Rio Guerrero named one of ‘best lawyers under 40’

Rio receives his award as witnessed by his wife Joan and mother Rosario Guerrero.

Rio M. Guerrero, Esq. was a 2012 recipient of the Best Lawyers Under 40 Award presented by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) to “talented and accomplished” lawyers.

Rio received his award at NAPABA’s 24th Anniversary Gala Banquet in Washington D.C. on November 17, an event attended by leading Asian American lawyers, judges, business leaders, and politicians, such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Denny Chin. He accepted his award in the presence of his wife Joan and his mother Dr. Rosario Guerrero.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this distinguished national award,” said Rio, who has been practicing immigration law for 15 years. His law firm Guerrero Yee LLP has an office in Manhattan. “It is an overwhelming feeling to be included among the most accomplished attorneys and judges in this country.”

NAPABA President Wendy Shiba congratulated Rio on his award. She said, “You truly deserve it. You are a champion of the (Asian Pacific American) community.”
Rio’s law firm has represented companies, organizations and individuals with U.S. visa, work permit, green card and other immigration-related matters, proud that he and his law partners are “descendants of immigrants.”

In 2012, the Filipino-American National Historical Society (FANHS) honored him with the Contributions to Excellence Award, recognizing his success as an attorney and his pro bono service to the Filipino American community.

Rio is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association New York Chapter. He founded and co-chairs the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) Immigration and Nationality Law Committee.

Since 2007, he has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at the City University of New York School of Professional Studies. An Edward V. Sparer Fellow at the Brooklyn Law School, Rio holds a baccalaureate degree in Economics and a second one in International Studies as a Dean’s Scholar of The American University of Washington D.C.

AABANY President Jean Lee said she was “thrilled to see talented and deserving AABANY members being recognized by NAPABA.” Executive Director Yang Chen echoed Lee, saying, “We have always been fortunate to count some highly accomplished and distinguished attorneys and individuals among AABANY’s membership.”



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  1. […] AABANY President Jean Lee said she was “thrilled to see talented and deserving AABANY members being recognized by NAPABA.” Executive Director Yang Chen echoed Lee, saying, “We have always been fortunate to count some highly accomplished and distinguished attorneys and individuals among AABANY’s membership.” – The FilAm […]

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