Chartrisse A. Adlam is the Senior Partner at the Law Offices of David M. Sperling, a premier Long Island Law Firm that specializes in Immigration Law. Ms. Adlam has over 25 years of experience in Immigration and Family Law. Ms. Adlam began her legal career at the federal government through the Attorney General’s Honors Program (Immigration and Naturalization Service). She was a Senior Assistant Chief Counsel with the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York City handling deportation and removal cases. There, Ms. Adlam litigated many cases in Immigration Court including “special interest” and high-profile media cases. Prior to joining the federal government and practicing law, Ms. Adlam was a New York State Certified Social Worker working with children and families in the family court system.

After 11 years with INS/DHS Ms. Adlam opened her own law firm practicing Immigration and Family Law. Ms. Adlam handled a significant amount of immigration cases that involved women and child who have often been victims of sexual and physical abuse in their home countries. She was also a member of the Family Court Assigned Panel in Brooklyn where she handled neglect, abuse, juvenile delinquency cases and custody/visitation cases.

Ms. Adlam has been an active member of numerous professional organizations over the years and served the community in various ways. She is a member of the American Immigration Law Association – New York Chapter, Suffolk County Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, and the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association. She is a past Immigration Section Chair for the National Bar Association. For 3 years she was a board member for the Protestant Board of Guardians Inc., a social service organization that provides family preservation and foster care services. She has served as a pro bono attorney for In Motion for Women, New York County Lawyer’s Association – Monday Night law Project and handled bankruptcy cases for the Pro Bono Consumer Bankruptcy Project for The Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Ms. Adlam, a 2023 Power Woman of Long Island award recipient, is also the Vice-President and Community Service Chair for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Suffolk County Graduate Chapter. Her contributions to the community are further reflected in her membership with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – Long Island Chapter, where she actively advocates for the empowerment of women. Moreover, Ms. Adlam’s dedication to youth development is evident as she was an active committee member for Boys Scouts Pack 625 and Troop 560, where she played a critical role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Ms. Adlam received her Bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, her Master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University and her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School. She is admitted to the New York State Bar.

Adam Tavares is a Partner at the Law Offices of David M. Sperling. Mr. Tavares is the son of two immigrants who came to the United States for a better life. His father fled the fascist government of Salazar in Portugal in the late ’60s, and his mother escaped the violence in Colombia in the ’80s. Witnessing his family achieve the American Dream has inspired him to help others attain the same. He is a native Spanish and Portuguese speaker.

Since becoming an immigration attorney, Mr. Tavares has helped thousands of immigrants with their immigration issues. In 2017, he founded the Law Offices of Adam M. Tavares after working four years with the Law Offices of David M. Sperling, one of the largest providers of immigration legal services on Long Island, New York. In January 2021, he became a Partner at the Law Office of David M. Sperling.

Mr. Tavares actively contributes to the Hispanic Community. He served as the former President of the DREAM Foundation (nydreamfoundation.org), he was a Treasurer at the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association (www.lihba.org) and now is a board member at LIHBA. In 2017, the DREAM Foundation donated $40,000 in Scholarships to undocumented students, supporting their pursuit of higher education. In 2023, he joined the board of directors of the Hispanic Counseling Center, an organization that provides mental health services to the Hispanic community.

Mr. Tavares is admitted to the New York State Bar. Super Lawyers recognizes Mr. Tavares as one of their Rising Stars from 2019 to 2023.

MyAsia J. Terry is an Associate Attorney at the Law Offices of David M. Sperling since July 2022. Ms. Terry currently focuses her practice on Immigration Law and practices before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals and Unites States Citizenship and Naturalization Service (USCIS). Prior to joining the Law Offices of David M. Sperling, Ms. Terry completed a legal fellowship at the Miami Dade Public Defenders’ Office, where she zealously advocated for indigent clients in need of legal assistance. Ms. Terry received her Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, where she was a member of Moot Court. Ms. Terry served as Treasurer and President of the Black Law Students’ Association. She received her Bachelor of Science from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Ms. Terry is a proud member of the Shinnecock Nation in eastern Long Island. Ms. Terry is admitted to the New Mexico State Bar and is awaiting admission to the New York State Bar.

Melinda Rubin is a Senior Attorney at the Law Offices of David M. Sperling. She is a native Long Islander who grew up in Sag Harbor. At age 5 she decided she could help people by being a lawyer and she has been interrogating people since. She is a 1980 graduate of Tuller School, an Episcopal private school that was in Sag Harbor, NY. She graduated in 1984 from Hofstra University with Honors in Political Science and in addition to awards for leadership she was also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society. She attended Hofstra Law for a year but decided to take time off and worked doing accounting work at different companies including several Wall Street Firms. The need to help people resurfaced during the late 1980’s and in 1988, when she moved to California to attend Whittier Law School in Los Angeles. While there she graded onto Law Review and was in the top 5% of her class. She transferred to the University of Maryland in 1990 and graduated from there in 1992 where she majored in environmental law. That administrative law background became handy when she shifted her focus to immigration law in 1995. Melinda directed her own practice from 1995 until 2015, practicing immigration, criminal and real estate law. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to criminal immigration, asylum, SIJ and asylum for children. Melinda has been a proud member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1996. Ms. Rubin is admitted to the New York State Bar.