THE ROSTOVA WESTERMAN TEAM

meet our lawyers

Meet our young and dedicated team members

Sasha Westerman keuning

Founding Partner

A community activist and a Board Certified Super Lawyer, Sasha is as much known for her commitment to social justice as she is for her legal work.

She is known as national expert on same-sex marriage immigration cases.

irina rostova

Founding Partner

A Top 25 EB-5 lawyer nationally and leading attorney in South Florida's Russian community, Irina offers trustworthy and strategic immigration counsel to investors and businesses.

JoSE dE WIT

Senior Associate

Jose is a high-level immigration lawyer with exceptional writing skills and more than 5 years of experience in the field. He is passionate about his work and cares deeply for our clients.

Discover More About Our Lawyers Below!

Sasha Westerman-Keuning, B.C.S.

Founding Partner

Sasha Westerman-Keuning is one of the leading immigration lawyers in South Florida. She is one of only 80 lawyers in the State of Florida who is a Board Certified Specialist as an Expert in Immigration & Nationality Law. Board Certified Attorneys are "Evaluated for Professionalism and Tested for Expertise" by the Florida Bar. She was also named a 2018, 2019 and 2020 Super Lawyers Rising Star, a prestigious designation reserved for less than 2.5% of attorneys in Florida. She is also an AV Preeminent Peer Rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell, a prestigious honor earned by only 10% of all attorneys.

Mrs. Westerman-Keuning understands that when people hire an attorney, especially an immigration attorney, they are often experiencing very stressful situations. These people need someone who cares about them. Mrs. Westerman-Keuning prides herself on ensuring that her clients receive not only top-quality legal services, but also the support and resources they deserve. She regularly represents clients throughout Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties as well as the Florida Keys and commonly handles cases for clients living in the areas of West Palm Beach, Naples, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. Mrs. Westerman-Keuning also represents clients throughout the United States in complex immigration matters and is a highly respected attorney and national expert in the field of marriage-based green card processing and LGBTQ immigration law.

EDUCATION

Boston College, B.A. Magna Cum Laude

University of Miami School of Law, J.D. Cum Laude

Sasha Westerman-Keuning is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 2009. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston College in 2006 with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Hispanic Studies and History. While at Boston College, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning served as the President of the Boston College Hillel and held one of the highest ranking positions in the University’s student government. She devoted much of her time at Boston College to advocacy on the behalf of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender communities, religious minority communities, and for women’s and immigrant’s rights.

Following Boston College, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning attended the University of Miami School of Law where graduated cum laude in 2009. Mrs. Westerman-Keuning has the distinguished honor of being a Dean's Merit Scholar all three years at UM Law School. She received a CALI Future in Excellence Award which is awarded to the best student in the class for her Asylum & Removal Workshop taught by former Krome Immigration Judge, Kenneth Hurewitz. During all three years at the University of Miami, she held legal internships in the field of immigration law. She served as an intern at UM's Community Health Rights Education Clinic (now known as the Health & Elder Law Clinic) where she provided free legal services through Jackson Memorial Hospital to indigent clients, most of whom were HIV+ and homeless. Also during law school, she worked as a law clerk at the law office of Julie C. Ferguson P.A., assisting Ms. Ferguson with her immigration cases. She additionally interned at Church World Services during her first year of law school, a non-profit immigration organization offering low-price and free immigration services to indigent clients as part of a HOPE Fellowship awarded to her by UM's Center for Ethics and Public Service.

EXPERIENCE

After graduating cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning worked for a year as an Associate Attorney at the law office of Kurzban, Kurzban, Weinger, Tetzeli, & Pratt P.A. under the direct supervision of renowned immigration attorney and author, Ira J. Kurzban. She assisted in researching and indexing the Twelfth Edition of Kurzban’s Immigration Law Sourcebook, the most widely used text in the field of immigration law. She served as the lead litigation associate working on federal court cases and class action lawsuits in the field of immigration with Mr. Kurzban.

In 2010, she began working as an Associate Attorney at Julie C. Ferguson, P.A. where she handled a wide variety of immigration cases from consultation to completion with a high success rate. In 2012, the law office of Julie C. Ferguson P.A. merged into Carlton Fields, the largest and one of the most prestigious law firms in the State of Florida where Mrs. Westerman-Keuning assisted in developing and establishing an Immigration Law Practice at this leading law firm. After helping to establish the Immigration Law Department at Carlton Fields, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning was offered the position of Senior Immigration Associate at a prestigious Miami immigration law firm where she worked alongside former Immigration Judge Bruce W. Solow, and former INS Deputy Counsel Linda Osberg-Braun. Her years of experience and mentorship at some of Miami's top immigration law firms have given her the skills and knowledge necessary to handle even the most complex immigration matters.

