Founder and Managing Principal, Retired
With over 40 years of experience in immigration law, Paul L. Zulkie has made a significant impact as a renowned leader in the field. As the Founder and Managing Principal of Zulkie Partners LLC, Paul played an instrumental role in shaping the firm’s identity, providing top-tier legal services in immigration law. Although he retired at the end of 2024, his vision and guiding principles continue to influence the firm’s ongoing work.
Leadership in the Immigration Law Field
Throughout his career, Paul held pivotal leadership roles. He served as President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) from 2004 to 2005, leading an organization of over 18,000 immigration attorneys and law professors.1 His advocacy extended to promoting improvements in immigration and nationality law, ensuring better protections for individuals. Paul’s legacy includes his role in launching the National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children, which provided pro bono legal services to unaccompanied minors in U.S. immigration courts.
Key Contributions in Crisis Situations
Following the September 11th attacks, Paul was a key member of a select AILA task force charged with drafting provisions for Congressional review that would allow the immediate family members of foreign national victims to stay in the U.S. Several of these recommendations were ultimately incorporated into the Patriot Act.
Congressional Testimony and Media Presence
Paul has been a prominent voice in the immigration law community, testifying before Congress on the “detrimental impact of immigration backlogs” in June 2004.2 His insights have been sought by by major media outlets such as CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and in print publications including The Wall Street Journal,3 The Washington Post, Business Week, Bloomberg4 and The Chicago Tribune.5
Long-Term Leadership and Recognition
Paul served as President and Chairman of the Board for the American Immigration Council from 2005 to 2020, dedicating years of service to enhancing public understanding of immigration law and policy.6 In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he received the prestigious Founders Award at the Immigration Impact Awards in 2024.7
Publications and Legacy
Paul is the author of Immigration Compliance in Employment and Business, a key resource on immigration law.8 His expertise has also been featured in Leading Lawyers Magazine (2018 Business Edition), where he shared his global perspective on immigration law.9
A Fond Farewell
All of us at the firm extend a heartfelt farewell to Paul, coupled with profound gratitude for his visionary leadership. We deeply appreciate all he has done to “give a voice to people who don’t have a voice,” as he would say. Congratulations, Paul, on an illustrious career and your impactful legacy.
