Wafa J. Hoballah, ESQ., L.L.M. Ms. Hoballah is the principal and founder of the WJH LAW Group, APC.
She specializes in International and Immigration law, representing clients across the globe. With over
twenty-five years of experience, Ms. Hoballah tailors her services to assist her clients needs in
international investments and employment and investment based immigration.
Ms. Hoballah is a leading expert on U.S. Lebanese Comparative Law, including religious laws as
applied by the Lebanese courts. Her domestic practice focuses on assisting Lebanese Nationals with
family, probate and estate matters, particularly as it relates to religious and civil laws and its
compatibility with local United States laws.
Ms. Hoballah is at the forefront of U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law. Combining her personal and
legal experience with her cultural background, she provides legal services sensitive to the ethnic,
business and cultural needs of the community, including U.S Permanent Residency based on
business and investments, specifically EB-5, as well as Political Asylum and Violence Against Women
Act petitions (VAWA).
Wafa Hoballah has a strong commitment to giving back and has served as a go-to keynote speaker
and featured panelist on a broad range of topics at conferences, organizational meetings and special
delegations. She has given presentations and is an educator of communities, not only in business,
but also on topics such Human Rights Political Asylum, VAWA, and the dangers and aftermath of
Human Trafficking. Some featured appearances include:
● The NGO Committee on the Status of Women, U.N.
● Human Trafficking, Kazakhstan Delegation
● Comparative Law at the Ministry of Justice, Oman
● Developing Marketing and Business Plans, Pskov, Russia
● A Platform for Business and Investment, and the 2nd Annual Africa Growth Conference at UCLA
Anderson
For all of her years of service to the community, Ms. Hoballah is a proud past recipient of the Arab
American Lawyers Association Southern California, The Judge James Kaddo Award. She is also a
founder and the CFO of the Lebanese American Foundation and House of Lebanon.
Ms. Hoballah is admitted to practice law in New York, District of Columbia and Lebanon. She received
her LL.M. from the University of The Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in California, a diploma in
International Private Law from the University of Salzburg, School of Law, a License en Droit (JD) from
the Lebanese University Faculty of Law, and her B.A. from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Education
● University of The Pacific’s McGeorge, School of Law of California, L.L.M.
● University of Salzburg, School of Law, Diploma, International Private Law
● Lebanese University, Faculty of Law, J.D.
● American University of Beirut, Lebanon, B.A.
Bar Admissions
● New York, Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Courts, Attorney at Law Admitted January
1998
● District of Columbia Bar, Admitted 2012
● Beirut Bar, Lebanon, Attorney at Law Admitted February 1982
Professional Bar Associations
● New York State Bar Association
● Los Angeles County Bar Association, International & Immigration sections
● American Immigration Lawyers Association
● Arab American Lawyers Association of Southern California
Organizations / Affiliations / Awards
● Chair, Member, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Beirut Sister Cities Committee
● Member, Board of Directors, International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, Past President &
Chair
● Corporate Financial Officer, Board of Directors, Lebanese American Foundation, Los
Angeles, California, Charter member
● Recipient, AALASC The Judge James Kaddo Award
● Member, Community Based OrganizationsCommittee, a program sponsored byDHS/USCIS to
promote better relations between local communities and the District Offices
● Former Advisory Board, von Grunebaum Center for Near Center Eastern Studies, University of
California, Los Angeles
● Advisory Board Member, American Bar Association Commission on Immigration
● Member of the International Board of Advisors, McGeorge School of Law