Michael Gilbert is a partner if the firm of Zwaik, Gilbert & Associates, having joined soon after graduating law school in 2000. He has focused much of his attention to the complex area of immigration litigation. Representing clients in Removal proceedings presents unique and complex challenges that requires quick and decisive decision making. The consequences of making the right choice can mean the difference between separating a father or mother from their son or daughter or maintaining family unity. When a client is detained, it is often a race against the clock. Our firm investigates the immigration history of the foreign national to determine if they are statutorily eligible to remain in the U.S. If a detainee has a criminal record, we must evaluate their record of conviction to determine if there are any forms of relief available. If the client has a prior order of deportation, it must be re-opened, by motion or waiver before we can apply for any immigration benefits. Michael Gilbert’s training in immigration litigation has developed his ability to make informed decisions under highly pressured circumstances.

Michael graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Brockport, with a major in Philosophy. He received his Juris Doctor from SUNY Buffalo. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, Supreme Court of New York, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars, and he was the recipient of the Departmental Scholar Award in Philosophy at SUNY Brockport. Michael divides his time between the Ronkonkoma and Hampton Bays offices.

Melinda Rubin merged her immigration firm with Zwaik, Gilbert & Associates in February of 2015. She is a native Long Islander who grew up in Sag Harbor. At age 5 she decided she could help people by being a lawyer and she has been interrogating people since. She is a 1980 graduate of Tuller School, an Episcopal private school that was in Sag Harbor, NY. She graduated in 1984 from Hofstra University with Honors in Political Science and in addition to awards for leadership she was also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society. She attended Hofstra Law for a year but decided to take time off and worked doing accounting work at different companies including several Wall Street Firms. The need to help people resurfaced during the late 1980’s and in 1988, when she moved to California to attend Whittier Law School in Los Angeles. While there she graded onto Law Review and was in the top 5% of her class. She transferred to the University of Maryland in 1990 and graduated from there in 1992 where she majored in environmental law. That administrative law background became handy when she shifted her focus to immigration law in 1995.

She has been a member of the NYS Bar since 1993. Melinda directed her own practice from 1995 until 2015, practicing immigration, criminal and real estate law. In 2015, her firm merged with Zwaik, Gilbert and Associates and she is now part of a group of lawyers dedicated to ensuring their clients receive the best advice and best service possible. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to criminal immigration, asylum, SIJ and asylum for children. Melinda works out of our Hampton Bays office and looks forward to meeting and working with you to develop the best strategy to ensure you win your case. Melinda has been a proud member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1996.