Gallery

PRACTICE GALLERY

June 10, 2025: sylum granted !! Client who was a police officer in Nicaragua would not back down and insisted that an associate of the regimes leader be brought to justice for an alleged serious offense. The regime persecuted her and her husband for her principled political opposition and branded her a traitor for insisting that justice be done. Now they are granted asylum and are ready to take their place as valued members of our extraordinary country.
June 2025: Upper left hand corner. “Peer Recognized”. Even greater than the honor itself is to be included in the distinguished company of attorneys from across the country who are pre-eminent in their respective fields of specialty.
May 2025:  The order from yesterday’s case granting asylum and a second order (issued today) granting asylum from another. Both cases involved brave people standing up to the Venezuelan government for human rights and now both family’s have found a new home in our great country ready to take their place in our American family with a bright future ahead.
May 2025:  The order from yesterday’s case granting asylum and a second order (issued today) granting asylum from another. Both cases involved brave people standing up to the Venezuelan government for human rights and now both family’s have found a new home in our great country ready to take their place in our American family with a bright future ahead.
May 2025: Asylum granted !!! Please meet Eduardo Rondon and family pictured here (with their permission). This brave man stood up to the government in Venezuela even as they tried to kidnap his beautiful daughter. The case was compelling and DHS waived it’s appeal … my thanks to my opposite number for this humanitarian gesture. This family’s ordeal is now over. Please join me in welcoming them to our exceptional country and our American family!!
May 2025: the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Strategic Planning Committee meets. Committee members from California to New York and Michigan to Texas were present. On the agenda was membership expansion and a further defense of the right to a jury trial in civil cases under the 7th Amendment to the constitution. Stay tuned for details !
May 2025: I have been honored by this organization for 3 years in a row. I will continue the fight for all deserving immigrants who want a better life, contribute to our exceptional country and join our American family.
April 2025: My client received his asylum card today by mail. This individual suffered horrific persecution in his country of origin and met all the strict legal requirements including, undergoing a full Merits Hearing (an asylum trial) at which the client was cross examined by a DHS attorney. The result was this card and a chance to start a new life in this exceptional country of ours.
April 2025: In Miami with my support staff at Inmigracion Pro and CEO Angie Garrido. They are all super !

March 2025: The Officers and Board of the Southern New York State Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) met at the Yale Club in Manhattan for an events planning session. Left to right: Alecia Walters-Hinds, Jennine Gerrard, Carolyn Caccese, Ian Lane, Stephen Cohen, Steven Balson-Cohen and Joseph Gulino.

