Our Lawyers

Peter Baumann has over 25 years experience in the field of immigration law. Upon graduation from the University of Arkansas in 1977, Peter worked in private practice with Bertram Bernard, Esq., former Philadelphia District Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In 1980, Peter and Karren established the law firm of Baumann and DeSeve. Peter primarily represents corporations, universities and athletic teams. His practice includes representation of computer scientists, researchers and athletes. Peter Baumann has served as Philadelphia Chapter Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association, Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the United States District Court. He is listed in America’s Best Attorneys.

Karren DeSeve also has over 25 years of experience in the field of immigration law. Upon graduation from Temple University Law School in 1977, Karren established and managed the Immigration Law Division of Philadelphia Community Legal Services. Since 1980, when the firm of Baumann and DeSeve was established, Karren has served as immigration counsel to corporations, medical centers, universities and individuals. Her practice includes representation of physicians, health care professionals, computer scientists, researchers, professors and other professionals. Karren has been a member of and chaired numerous committees of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Philadelphia Bar Association. She is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the United States District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania. She was named among the top 10 immigration attorneys in Washington, D.C. and is listed in America’s Best Attorneys.

Jon Landau has been practicing immigration law for over 15 years. The emphasis of Jon’s practice is on all aspects of employment-based visas as well as asylum law. Jon currently represents corporations, professionals, and asylum applicants in immigration matters throughout the United States. Jon was the attorney in the BIA Precedent Decision In re O- Z- & I- Z- (Int Dec 3346, 1998) which has served as the legal basis for hundreds of favorable asylum decisions for asylum seekers from around the world. He is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and served as 1995-96 Chair of AILA’s Philadelphia Chapter. Jon Landau is an honors graduate of Rutgers University and a graduate of the Cornell Law School. He is a member of the Bars of Pennsylvania, New York, and California. He is admitted to practice before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Courts in Pennsylvania, New York and California, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Jon is listed in America’s Best Attorneys.

Nicole Simon received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2001 and has been practicing immigration law exclusively since 2003. She graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a B.A. degree in English. Nicole represents individuals and businesses in all facets of immigration matters, including employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, family-based cases, naturalization, and asylum relief. She is a member of the State Bar of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Nicole serves currently on the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Nationalities Service Center, a non-profit organization assisting immigrants and refugees. Nicole speaks French and Spanish.