Annie Lahren is a Pender & Coward attorney and leader of the firm's immigration practice group. She focuses her practice in the areas of labor and employment, family law, immigration and litigation.
With her extensive experience in family law and employment law, Annie provides clients a depth of knowledge and understanding beyond the average immigration attorney. Immigration issues arise frequently throughout many areas of the law, and she provides guidance handling special issues presented by non-U.S. citizens. In addition to providing direct representation for clients, she has also serves in an advisory capacity for other attorneys and law firms presented with complex immigration matters.
Annie speaks regularly at continuing legal education seminars for the James Kent Inn of Court on subjects of immigration, work-life balance and ethical legal practices. She was also a featured speaker at the Virginia State Bar’s Best Practices in Circuit Court program.
Represented a large employer in obtaining H-1B work authorization and lawful permanent resident status for highly-skilled foreign employees.
Represented individuals detained by ICE and obtained relief from removal proceedings, including post-conviction modification of sentencing and plea agreement for lawful permanent resident in removal proceedings.
Represented numerous military members in both family law and immigration matters.
Represented individuals in applications and interviews before USCIS, including requests for waivers of the joint filing requirements for petitions to remove conditions on lawful permanent resident status.
- Virginia State Bar Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course Faculty Member, 2018-2021
- Virginia Women Attorneys Association: Board of Directors; Assistant Treasurer
- Virginia Women Attorneys Association, Hampton Roads Chapter, Past President 2013-2015
- James Kent American Inn of Court: Executive Committee; Past President 2014-2015
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Virginia Bar Association
- Virginia Beach Bar Association
- AV® Preeminent™ Rated, Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2018-2023
- Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2016-2018, Virginia Super Lawyers, 2023
- Virginia's Legal Elite, Young Lawyer (under 40), 2016 & 2017, Immigration, 2019-2023
- Coastal Virginia's Top Lawyers, Immigration Law, 2016-2024
- Leaders in the Law, 2019
- Inside Business Top 40 Under 40, 2017
- LEAD Hampton Roads Graduate, 2016
- Beachcombers Corvette Club, Co-Vice President of Events
- Neptune Festival, Friends of the Festival Committee
- Naturalization Requirements, Eligibility and Common Causes for Concern - August 2018
- Understanding Immigration Law - DACA, the Green Card Process and Travel Restrictions under the Trump Presidency - April 2017
- “Making America Great Again” – An Immigration Attorney’s Perspective - January 2017
- The Adam Walsh Act and the Petitioner's Burden to Prove "No Risk of Harm" - March 2016
- Employment Authorization for H-4 Dependent Spouses of Certain H-1B Nonimmigrants Under the New DHS Rule - April 2015
- Falling in Love Across Borders - March 2015
- "Separated" is Not "Divorced" - April 2014
- Provisional Waivers for Unlawful Presence - April 2013
- Deferred Action for “DREAMers” - August 2012
- An Introduction to Hiring Foreign Workers - March 2012