Adriana Kostencki

Adriana Kostencki, an attorney licensed both in Venezuela and the U.S., is a partner whose practice focuses on a wide range of complex commercial matters including transnational litigation,  and jurisdictional disputes. Adriana also handles intellectual property disputes involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Adriana’s experience crosses borders, languages and cultures. She is a multilingual attorney licensed to practice in Venezuela who provides valuable insight into Latin American – U.S. business transactions and relationships. Adriana manages a diverse clientele comprised of individual, start-up, mid-size, and large multinational companies encompassing a broad range of industry sectors, including shipping, technology, media advertising, finance, construction, and professional services. She represents both domestic and international clients, including foreign companies doing business in the United States, cargo carriers, shipping companies, and marina and terminal operators in commercial, litigation and maritime matters before both state and federal courts.

Additionally, Adriana leads the firm’s business immigration practice to assist U.S. businesses obtain work visas and permanent residence for highly-skilled foreign workers. These foreign professionals include engineers, executives, chief financial officers, management analysts, financial analysist, chemists, economists, and other highly-qualified professionals all of whom bring a wealth of fresh ideas, talents, and skill sets to benefit U.S. business operations and promote cultural diversity. Adriana also advises high net-worth individuals on challenges and opportunities presented by the EB-5 investor program.

Adriana regularly appears as a legal commentator in local and national media such as Univision, TV Venezuela, and El Venezolano TV, and writes regularly on legal immigration and Latin America issues for El Nuevo Herald.

Adriana is the current President of the Venezuelan American National Bar Association.

Contact

D: 954 246 4890

Akostencki@nklawflorida.com

J.D. equivalent , with honors, Universidad Catolica Venezuela

J.D., magna cum laude, University of Miami School of Law

Venezuela

Florida

U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida

Somero Ent. v. Stoltzfus (M.D. Fla., Ft. Myers), patent case involving concrete hose pullers

Silver Streak Trailer Co. v. Airstream Inc.(S.D. Fla., Ft. Pierce), represent Airstream in trade dress declaratory judgment action

Successfully represented numerous employers before the U.S. Department of Labor in matters under the new PERM labor certification procedures for permanent foreign national employment.

Advised a multinational conglomerate regarding immigration implications of acquiring new U.S. subsidiaries and obtained necessary visa approvals to facilitate transfer of high-level executives to newly acquired companies from overseas.

Advised a rapidly growing international software engineering conglomerate and start-up biotech company on issues related to temporary and permanent/indefinite employment of foreign national engineers, and designed strategies to meet employer objectives while addressing the challenging visa climate.

Organized numerous client presentations onsite and by distance learning to update key HR personnel on recent USCIS, DOL, CPB, and ICE developments.

Advised an international shoe manufacturer and supplier regarding immigration strategies and obtained necessary visa approvals to facilitate transfer of high-level executives and managers to U.S.-affiliated companies from overseas. Also obtained visa approvals for foreign professional workers including scientists, marketing managers, and IT professionals.

Advised several multinational clients on strategy to obtain blanket L qualification for worldwide subsidiaries transferring workers to the U.S. Advised on blanket L renewal/amendment issues in light of complex corporate organizational changes. Successfully petitioned for initial blanket L qualifications for multinationals, and renewed and amended blanket L approvals as necessary. Advised on individual employee cases falling under the blanket L approvals and facilitated transfers to the U.S. Advised on compliance needed for individuals transferred under the blanket L approval where corporate reorganization altered the relationship among U.S. and foreign affiliates.

Strategized with various companies needing visa alternatives for foreign employees impacted by the H-1B cap.

Florida Super Lawyers“Rising Star”, Thompson Reuters Super Lawyers, 2015-2018

Daily Business ReviewProfessional Excellence Award, On the Rise Honoree, 2018

2016-2017 Leadership Academy Fellow, The Florida Bar Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy, Class IV.

Miami Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, 2014-2016.

Children’s Home Society of Florida, 2014-2016.

Competition Judge, We the People Competition: The Citizen and the Constitution, High School Hearings

Venezuelan American National Bar Association (VENAMBAR), President (2016-2018), Secretary (2013-2016)

Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce- President Ex-Officio (2014-2015), Secretary (2012-2014), Board Member (2011-Present), President (Present)

The Florida Bar, Admiralty Law Committee (2011-2017)

Connect Florida Statewide Leadership Institute Class VII (Present)

Ibero-American Maritime Law Association

Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute

American Immigration Law Association

Member, Law360 Immigration Editorial Advisory Board

Honorary Board Member, Alfalit International

ACG South Florida Woman Connect

Berger Singerman, LLP.

Fowler White Burnett, P.A.

