Awards & Recognitions

• Attorney Powell has been featured as one of the “Best Immigration Lawyers in San Diego 2022” by Expertise.com. Expertise.com finds and reviews the top service professionals in over 200 industries across the U.S.

• Attorney Powell has been nominated for the 2022 “Top 50 Lawyers in America List” by America’s Top 50 Lawyers. America’s Top 50 Lawyers identifies and highlights the accomplishments of the nation’s most distinguished and skilled attorneys in all fields of practice of law. Only 50 lawyers in each state receive this honor and are selected for membership.

• For several years in a row, Attorney Powell has been recognized as one of the “Top 40 Immigration Lawyers under 40 in California” by the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA). Less than 1.5% of attorneys meet the criteria specified by ASLA to be selected for the "Top 40 under 40" award. Those recognized reflect a diverse population of legal representatives who are experienced and skilled in a wide variety of legal practice areas.

• Powell Immigration Law PC has been named among the “Top 10 Immigration Law Firms 2023” by Manage HR Magazine

• Attorney Powell has been nominated for Lawyers of Distinction Award 2018. The nomination recognizes attorneys of high degree of professional competence and peer recognition.

• Attorney Powell has been named as one of 19 Best Immigration Attorneys of San Diego for 2020 by Expertise.

• Attorney Powell has been nominated for membership in Premier Lawyers of America organization for 2020, which recognizes less than 1% of the select few attorneys who have demonstrated the highest standards of excellence in the practice of law.

• Attorney Powell has also received Lead Counsel Verification in Immigration Law for 2022. The Lead Counsel Rating recognizes attorneys who have demonstrated significant professional experience, a solid reputation through peer endorsements and a clean disciplinary history.

Teaching & Speaking Engagements

• Attorney Credits CLE Course “Visa Options for Entrepreneurs and Startups,” 2017

• AILA San Diego Seminar “Business Immigration Requests for Evidence,” 2017

• Access MCLE CLE Course #518 “Nonimmigrant Visa Options for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners,” 2016

• Immigration Workshop “Family & Employment Forms,” 2012

• Seminar “Employment & Immigration Law Updates,” 2011

Executive attorney

Ekaterina Powell

Ekaterina Powell is a California-based immigration attorney working from San Diego, California. As an immigrant from Russia, she is well aware of the complications a foreign national may confront upon moving to the United States. It is only natural that a passion for law and the experience of being an immigrant herself inspired Ekaterina to choose immigration law as a career path.

In 2007, Ekaterina graduated with a Law Degree from Samara State University in Samara, Russia. She subsequently moved to California and attended California Western School of Law in San Diego, where she earned her Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) with cum laude honors in 2009. Upon completion of her schooling, she passed the Bar Exam and became a California-licensed attorney.

Attorney Powell primarily focuses on employment-based, investment-based and family-based immigration cases. She has experience addressing a myriad of issues including EB-1, PERM, National Interest Waivers, EB-5 investor visa cases, other immigrant as well as non-immigrant work visas, H-1B compliance issues and citizenship cases as well as complex requests for evidence, motions and appeals. Ekaterina has produced a number of articles regarding these very processes, many of which can be found on the practice’s site and ILW blog. She has also written for VOICE: An Immigration Dialogue, the publication of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Her passion for the subject has even led her to present at numerous workshops and seminars devoted to the various topics of immigration law in addition to having taught Continuing Legal Education courses for fellow lawyers.

In addition to her busy work at the firm, Ms. Powell volunteers for non-profit organizations helping immigrants from all over the world obtain legal assistance.

Her experience as an immigrant helps Ekaterina empathize with each of her clients, making her passionate about their success. There is nothing more rewarding for her than to see her hard work and dedication help the clients solve their immigration issues and help them reach their American dreams.

Outside of the office, Ekaterina enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and cooking.