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Joel Stewart

Joel Stewart

Mr. Stewart has a wide range of private, corporate and government clients. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, and French, Mr. Stewart resolves complex legal problems by focusing on subtle distinctions in the regulations and guidance of government agencies. 

 

While his clients have come from virtually every country in the world since 1980, Mr. Stewart has received many honors from his American colleagues as well as the Brazilian government, whom he serves as Legal Advisor to the Brazilian Consulate General in Miami and was Honorary Consul of Brazil in Orlando from 2017-2022. 

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Prior to becoming a U.S. attorney based in Florida, Mr. Stewart worked as a Russian teacher from 1967-1980 in Stamford, Connecticut, where he honed his fluency in Russian while traveling to the Soviet Union and studying Slavic Linguistics and Literature at New York University. 

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Bar Admissions

 

Connecticut, 1980

Florida, 1981

U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1989

U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1989

U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1989 

U.S. Supreme Court, 1989

U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 1989

U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1980

Experience

Attorney at Law

1980 - Current

Member of the Florida and Connecticut State Bar, as well as Federal District Courts in Connecticut & Florida, U.S. 2nd and 11th Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court, practicing federal law throughout the U.S.

Brazilian Consulate General

2000 - 2022

Official advisor for the  Consulate General in Miami, Florida, providing orientations on U.S. and Brazilian Consular law to all consular sectors and performing humanitarian consular visits to Brazilians in hospitals and prisons.

Honorary Consul of Brazil

2017 - 2022

Appointed as Honorary Consul for the Brazilian Government in  by the President of the Brazilian Republic. Diplomatic credentials and immunity confirmed  by the  U.S. State Departments and  the Brazilian Foreign Ministry. 

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law

1977-1980

Graduated with a diploma J.D. (Doctor Juris) 

The University of San Diego

1979 (Summer Program)

Master Institute On International And Comparative Law

New York University

Dept. of Slavic Languages

1965-1970

Master & A.B.D. in Slavic Languages and Literature

Emmanuel College,

Boston, Massachusetts

1966-1968

Master & A.B.D. in Slavic Languages and Literature

American International College

1966

Bachelors of Arts

English and Russian

Special Awards

Who's Who Legal

Corporate Immigration

Law Peer Review, 2012

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Chair, Immigration Law Committee

Exceptional Service

Dade County Bar Association 2006-2007

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President, South Florida Chapter

American Immigration Lawyers Association Distinguished & Devoted Service,  1989-1990

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Peer Recognition, Florida Leading Attorney

Exceptional Service

Florida Consumer Guidebook

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Chair, Immigration Law Committee

Exceptional Service

Dade County Bar Association 2006-2007

​​Florida Eleventh Judicial District Circuit

Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee
Miami, FL - 2013 

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Medal of Rio Doce

​​Outstanding Service as a Member

of The Faculty - 2020

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Brazilian Community Heritage Foundation

​​Personalidade do Ano / Best of the Year - 2024

2024-Personalidade-do-Ano-Joel-Stewart_e

Associations

Portuguese Chamber of Commerce

Santa Clara Valley, California

Member, 1995-1998

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Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association

Special RecognitionMember, 1980

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Certificate in Good Standing

Member, 1980

Publications

2023

  • Guide to Leading American Attorneys Florida

  • Manual on Labor Certification Practice & Procedure Co-Edited Robert B & Daryl B

  • Projeto do Livro Sobre Imigração

  • Representing Professionals Before The Department of Labor, Appeals: Joel Stewart

  • The David Stanton Manual on Labor Certification 2nd Edition, Associate Editors: Joel Stewart

  • Vistos de Estudantes Pedidos e Perigos

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2022

  • Corporate Immigration 2022, 9th Edition

       The New PERM: High-Tech Phenomenon, Joel Stewart, Fakhoury Global Immigration, USA, PC

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2021

  • Corporate Immigration 2021, 8th Edition

       PERM Law in Viral America, Joel Stewart, Fakhoury Global Immigration, USA, PC

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2020

  • Corporate Immigration 2020, 7th Edition

       PERM Law in Viral America, Joel Stewart, Fakhoury Global Immigration, USA, PC

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2018

  • Orange County Government, Orlando, Florida

       Brazil-Florida Economic Summit

 

2017

  • AILA Central Florida Chapter, 31th Annual Immigration Law Conference

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2016

  • Global Business Immigration Practice Guide, 2016 Edition

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2015

  • Global Business Immigration Practice Guide, 2015 Edition

  • St. Thomas University School of Law Certificate of Appreciation

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2013

  • Global Business Immigration Practice Guide, 2013 Edition 

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2012

  • The Consular Practice Handbook

  • Immigration Consequences of Criminal Prosecutions

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2010

  • 24th Annual Fall Conference AILA Central Florida Chapter

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2009

  • Annual AILA Central Florida Chapter Seminar

  • The Permanent Foreign Labor Certification Program Puerto Rico, PERM ADM 2009-130

  • 23rd Annual AILA Central Florida Chapter Seminar, Central Florida Chapter, 2009

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2008

  • ILW Perm Workshop, Discussion Leader: Joel Stewart

  • The Perm Workshop, Discussion Leader: Joel Stewart

  • Who's Who Legal, The International of who's who of Business Lawyers, 2008 Edition

