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Partner Profiles

Photo of Eric K. CoplandEric K. Copland, Esq.

Eric graduated from Harvard Law School in 1969, he began his legal career at the firm of Thacher Proffitt and Wood on Wall Street in New York City. As an associate in the Litigation Department, Eric was exposed to a wide variety of class action and multi-district cases in federal and state courts in such areas as securities fraud, insurance, admiralty, and real estate.

Around 1976, Eric was assigned to represent a child whose visa application was denied by the US Consulate in London. A Consular officer told Eric that the basis of the denial (exclusion by reason of insanity) resulted from the child's medical condition (autism). After researching these areas, Eric submitted a waiver application and convinced the Public Health Service in Atlanta that the child's autism was a form of mental retardation, not a form of insanity. The Consulate then issued a visa to the child, who was able to join his parents in the USA.

Following this initial exposure to US immigration law, Eric began to assist Thacher Proffitt's multinational clients in obtaining work permits and visas for their employees. As his immigration practice grew, Eric learned of a bar association devoted exclusively to immigration law, whose members had litigated many of the leading cases in immigration law and who were willing to guide members on the complexities of immigration law. On April 20, 1978, Eric became a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA"), which was known at that time as the Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers. On April 15, 1980, Eric opened his law office in Albany, New York and limited his practice to matters involving US immigration and nationality laws.

Even though his office was in upstate New York, Eric retained his membership in AILA's New York City Chapter. As one born in New York City to immigrant parents, Eric believes that AILA's New York City Chapter is an important voice in the current national debate on immigration matters. Eric is also a member of the American, New York State, and Albany County Bar Associations. Eric is admitted to practice in the federal courts for the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Eric has received the highest rating (av) from the Martindale-Hubbell Directory of Lawyers.

Eric taught Immigration Law and was Adjunct Professor at Albany Law School from 1991 to 1994. In addition, Eric speaks at public and professional gatherings on immigration matters. Eric is a dedicated PC user and has been avidly exploring the Internet since 1994. Eric is committed to using the Internet's resources to deliver legal services to clients in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Email Eric at eric.k.copland@coplandandbrenner.com

Photo of Eric K. CoplandBarbara C. Brenner, Esq.

Following Barbara's 1989 cum laude graduation from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, her legal career has focused solely upon US immigration and nationality law. As an associate attorney at Eric K. Copland's office, Barbara handled a broad range of immigration matters involving businesses, individuals, families and organizations. In 1994, Eric and Barbara formed the partnership of Copland and Brenner. Please see the Firm Profile for details concerning its commitment to provide quality services.

In addition to being a member of the New York State and Massachusetts bars, Barbara has been admitted to practice in the federal court for the Northern District of New York. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association (New York City and Upstate New York chapters), Albany County Bar Association and Capital District Women's Bar Association. In addition, Barbara is a member of the Albany County Bar Association's Speakers Bureau.

Barbara recognizes the benefits that advanced technologies, including the Internet, offer on behalf of the firm's clients. In first using the Internet's resources in 1994, Barbara obtained persuasive documentation in support of a complex asylum application being considered by the Immigration Court. The Immigration Judge granted asylum at the hearing. Since that time, Barbara has utilized the Internet concerning other clients' immigration matters. If you have any suggestions concerning Internet resources that relate to your case, please let Barbara know of them.

Email Barbara at barbara.c.brenner@coplandandbrenner.com