Sheen, Raymond H.

Avantika Shastri received her law degree and undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. She has been practicing with the firm since 2004. Ms. Shastri specializes in complex appeals and motions to reopen before the immigration agencies and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has also successfully represented individuals and families in family-based immigration petitions, waivers, asylum, naturalization, and consular processing cases. Her practice also involves representing individuals in immigration custody and removal proceedings. In addition, she regularly provides advice to individuals and criminal defense counsel about the immigration consequences of criminal arrests and convictions.
 
In addition to directly representing clients, Ms. Shastri has worked closely with immigrant rights organizations to file numerous amici curiae (friend of the court) briefs before the Ninth Circuit and other Circuit Courts. Ms. Shastri has also written and spoken on immigration topics, and volunteers regularly with local immigration clinics.

In 2008, the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California Foundation honored Ms. Shastri by naming her Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Shastri served as an extern for Honorable Judge Edward M. Chen at the United States Federal District Court, Northern District of California. She also represented individual clients and engaged in broader advocacy in the area of immigrant and refugee rights with organizations in the Bay Area, Boston and Washington, D.C.