Clyde & Co, LLP. (Venezuela)

Doing Business in Florida, “Beginning April 2, 2018, U.S. Companies May File H-1B Petitions on Behalf of Their Prospective Foreign Workers”

January 4, 2018

Doing Business in Florida, “USCIS to Begin Accepting Applications Under the International Entrepreneur Rule”

December 20, 2017

El Nuevo Herald, “Evite realizar transacciones con clientes que estén en la lista de la OFAC”

December 17, 2017

Doing Business in Florida, “DHS and DOS Implementation of Executive Order Imposing Travel and Refugee Ban”

October 19, 2017

Doing Business in Florida, “Business Immigration Updates for U.S. Corporations and Foreign Investors”

October 12, 2017

Miami Herald, “Gov. Scott’s resolution on the Maduro regime is a step toward protecting Florida businesses”

September 17, 2017

El Nuevo Herald, “Extensión del programa EB-5 vence el 30 de septiembre de 2017”

June 17, 2017

Daily Business Review, “Business Owners: Keep a Close Eye on H-1B Visa Program Changes”

May 26, 2017

Daily Business Review “What Businesses Should Know About H-1B Visa Bill”

March 14, 2017

VentureBeat “Tech industry faces new H-1B visa reality”

March 13, 2017

El Nuevo Herald “Immigration Options: Employers Must Consider E-2 Visas”

March 9, 2017

Doing Business in Florida, “Beginning April 3, 2017, U.S. companies may file H-1B petitions on behalf of their prospective foreign workers”

January 26, 2017

El Nuevo Herald “H1-B Visa Petitions Begin in April”

January 24, 2017

South Florida Legal Guide – 2017 Edition, “The Tax Yin to the Immigration Yang”

January 5, 2017

Miami Herald, “A Venezuelan-born lawyer recounts her path to U.S. citizenship, and a few lessons learned along the way”

December 4, 2016

CNN quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Trump is sending humanitarian aid to Venezuela. Venezuelans in the US say they need help, too”

February 17, 2019

CNN Espanol quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Los venezolanos en Estados Unidos dicen que también necesitan ayuda y esta es su realidad”

February 16, 2019

The American Prospect quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Trump Is Tough on Venezuela — but Won’t Let Fleeing Venezuelans Into the U.S.”

February 12, 2019

Univision quotes Adriana Kostencki en, “Un proyecto de ley bipartidista pide protección temporal para los venezolanos que huyen de la crisis de su país”

December 13, 2018

The Pew Charitable Trusts quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Venezuelan Immigrants Get Trump Sympathy but Not Status “

November 1, 2018

Adriana Kostencki quoted in, “USCIS aclara confuso requisito para solicitud de ciudadanía de esposos de estadounidenses”

October 13, 2018

Adriana Kostencki joins as Honorary Board Member for Alfalit International

July 10, 2018

Thirty-One Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2018 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers

June 18, 2018

Miami Herald quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “They don’t care if I die of hunger in Venezuela.’ Woman and family face deportation”

June 13, 2018

Daily Business Review interviews Adriana Kostencki in “On the Rise”

May 7, 2018

McClatchy DC Bureau quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Trump administration deports Venezuelans while pledging aid”

April 24, 2018

Berger Singerman’s Adriana Kostencki Named an ‘On The Rise’ Honoree by Daily Business Review

April 9, 2018

El Nuevo Herald interviews Adriana Kostencki in, “Estas son las mejores opciones que tienen los venezolanos para vivir en EEUU”

April 6, 2018

Berger Singerman’s Litigation Department and Adriana Kostencki Recognized in the Daily Business Review 2018 Professional Excellence Awards

March 29, 2018

El Nuevo Herald quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Si tiene título universitario y quiere trabajar en EEUU, esta puede ser su oportunidad”

February 9, 2018

Miami Herald quotes Adriana Kostenck in, “Activists push for TPS for Venezuelans, but how viable is that option, really?”

August 22, 2017

El Nuevo Herald quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Todos hablan del TPS pero, ¿qué tan viable es para los venezolanos?”

August 20, 2017

Oscar Haza from Mega TV interviews Adriana Kostencki in, “Venezolanos en EE.UU. enfrentan diferentes retos migratorios”

August 10, 2017

El Nuevo Herald quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “Buscan firmas de apoyo para impulsar alivio migratorio a venezolanos en EEUU”

July 30, 2017

Law360 mentions Adriana Kostencki in, “Fla. Gov. Details Plan To Bar State Investment In Venezuela”

July 28, 2017

Law360 quotes Adriana Kostencki in, “The Biggest Immigration Policy Developments In 2017 So Far”

July 5, 2017

Thirty-Two Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2017 Super Lawyers Florida Edition

June 9, 2017

Law360 mentions Adriana Kostencki on, “Trump’s H-1B Order May Not Boost Jobs For Americans”

April 19, 2017

Telemundo interviews Adriana Kostencki on “There are 85,000 H-1B visas for work in the United States”

March 20, 2017

El Nuevo Herald interviews Adriana Kostencki for article “Venezuelan Entrepreneurs Find Niche in Florida”

March 3, 2017

Berger Singerman’s Adriana Kostencki Elected President of The Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce

January 23, 2017

South Florida Business & Wealth quotes Adriana Kostencki on “A Better Life”

September 5, 2016

Berger Singerman Establishes Business Immigration Practice with Addition of Prominent Attorney Adriana Kostencki

July 14, 2016

Daily Business review mentions Adriana Kostencki on “Berger Singerman Forms Immigration Practice With Venezuelan Bar Head”

July 14, 2016

Adriana Kostencki installed as President of Venezuelan American National Bar Assocation in Miami

July 14, 2016

“The future belongs to those who can hear it coming”

— David Bowie

MIAMI · FT. LAUDERDALE · WEST PALM BEACH
admin@nklawflorida.com