio). At the same time, he was a law clerk here at Herman Legal Group. Prior to rejoining Herman Legal Group as Of Counsel, he worked in the legal services department of Asian Services in Action and volunteered with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. He also serves as a board member of the Narramore Christian Foundation.

As an immigrant himself, Jath understands the joys and pains of immigrant life, and the different journeys immigrants go through to achieve their American dreams and secure better futures for their families and children.