Former U.S. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge David Cheng Joins Gendelberg Law in New York

Former federal immigration court leader brings decades of government, judicial and immigration law experience to the firm's growing immigration practice.

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gendelberg Law, PLLC, a New York-based law firm devoted exclusively to U.S. immigration law, announced today that former U.S. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge David Cheng has joined the firm as a full-time attorney.

David brings decades of experience across multiple areas of the U.S. immigration system.  He served within the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), first as an Immigration Judge at the Newark Immigration Court and later as an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge. In that leadership role, David led multiple immigration courts, supervised and trained judges, and oversaw both detained and non-detained dockets.

Before his appointment to the immigration bench, David spent approximately 15 years with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Newark, where he served as an Assistant Chief Counsel and later as a Senior Attorney. Earlier in his career, he practiced law in New York City and served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York City Department of Finance.

For Leonard R. Gendelberg, founder and managing attorney of Gendelberg Law, David's arrival reflects the firm's continued effort to strengthen its representation of individuals and families navigating the U.S. immigration system.

"When I founded Gendelberg Law, my goal was to build an immigration firm where we would never stop looking for ways to become better advocates for our clients. Immigration cases are not simply files on a desk. The outcome can determine whether someone remains with their family, keeps the life they have built, or has the opportunity to begin a new one in the United States. Throughout his career, David has seen the immigration system from perspectives that very few attorneys have—as an attorney in private practice, a government attorney, an Immigration Judge, and an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge. Having him now bring that experience and perspective to our firm is an extraordinary resource for our attorneys and, most importantly, for the individuals and families who place their trust in us," Leonard said.

David said his decision to return to private practice followed more than two decades of federal service and a desire to apply his experience more directly on behalf of individuals and families.  "After more than two decades of federal service, I felt the time was right to use my experience and knowledge in a more direct way," David said. "My years in government gave me a deep understanding of immigration law, courtroom practice, and the challenges that arise throughout the process. Private practice allows me to apply that experience directly on behalf of individuals and families."

David said he was drawn to Gendelberg Law by the breadth of its immigration practice and its emphasis on preparation, accessibility and individualized representation. The firm handles matters ranging from asylum, removal defense, detention and appeals to family-based, humanitarian, employment and investor immigration matters.

"As an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, I led multiple immigration courts, supervised and trained judges, and oversaw both detained and non-detained dockets," David said. "That experience gave me a broad understanding of immigration law, policy, and court operations, as well as how cases are evaluated and where problems often arise. I bring that broader, system-level perspective to identifying issues early, anticipating potential obstacles, and providing clients with clear, practical, and candid advice."

For the firm's legal team, David's transition from the bench to advocacy brings together institutional knowledge and the deeply personal nature of immigration representation. His addition reflects Gendelberg Law's broader commitment to rigorous preparation, individualized attention, and an understanding of what is at stake for the individuals and families the firm represents.

"Behind every A-number is a human being who may be separated from a spouse, a child, or an entire life they have built here," said Sopiko Gugava, Senior Legal Analyst at Gendelberg Law. "Having a former Immigration Judge on our team gives us another perspective when we ask ourselves the most important question: If we were sitting on the other side of that bench, what would we need to see and hear to truly understand this person's story?"

About Gendelberg Law, PLLC:

Gendelberg Law, PLLC is a U.S. immigration law firm devoted exclusively to immigration matters. With offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York, and Washington, D.C., the firm represents individuals, families and businesses in a broad range of immigration matters, including removal defense, asylum, detention and habeas matters, family-based and employment-based immigration, humanitarian relief, appeals and citizenship. The firm's multilingual legal team represents clients throughout the United States and internationally.

Media Contact:

Leonard R. Gendelberg, Esq.
Founder & Managing Attorney
Gendelberg Law, PLLC
128 Brighton Beach Avenue, Suite 218
Brooklyn, New York 11235
(718) 400-2004
[email protected] 
www.GendelbergLaw.com 

SOURCE Gendelberg Law, PLLC