  • The Visa Processing Guide and Consular Post Handbook, 2008-09 Edition

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2007

  • Who's Who Legal

  • AILA 21th Annual Fall Conference, Central Florida Chapter, 2007

  • The Visa Processing Guide and Consular Post Handbook, 2007-08 Edition

  • The Visa Processing Guide Process and Procedure at U.S. Consulates and Embassies, Seventh Edition

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2006

  • The Visa Processing Guide and Consular Post Handbook, 2006-07 Edition

  • The Visa Processing Guide Process and Procedure at U.S. Consulates and Embassies, Sixth Edition

  • Who's Who Legal, The International of who's who of Business Lawyers, 2006 Edition 

  • 27th Annual Immigration Law Update, 2006

  • ILW The Perm Workshop San Antonio

  • The Perm Quarterly - June

  • The Perm Quarterly - September

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2005

  • Who's Who Legal, The International of who's who of Business Lawyers, 2005 Edition 

  • 26th Annual Immigration Law Update, 2005

  • AILA DC Chapter, Spring Conference 2005

  • PERM: Strategic Objectives and Best Practices

  • The Visa Processing Guide and Consular Post Handbook, 2005-06 Edition

  • Immigration Law Practice, Obtaining Labor Certification and Immigrant Visas

  • ILW Immigration Monthly, PERM Book, December, 2005

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2004​

  • 25th Annual Immigration Law Update, 2004

  • International Law Section, Florida Bar, Miami, Florida

  • Labor Certification, PERM & BALCA Update

  • The Visa Processing Guide, Process and Procedure at U.S. Consulates and Embassies, 2004-05 Edition

 

2003/4

  • Who's Who Legal, The International of Who's who of Business Lawyers, 2003/4 Edition

  • 25th Annual Immigration Law Update - Course 5399 R 

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2003​

  • 24th Annual Immigration Law Update, 2003

  • Labor Certification & BALCA Update

  • The Visa Processing Guide, Process and Procedure at U.S. Consulates and Embassies, 2003-04 Edition

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2002

  • Who's Who Legal, The International of Who's who of Business Lawyers, 2002 Edition 

  • 16th Annual Immigration Law Conference, Central Florida Chapter, 2002

  • Update on Prevailing Wage

  • 2002 AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law

  • 23rd Annual Immigration Law Update, 2002

  • BALCA Update 2001

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2000

  • 14th Annual Immigration Law Seminar, Central Florida Chapter, 2000

  • 21th Annual Immigration Law Update, 2000

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1999

  • 13th Advanced Conference on Immigration Law, 1999 Central Florida Chapter

  • 20th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1999

 

1998

  • 19th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1998

 

1997

  • 18th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1997

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1996

  • 17th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1996

  • Consumer Guide, Law & Leading Attorneys, Florida 1996-1997

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1995

  • 16th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1995

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1994

  • 15th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1994

  • Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook 1994-95, Volume I, Immigration Basis

 

1993

  • Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook 1993-94 Volume I, Immigration Basis

  • Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook 1993-94 Volume II, Advanced Practice

  • 14th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1993

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1992

  • 13th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1992

  • Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook 1992-93 Volume I, Immigration Basis

 

1991

  • 12th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1991

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1990

  • 11th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1990

  • Immigration Law In Florida, Background to the Immigration Act of 1990

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1989

  • The 10th Annual Immigration Law Update, 1989

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1988

  • The Ninth Annual Immigration Law Update, 1988

  • Immigration Law Seminar, 1988

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1987

  • The Eighth Annual Immigration Law Update, 1987​​

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1983

  • Immigration Law for Florida Personnel Managers

  • Stamford, Connecticut

 

Other Publications

  • Guide to Leading American Attorneys Florida

  • Manual on Labor Certification Practice & Procedure Co-Edited Robert B & Daryl B

  • Projeto do Livro Sobre Imigração

  • Representing Professionals Before The Department of Labor, Appeals: Joel Stewart

  • The David Stanton Manual on Labor Certification 2nd Edition, Associate Editors: Joel Stewart

  • Vistos de Estudantes Pedidos e Perigos

  • The Visa Processing Guide Process and Procedure at U.S. Consulates and Embassies, Eight Edition

Conferences & Presentations

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2022

  • Hope and Justice Foundation, Certificate of Achievement

  • Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat Training Program

  • Miami, Florida

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2019

  • Speaker, Atos Notariais, Apostilas e Traducoes Oficiais, Um Estudo Conmpleto

  • OAB, Sorocaba, Brazil

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2017

  • Speaker, AILA Central Florida Chapter,

       31st Annual Immigration Law Conference, Orlando, Florida

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2015

  • Speaker, Doing Business in Brazil Business and Legal background

  • St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami, Florida

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2013​

  • Speaker, 27th Annual Immigration Law Conference AILA Central Florida Chapter

  • Clearwater, Florida

 

2010

  • Speaker, AILA Central Florida Chapter,

  • 24th Annual Fall Conference, Clearwater, Florida

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2011

  • Participant, Team Florida Business Trade Mission to Brazil

  • Sao Paulo, Brazil

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2004

  • Speaker, Florida Yacht Brokers Marcine Counsel and the Law Seminar

  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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