February 2025: The first meeting in 2025 of the ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) strategic planning committee with National President Jennifer Doan. Planning for the future takes time and work and this committee has made a great start!
January 2025: Just hosted an online question and answer session for all those concerned about the incoming administration’s change of policies. Message was to prepare for the court dates and have hope that in the end there is a path for legal citizenship so you can join our American family and help build our great country!
January 2025: Just hosted an online question and answer session for all those concerned about the incoming administration’s change of policies. Message was to prepare for the court dates and have hope that in the end there is a path for legal citizenship so you can join our American family and help build our great country!
January 2025: Just hosted an online question and answer session for all those concerned about the incoming administration’s change of policies. Message was to prepare for the court dates and have hope that in the end there is a path for legal citizenship so you can join our American family and help build our great country!
December 2024: Full Asylum granted! The team gathered to congratulate our clients who after a full hearing (including DHS Cross examination) were granted relief after having suffered unspeakable treatment and assault in their native country for being a same gender couple. Welcome to our American Family!
November 21, 2024: Annual installation of the New Board /Juror Appreciation Dinner of the Southern NY Chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) at historic Fraunces Tavern in Manhattan. Our honored guests included Justice Kathy King, Jennifer Doan, incoming national ABOTA President and Gregory Katz managing partner of Lewis Brisbois.
November 21, 2024: Annual installation of the New Board /Juror Appreciation Dinner of the Southern NY Chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) at historic Fraunces Tavern in Manhattan. Our honored guests included Justice Kathy King, Jennifer Doan, incoming national ABOTA President and Gregory Katz managing partner of Lewis Brisbois.
November 21, 2024: Annual installation of the New Board /Juror Appreciation Dinner of the Southern NY Chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) at historic Fraunces Tavern in Manhattan. Our honored guests included Justice Kathy King, Jennifer Doan, incoming national ABOTA President and Gregory Katz managing partner of Lewis Brisbois.
November 12, 2024 – First in the nation. Today I filed the first of many motions to enjoin (stop) deportation of my clients who are waiting for their asylum or similar type of relief. We are in unpredictable territory and an order on hand to allow the due process for a hearing to proceed will calm any concerns. Note: I am not advocating to stay deportation of those convicted of a felony (I won’t represent them) or those who have had a hearing and have a final order of deportation. Contact me if you want the template. I will happily share it.
November 9, 2024 – Office meeting planning strategy how to best advocate for our immigration clients who have legitimate (legal) grounds for asylum or other forms of relief and how to make them stand out as different from the frivolous applicants.
November 7, 2024 – Case Dismissed. Deportation stopped for a couple fleeing horrific persecution and violence. Now on to applying for a legal pathway for citizenship!
October 12, 2024 – Question and answer session on Immigration Law and recent developments with the general public as we went live streaming over Facebook, What’s App and YouTube.
September 2024 -The Southern New York Chapter of ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) meet via Zoom to plan for future events. Top left to right: Jennine Gerrard, yours truly, (the other) Steve Cohen. Bottom left to right: Carolyn Caccese, Ian Lane and Joe Gulino.
August 29, 2024 – The Court read out its decision to grant full asylum. The team gathered on line to congratulate our clients who fled persecution. They have met the legal criteria and weathered cross examination from government counsel to be granted this relief. Welcome to our American family. A great way to end the summer !!
August 28, 2024 – Playing by the rules…clients who applied for legal work permits and qualified via background checks and all other requirements today received their work cards. Congratulations!!
August 28, 2024 – Playing by the rules…clients who applied for legal work permits and qualified via background checks and all other requirements today received their work cards. Congratulations!!
June 25, 2024 – 3 asylums granted in a row! Celebrating with clients and the team on another successful asylum hearing. The clients were social leaders in their country and had to flee malicious death threats and persecution from a well known paramilitary gang that their government was unable or unwilling to curb. Welcome to our American family as you embark on a new life!
 
June 11, 2024 – Asylum granted! The team congratulates the clients and I (lower right corner) on a successful asylum hearing outcome. The clients fleeing from paramilitary gangs and death threats were forced to flee to the United States. The clients were extensively cross examined by DHS counsel but they held up. Their dreams now realized they are ready to take their places as productive and legal members of our American family.
April 26, 2024 – Earlier today a zoom celebration of the entire team for a great milestone for my client. After an Individual Hearing (bench trial in immigration court), and submitting compelling evidence, the Court granted the application for asylum. Fleeing from political persecution and threat’s of death the gentleman with his two teenage sons can now legally join our American family.
In Immigration Court preparing for a Master Calendar (scheduling) hearing. It is important to know what relief to ask for and how best to achieve the goal of helping immigrants join our American Family as productive legal citizens.
 

New York City Chapter Of American Board Of Trial Advocates Annual Awards Dinner,​ February 6, 2024

New York City Chapter Of American Board Of Trial Advocates Annual Awards Dinner,​ February 6, 2024

New York City Chapter Of American Board Of Trial Advocates Annual Awards Dinner,​ February 6, 2024

Attending “Merits” (individual) immigration hearing with client

Attending Master Calendar immigration hearing with clients

New York City Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates Annual Dinner, October 28, 2021

New York City Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates Annual Dinner, October 28, 2021

Annual Dinner 2019 – NYC Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates with Justice George Silver

National Student Trial Advocacy Competition – Presiding Judge

Training legal interns during actual jury selection with opposing counsel

American Board of Trial Advocates – Richmond County conference on new trial procedures with Presiding Judge Desmond A. Green, Judges Ralph Porzio, Charles Troia, Wayne M. Ozzi, and Catherine M. DiDomeniico.

Staten Island Civic Association sponsoring debate of NYC Public Advocate candidates

Summer soiree  of the NYC Chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates

Panel lecturer at the Defense Association of New York – Biomechanical presentation in 2018

COURTROOM SKETCHES OF STEVEN BALSON-COHEN

(Listening to opening statement of counsel)

 

(Direct examination of an expert)

(Pointing out the significance of a missing witness during trial) 

(Closing statement to the jury)

Recent deliberation note from a Bronx jury, see highlighted question