Donald K. Sheppard
Donald K. Sheppard is a graduate of New York Law School where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. Prior to law school, Mr. Sheppard completed his undergraduate work in Economics at Marshall University, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Mr. Sheppard also had minors in Communications and Accounting. Mr. Sheppard is admitted to practice law in the State of California, U.S. Court of Appeal (9th Circuit), and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
Mr. Sheppard moved from New York after graduating from Law School and began the practice of immigration and nationality law at the Law Offices of Jan Joseph Bejar, A PLC, in San Diego as an Attorney. Mr. Sheppard has also worked at Mark Fish & Associates in New York City. Mr. Sheppard’s experience at both locations included employment-based immigration, family-based immigration and removal defense. He has also argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2006 Mr. Sheppard joined the firm now known as Larrabee | Mehlman | Albi | Coker LLP as an Associate. He was subsequently promoted to Senior Associate. During his experience, he specialized in immigration matters for corporate clients and was responsible for client management, including nonimmigrant matters such as H-1B, TN, E, H-3, B-1, L-1, O and P visa classifications, as well as employment-based immigrant petitions, such as labor certifications, multinational executives/managers, extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, and national interest waiver petitions.
Mr. Sheppard joined the firm Jacobs Schlesinger Ople & Sheppard LLP (formerly Jacobs & Schlesinger LLP) as a Partner in March 2009. His practice is focused on all aspects of employment-based and family-based immigration, as well as removal defense, naturalization, and assistance with consular issues. Mr. Sheppard has more than seven years of experience has been certified as a Legal Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Mr. Sheppard is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and currently serves as Vice Chair for the San Diego Chapter of AILA. Mr. Sheppard is also part of the San Diego District USCIS liaison committee and is the current Chair of the local advocacy committee for the San Diego Chapter of AILA. In addition, he previously served as the Co-Chair of the Planning Committee for the 20th Annual AILA California Chapters conference held in San Diego in 2007 and as a committee member of the Planning Committee for the 21st Annual AILA California Chapters Conference held in San Francisco in November 2008. Mr. Sheppard also spoke at both conferences and served as the Discussion Leader for a panel at the 21st Annual AILA California Chapters Conference.
