When Robert Divine first got involved with the EB-5
program back in 2003, he actually refused several cases. At
the time, there were serious organizational problems within
the program and several projects that Robert could not put
his faith in. But in 2004 Robert joined the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services and served as Chief
Counsel, where he worked toward a better future for EB-5.
He played a part in the revamping of the program, with a
commitment to getting rid of smoke and mirrors and a focus
on re-grounding EB-5 in reality.
Robert Divine
Before his current role as an EB-5 immigration attorney
at Baker Donelson Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC,
Robert worked hard to better the industry. His time at USICS
as Chief Counsel, and subsequently as Acting Director and
Acting Deputy Director, allowed Robert to do what he felt
was the right thing: bring honesty and transparency back
into EB-5.
Now when he represents immigrant investors, he knows
that the integrity of their investments and the structure of
the program are stable. In addition, he is uniquely able to put
himself in the shoes of the adjudicator and, as such, provide
an application that is both clear and easy for those assessing it
to understand and approve.
Robert is a shareholder and leader of his firm’s immigration
practice group at their Washington, D.C., and Chattanooga,
For nearly 30 years Robert Gaffney has been helping individual and corporate clients make the United States their
home through family, investment and employment-based
immigration. His personal practice, located in San Francisco,
Calif. has been specifically involved with EB-5 since the
program was first instated in 1990.
Tenn. offices. He appreciates EB-5 work for the way it brings
together aspects of the entire legal spectrum. For Robert, the
program is a chance to broaden his skills and stretch and
develop his abilities.
Robert Gaffney
His location in Northern California, among a sizeable AsianAmerican population, drove his interest in Chinese culture. He
is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and frequently travels to China
to work with potential investors; an estimated 80% of all EB-5
immigrants involved in the program originate from China.
Robert is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in
Immigration and Nationality Law, distinguishing him as
one of the most experienced and knowledgeable attorneys in
California. His wide breath of understanding as a certified
specialist, shared among just three percent of all law
practitioners in California, makes him an invaluable asset
in EB-5 cases. It is his expertise in all of immigration law
that makes him such an effective bridge for clients looking to
establish a new life in the United States.
Robert is a long-time member of the Association of Asian
Studies, a member of the San Francisco-Shanghai Sister City
Committee, and he regularly speaks on the U.S. legal system
and business practices to business groups and visiting foreign
delegations. He has also earned an “AV” rating, the highest
54
rating for integrity and skill possible for attorneys according to
Martindale-Hubbell, a trusted legal authority widely recognized
for identifying skilled law associates in the United States.
Robert enjoys travelling abroad and living in the Bay Area,
where there is a wealth of outdoor activities.
E B 5 I n v e s to r s M ag a z i n e