Laureen Anderson

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Owner | Immigration Attorney

Laureen Anderson-Stepanek is the owner of Katsivalis & Anderson Law and has practiced immigration law since 2002. Her work focuses on complex immigration matters that require advanced legal analysis and strategic planning, including removal defense, federal court litigation, employment-based immigration, family-based cases involving inadmissibility issues, and humanitarian relief.

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She represents individuals, families, and employers nationwide before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the immigration courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the federal courts. Ms. Anderson-Stepanek is particularly known for handling cases involving prior denials, criminal-immigration intersections, procedural barriers, and matters requiring appellate or federal court intervention.

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Her practice includes extensive federal appellate and district court litigation involving constitutional, statutory, and procedural challenges arising from immigration adjudications, enforcement actions, and detention. She routinely advises clients in matters where legal posture, procedural history, or enforcement considerations require careful navigation and long-term strategic planning.

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In addition to litigation, Ms. Anderson-Stepanek advises employers and professionals on employment-based immigration strategies, including PERM labor certification, EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver cases, and nonimmigrant visa options. Her practice includes significant work with healthcare systems, hospitals, physicians, and educational institutions, including cap-exempt H-1B petitions for public schools, universities, and nonprofit or government-affiliated hospitals, as well as Conrad J-1 waiver cases for physicians serving in medically underserved areas.

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She also regularly handles family-based immigration matters involving adjustment of status, consular processing, waivers of inadmissibility, removal of conditions, and naturalization, particularly where cases involve complex immigration histories or enforcement considerations. Her humanitarian practice includes asylum-related protection and VAWA-based matters, with a focus on careful factual development and legally sound case strategy.

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Ms. Anderson-Stepanek is recognized for her ability to assess cases realistically, identify legal issues early, and guide clients through high-stakes immigration decisions with clarity and precision.

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Areas of Concentration

• Removal defense and immigration court litigation

• Federal court litigation and appeals

• Family-based immigration, adjustment of status, waivers, removal of conditions, and naturalization

• Employment-based immigration, including PERM, EB-1, and EB-2 National Interest Waiver cases

• Medical and healthcare immigration, including cap-exempt H-1Bs and Conrad J-1 waivers

• Education-based immigration for public schools, universities, and nonprofit institutions

• Humanitarian immigration relief, including asylum-related protection and VAWA matters

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Honors and Recognition

• Recognized as a Super Lawyer in immigration law since 2021.

• Bayo v. Napolitano, 593 F.3d 495 (7th Cir. 2010) (en banc).

• Sarhan v. Holder, 658 F.3d 649 (7th Cir. 2011).

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Education

• Juris Doctor, University of Iowa College of Law

• Bachelor of Arts, Illinois State University

• Postgraduate Studies, University of Wisconsin–Parkside

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Bar Admissions

• Supreme Court of Illinois

• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

• United States District Court for the District of Columbia

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Professional Affiliations

American Immigration Lawyers Association