Kathleen Gasparian clerked for the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the federal body that oversees immigration courts, before entering private practice. That clerkship experience, seeing immigration proceedings from the institutional side, shaped the practice she founded in 2015. Leah Spivey joined with nearly seven years of experience as a Senior Associate at the firm now known as Ware|Immigration, and additional experience in Louisiana family law courts. Together, they built a boutique immigration practice with offices in New Orleans and Lafayette, Louisiana. The New Orleans office is at 1915 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113, and can be reached at (504) 262-9878.
The Attorneys
Kathleen Gasparian founded the firm in 2015 and holds a J.D. from Loyola University College of Law, where she graduated in 2002. She is licensed in Louisiana. Her background includes a clerkship for the Executive Office for Immigration Review, a partnership at the firm now known as Ware|Immigration, and significant professional leadership roles: former Regulatory Ombudsperson for Scholar Issues for NAFSA Region III, former section chair for the Louisiana State Bar Association, Adjunct Professor at Tulane University Law School, AILA Mid-South Chapter Chair, and Chair of the Louisiana Language Access Coalition Board.
Her recognition includes selection as a Super Lawyer in 2019 and 2020, an AVVO 10.0 rating, and naming as one of Gambit’s 40 Under 40. New Orleans Magazine selected her as a Top Lawyer multiple times and named her one of 12 Women in Law in 2025. New Orleans City Business selected her for Leadership in Law in 2017 and 2020.
Leah Spivey is a partner at the firm. She earned a B.A. in Latin American Studies and Portuguese from Tulane University and a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans in 2009. She is licensed in Louisiana, admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and admitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. She speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Before joining the firm, she practiced as a Senior Associate at Ware|Immigration for nearly seven years and also practiced family law in Louisiana state courts. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2015 and holds an AVVO 10.0 rating.
Colleen Haley is an associate attorney at the firm. She earned her J.D. cum laude from Loyola University College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Michigan. She is licensed in Illinois. Her practice focuses on employment-based immigration, including EB-1 extraordinary ability petitions, EB-2 advanced degree and national interest waiver petitions, and O-1 temporary visas for individuals of extraordinary ability.
Practice Areas
Family-Based Immigration
The firm handles sponsorship petitions for family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, adjustment of status proceedings, and consular processing for applicants abroad.
Removal Defense and Deportation Defense
Representation in immigration court for individuals with pending proceedings or existing removal orders. The firm has experience before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Asylum
Applications for individuals fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or particular social group membership.
Humanitarian Relief
U visas for crime victims cooperating with law enforcement, VAWA petitions for domestic violence survivors, and T visas for trafficking survivors.
Employment-Based Immigration
Colleen Haley’s specialization in EB-1, EB-2, and O-1 petitions addresses the firm’s employment-based practice. The firm also advises employers on worksite enforcement compliance, including E-Verify and I-9 audit procedures.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Applications for lawful permanent residents who have met the eligibility requirements for U.S. citizenship.
Higher Education and University Immigration
The firm has specific experience with immigration matters particular to institutions of higher education, including J-1 and H-1B issues, Optional Practical Training, and scholar visa matters. Kathleen Gasparian’s prior role as Regulatory Ombudsperson for Scholar Issues for NAFSA Region III reflects direct experience in this area.
Entrepreneur Immigration
Immigration strategies for business owners and investors seeking U.S. status.
Languages
Services are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese through the firm’s attorneys.
Offices and Contact
The New Orleans office is at 1915 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at (504) 262-9878. The Lafayette office is at 2014 W. Pinhook Road, 7th Floor, and can be reached at (337) 310-0799. The firm’s website is gsimmigrationlaw.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kathleen Gasparian’s background with the AILA Mid-South Chapter mean for clients?
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national professional organization for immigration attorneys. Serving as chapter chair involves leadership and engagement with policy developments, government liaison activities, and professional standards in immigration law. For clients, it reflects that the firm’s lead attorney is actively engaged with the immigration law field at a professional leadership level, not only handling individual cases.
Does the firm handle higher education immigration as a distinct practice area?
Yes. Kathleen Gasparian served as Regulatory Ombudsperson for Scholar Issues for NAFSA Region III, which is the professional organization for international education administrators. Universities and colleges with international faculty, researchers, and students have specific immigration needs, and the firm has experience navigating the specific regulatory frameworks that apply to J-1 exchange visitors, H-1B workers at universities, and OPT for students.
Can the firm assist with employer immigration compliance, such as I-9 audits?
Yes. The firm advises businesses on worksite enforcement compliance, including E-Verify enrollment and use, I-9 form completion and retention, and responses to government audits. With increasing immigration enforcement activity directed at employers, this is a growing area of need for businesses that employ non-U.S. workers.
How does the firm’s boutique structure affect client service?
The firm’s stated commitment to communication includes being accessible and promptly returning calls and emails. A boutique structure with a small attorney team means clients interact directly with the attorneys handling their cases rather than with case managers or intake staff at a high-volume practice.
What is the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and does the firm practice there?
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is the federal appellate court covering Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Immigration petitions for review, when a client challenges an adverse immigration court or BIA decision in federal court, go to the circuit court of appeals covering the location of the immigration court. The firm’s attorneys are admitted to practice before the Fifth Circuit, allowing them to handle federal appellate immigration matters.