Steffanie J. Lewis is a founding attorney, vice president and secretary of IBLF and, since 1999, has been General Counsel to Baltia Air Lines, Inc., a U.S. start up airline. Previously, from 1983 to 1988, Steffanie held the office of General Counsel, Director of Legislative Affairs and Administration in the HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ("HAI"). From 1965 to 1975, Steffanie was a 50% owner of PARKAIR, INC. (a third-level air carrier serving the North Gulf coast of Alaska) and, from 1980 - 1988 was the owner operator of a commercial salmon seining business in Alaska.

At IBLF, in addition to a corporate role, Ms. Lewis supervises all immigration work. She currently represents several clients in the Fourth and Ninth Circuits on immigration implications of fraud, due process, and statute interpretation.

Ms. Lewis is, and has been, counsel to several corporations, including an international trade association, an international foundation, an international computer demographic marketing corporation, a U.S. airline with international routes, an international artist & company, a national medical laboratory, a national self defense association, and numerous individuals with claims in products liability, aviation and real estate contract, medical malpractice, and numerous criminal offenses.

As counsel, she negotiated numerous business agreements with client's vendors, customers, partners, joint venture entities, as well as government regulatory agencies. She represented an airline in the DOT route selection process and participated in U.S.- Russia air transport bilateral negotiations. Steffanie has litigated employee/employer termination issues, contract, fraud, products liability, negligence, personal injury, Constitutional issues, and criminal matters including Federal Court appeals with maximum civil claims in excess of $10 Million U.S. dollars. In separate arbitration matters, she has served as attorney and AAA arbitrator.

Ms. Lewis had lobbied in U.S. Congress, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, and Department of Interior while at HAI. She has drafted private placements, prepared an IPO under SB-2, files SEC corporate quarterly reports with Edgar, has obtained Blue Sky registrations in numerous states and obtained Nasdaq SmallCap listing. She served as counsel in obtaining a five million dollar city bond.

Education:

LONDON WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL Air & Space Diploma 1981 (with merit)

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ECONOMICS, POLITICS & LAW Paris, France summer 1977

Areas of Practice

• 40% Immigration Law
• 40% Aviation Law & Regulation
• 20% Corporate Business Law

Litigation Percentage

• 40% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• California, 1979
• Alaska, 1979
• District of Columbia, 1982
• Virginia, 1989
• U.S. District Court District of Alaska, 1981
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1984
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1992
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1987
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1994

Education

• University of London, London, , England, 1981
  LL.M.
  
  
• California Western School of Law, San Diego, California, 1979
  Juris Doctor
  Honors: A.B.A.
  Honors: A.A.L.S.
  Law Journal: California Western International Law Journal, Lead Articles Editor
  
  
• University of Alaska, Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska, 1976
  M.B.A.
  
  
• Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia, 1958
  B.A.
  Honors: Summa Cum Laude
  Honors: Who's Who American Colleges and Universities
  Honors: Most Outstanding Junior Woman
  Honors: President of Women Students
  
  

Representative Clients

• Baltia Air Lines, Inc.

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Guest Speaker: "The Law of Association Publishing", The 2nd Annual ASAE Legal Symposium, Washington DC., 1988
• Panelist, American Arbitration Association, 1986

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2002
  
  
• American Bar Association, 1983 - 1989
  
  
• ABA Subcommittee on EEC '92, 1991
  Aviation Co-Chair
  
  
• ABA, 1985 - 1986
  Chair, Trade Association Subcommittee
  
  
• American Society of Association Executives ("ASAE") Legal Publication
  Trustee & Chair
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Helicopter Association International, General Counsel, 1983 - 1988
• Parkair, Owner, 1965 - 1975

Pro Bono Activities

• Immigation Court, 2003 - 2007
• AILA DC Chapter Outstanding Pro Bono Representative

Birth Information

• 1936, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, United States of America