John Pratt

Kurzban Kurzban Weinger Tetzeli & Pratt P.A. is a "boutique" Miami, Florida-based law firm that represents clients in the United States and throughout the world.  The firm has achieved great success by concentrating its energy and experience in immigration law, personal injury, business and commercial law, and maritime law. Our lawyers have achieved record-breaking settlements and verdicts and have established many legal precedents through their appellate work.  (Visit our Verdicts & Settlements page for examples of our firm's success in fighting for our clients and our Appellate Decisions page for legal precedents set by our lawyers.)

Our firm has grown to ten attorneys, each of which has made a mark on the Florida legal system. Our attorneys are consistently listed in the Best Lawyers in America, the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, the Who's Who of the World, the Who's Who of America, Strathmore's Who's Who, and the South Florida Legal Guide as South Florida's most prominent attorneys. We never let our acclaim get in the way of personal service; every client receives close, personal attention from our skilled attorneys.

The founding and managing partner, Marvin Kurzban , has been representing plaintiffs in a variety of types of personal injury lawsuits since 1970. His litigation successes have established records for medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Among his more celebrated cases are numerous suits against state and federal government agencies.

One of the firm's partners, Ira J. Kurzban, has been recognized by the National Law Journal, the American Lawyer, Newsweek, Time, and Esquire magazines for his public interest trial work in the immigration field on behalf of refugees seeking asylum in the United States. Mr. Kurzban was instrumental in revolutionizing immigration law, helping change it from a small area of law to a legal field that helps thousands of individuals and businesses make positive contributions to American society.

Partner Steven M. Weinger is nationally known for his work preserving and expanding services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Mr. Weinger represents, and is on the board of, several large charitable and private organizations for the disabled, including educational institutions, advocacy groups for the disabled, and non-profit health care providers.

Partner Helena Tetzeli has made a name for herself in the immigration field and represents many individuals and organizations in various civil, commercial, and immigration matters. She was recognized as one of the country's best lawyers in the publication “The Best Lawyers in America" in the field of Immigration Law.

You would be hard-pressed to find a more passionate, experienced group of attorneys in Florida. To learn more about our partners or read about the firm's six other lawyers, please see our Attorneys page. Better yet, contact us today in order to learn more about our firm, our attorneys, and why we are an excellent choice to represent you in your legal matter. Call for your consultation.

BIO

John Patrick Pratt received his Bachelors of Arts from Florida State University with honors in 1994. He graduated from Tulane University School of Law, receiving his juris doctor degree in 1997. Mr. Pratt also studied abroad at the University of Paris, and is fluent in Spanish. Mr. Pratt is admitted to the bar of the State of Florida, District of Columbia, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the American Bar Association.

Mr. Pratt has appeared numerous times on local, national, and international television as a commentator analyzing immigration and nationality law matters. He is a frequent speaker in immigration matters in national and local conferences. In addition, Mr. Pratt's biography has been selected for inclusion in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, and the South Florida Legal Guide selected him as an Up-and-Coming Attorney. Furthermore, has been selected as one of the top attorneys in Immigration and Nationality law by the publication Best Lawyers in America and is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell that indicates the highest level of legal ability & ethics.

Mr. Pratt concentrates in all areas of immigration and nationality law, including employment based immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions, deportation or removal, and federal court litigation.

Published Articles:

• Getting the Facts on Your Client: FOIA and Criminal Records Searches, Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2005-06 Ed., pp. 53-66 (2005).
• Cancellation of Removal of Non-Lawful Permanent Residents, Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook, AILA, 2004-05 Ed., pp. 143-149 (2004).
• Non-immigrant Waivers Under Section 212(d)(3) of the immigration and Nationality Act, 26th Annual Immigration Law Update, Florida Bar and AILA, pp. 9.1-9.15 (2005).
• Naturalization and Denaturalization, 24th Annual Immigration Law Update, Florida Bar and AILA, pp. 10.1-10.15 (2003).

Attorney John Pratt is featured in the 2009 Class of Top Lawyers published by the South Florida Legal Guide.

Areas of Practice:

Administrative Law

Business Organizations

Constitutional Law

Criminal Law

Employment Law -- Employee

Employment Law -- Employer

Family Law

Immigration & Naturalization Law

Bar Admissions:

Florida, 1998

District of Columbia, 1999

U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1998

U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1998

U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2002

U.S. Supreme Court, 2001

Education:

Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1997
J.D.

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA, 1994
B.A.
Major:  Philosophy

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Motions to Reopen & Reconsider: Strategies That Work, 2009 AILA Annual Immigration Law Update

Update on Relief from Removal: 212(h), 212(i), 237(a)(1)(H), & Cancellation of Removal, 30th Annual Immigration Law Update

Applying for Relief before the Courts, USCIS, or Consulates, 29th Annual Immigration Law Update

Featured speaker at the 26th and 24th Annual Immigration Law Update on 2005 and 2003, respectively, Florida Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Featured speaker at the 2005 and 2004 Annual Immigration Seminar, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

I-601 Waiver Workshop: How to Prepare & File Documentation, 2007 AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law

BIA & Federal Court Update: Strategies for Dealing with Bad Precedent - Business & Enforcement, 28th Annual Immigration Law Update

The Road to Naturalization, AILA Fundamentals Conference

Naturalization or Derivative Status, 2003 AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law

Honors and Awards:

Certified by the Florida Bar as a "Specialist" in Immigration and Nationality Law

Florida Monthly Magazine as one of Florida's Top Lawyers, 2008

Best Lawyers in America - Immigration, 2005 - 2009

Who's Who in American Law; The Marquis Who'sWho Publication Board, 2002, 2005, 2009

Who's Who in the World

Top Up & Comers - Attorney, South Florida Legal Guide, 2008, 2009

AV Peer Review Rated - Preminent Rating Ethics & Legal Ability; Martindale-Hubbell

Who's Who Legal-Official Research Partner of the International Bar Association, Law Business Research Ltd., 2008

Board Certification in Immigration & Nationality Law, The Florida Bar, 2005

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Bar Association, 1998 - Present

Member

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 1999 - Present

Member

Board of Directors of AILA South Florida Chapter

Member