Ron Abramson is Chair of Shaheen & Gordon’s Immigration Practice.
Ron Abramson began his career with the New Hampshire Public Defender Program before establishing himself as one of the State's preeminent immigration lawyers. In a career spanning 25+ years, Ron has handled a multitude of immigration, criminal defense, civil litigation, and international legal matters. Ron has also served as an international trade consultant, and as a law professor in the U.S. and abroad.
As a naturalized United States citizen, Ron's passion and main professional focus is immigration law. He has successfully obtained all manner of business and family-based visas, has taught at national training programs, and has litigated a number of cases all the way to the U.S. Circuit Courts.
From 2004-2006, Ron returned to his native Chile as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, where he taught courses relating to Chilean criminal justice reforms. While in Chile, Ron also was appointed New Hampshire's Commercial Consul to Chile by then-Governor John Lynch, serving as an international trade consultant.
In addition to his immigration practice, Ron has advised businesses concerning the implications of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (as well as other multi- and bilateral trade agreements), ITAR, distribution agreements, and contracts. He is one of the area's few native Spanish-speaking lawyers and is conversant in (slow) French.
Admissions
- New Hampshire State Bar
- U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire (member CJA Panel)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Career
- Counsel, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., 2019-Present
- Attorney/Founder, abramson IMMIGRATION+ SOLUTIONS, 2009-2019
- Of Counsel, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A., 2006-2009
- State of New Hampshire's Commercial Consul to Chile, 2005-2010
- International Practice Director, Albagli Zaliasnik, Santiago, Chile, 2005-2006
- Visiting Law Professor [Fulbright U.S. Scholar], Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile, 2004-2005
- Adjunct Professor, Franklin Pierce Law Center, 2000-2004
- Private Practice, 1998-2004
- Staff Attorney, New Hampshire Public Defender, 1993-1998
Professional Associations
- New Hampshire Bar Association
- American Immigration Lawyers Association – New Hampshire Congressional Liaison
- NH ACLU Legal Working Group, Member and monthly meeting coordinator
- National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers' Guild
- New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- U.S.-Chile Chamber of Commerce
Community Involvement
- NH Public Television, Board of Governors Secretary (Emeritus)
- Vote Now New Hampshire Hispanics, Founding Board Member (Emeritus)
- Vision Hispana (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), Board Member (Emeritus)
- Latin American Center, Former Board Member (Emeritus)
Awards & Honors
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 for work in Immigration Law
- Fulbright U.S. Scholar by the William J. Fulbright Commission, Diego Portales School of Law in Santiago, Chile
- Manchester Union Leader's "40 Under Forty" list, 2004
- Named New Hampshire's Best Immigration Lawyer by Business NH Magazine [as selected by legal peers], 2012
Education
- B.A., Emory University, 1990
- J.D., George Washington University, 1993
Publications & Presentations
- Co-Author, “Getting from There to Here: A Business Immigration Primer”, NH Bar Journal, 2008
- Author, "Federal Practice and Bankruptcy: ¡CUIDADO! Immigration Issues for Non-Immigration Lawyers in NH", New Hampshire Bar News, 2013
- Regular guest, New Hampshire Public Radio's "The Exchange with Laura Knoy"
- Frequent media contributor and public speaker
- Regular presenter at international student orientation at area colleges and universities
Representative Cases
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is different and case results referred to in this website are not intended to be, nor should they be understood as, a representation that equivalent results will be achieved in any given case.
- Co-counsel on multiple actions involving non-citizens unlawfully detained by local police, all recently settled with financial compensation and updated policies regarding contact by local police
- Obtained rare S Visa (fewer than 100 granted nationally per year)
- Successfully vacated jury verdicts and terminated removal proceedings for client convicted of Sale of Controlled Drugs to a police informant
- Vacated felony pleas and convictions and subsequently terminated removal proceedings for client who was not properly advised of immigration consequences of his criminal convictions in Superior Court
- Obtained O Visa for former top-ranked international athlete
- Co-counsel in pro bono federal mandamus litigation involving expedited naturalization of active-duty non-citizen military service members
- Obtained asylum protection for homosexual client who was beaten by the police and their own family in native country on account of their sexual orientation
- Regularly assist clients who’ve had contact with the criminal justice system navigate immigration processes, international travel, and naturalization
- Represent international college and university students in criminal cases in order to avoid jeopardizing their visa status
- Vacated 30+-year-old felony conviction via novel legal theory to permit client to become a lawful permanent resident after nearly 40 years in the United States
- Obtained United States citizenship for client who was nearly deported and who was then denied twice previously before engaging us
- Convinced the Department of Justice to dismiss federal conspiracy charges due to misidentification
- Helped spare individual from removal/deportation by advising criminal defense counsel about immigration consequences up until just moments before counsel and client appeared in court
- Submitted petition for employment visa for PhD scientist for startup, obtaining approval within 48 hours of filing
- Served as local counsel in federal habeas corpus proceedings, achieving government’s agreement to hold bond hearing to permit client to argue for release from immigration detention