In June 2013, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning launched her own law practice, Sasha Westerman-Keuning P.A., to provide her clients with top-quality, professional immigration service. During that time she shared her office space with fellow immigration attorney Irina Rostova and the two lawyers merged their successful and expanding practices in August 2016.

In 2014, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning received an award from the American Immigration Lawyers Association for her work on a team of lawyers who exemplified "commitment and passion in achieving justice for vulnerable and voiceless immigrants" due to their substantial involvement in important pro bono projects. In 2015, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning was named one of the National Advocates, Top 40 Under 40 Attorneys in the field of Immigration Law, a designation reserved for the most prominent and leading attorneys in her or his field. The National Advocates only grants this prestigious membership to attorneys who have a strong reputation and achievements in their field. In 2017, she was named one of 10 Best Immigration Attorneys in Florida by the American Institute of Legal Counsel for "exceptional and outstanding client service."

In June 2017, Ms. Westerman-Keuning achieved the honored designation of becoming a Board Certified Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law by the Florida Bar. Only 75 lawyers in the entire State of Florida hold this esteemed designation. Board Certified lawyers are considered the top legal experts in their fields. To qualify as a Board Certified Specialist, an attorney must meet the following requirements and pass an 8 hour exam in the speciality:

 Practice law for a minimum of five years.
 Demonstrate substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought.
 Pass satisfactory peer review of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law.
 Satisfy the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements.
 Receive a passing grade on the examination required of all applicants.

Apart from her legal knowledge of immigration law, Mrs. Westerman-Keuning has also personally experienced the immigration process first-hand as the United States’ citizen petitioner for her husband, Dylan, a native of South Africa. She brings this personal experience to her representation of each and every client, understanding the emotional aspect of the immigration process when it concerns a loved one. Mrs. Westerman-Keuning is passionate about immigration law and helping each and every one of her clients through the use of her large body of legal knowledge as well as a personal touch.

BAR ADMISSIONS

Mrs. Westerman-Keuning is admitted to practice law by the following judicial bodies:

The Florida Bar
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court - Southern District of Florida

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA")
American Bar Association
AILA South Florida LGBTQ Committee (Chair)
AILA South Florida Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
AILA South Florida USCIS Miami Liaison Committee
Mount Sinai Hospital - Founder's Circle

LANGUAGES

Mrs. Westerman-Keuning is fluent in English and Spanish and has a limited proficiency in French and Hebrew.

Email: sasha@usainvestorvisas.com.

Sasha Westerman-Keuning

Selected in 2018
Thomson Reuters

Sasha's Award naming her as a National Advocates "Top 40 Under 40" Lawyer. Click on the Photo to read about the eligibility and criteria for this prestigious designation.

Sasha Nicole Westerman-KeuningClients’ ChoiceAward 2019

Lawyer Sasha Westerman-Keuning | Top Attorney Immigration

Sasha and Irina are both Alumna of the University of Miami

Irina Rostova, Esq.

Founding Partner

Irina Rostova is an attorney who focuses her practice primarily on EB-5 investor green cards and business visas. She is one of South Florida's leading attorneys in the field of the EB-5 investor program which allows foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent residency or a "Green Card" in the United States by investing either $500,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,000,000 in a project in any location. In 2017, she was named one of the Top 25 EB-5 Attorneys in the United States by EB-5 Investors Magazine.

Both an economist and attorney by training, she is passionate about her work with foreign investors and is dedicated to providing clients with the comprehensive legal support necessary to assist them during the process of selecting a qualifying investment project, or in the establishment of their new commercial enterprise. Mrs. Rostova offers step-by-step guidance through the EB-5 process from project selection and contract interpretation to preparation and filing the green card petition. Ms. Rostova has vast experience in the field of EB-5 law, working with investors, Regional Centers and developers. This inside knowledge allows her to understand all aspects of the EB-5 program from every angle, giving her the ability to provide the best EB-5 legal counsel in Florida. Mrs. Rostova regularly speaks on panels providing EB-5 insight for esteemed organizations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association and IIUSA (Invest In USA) and chairs the Russian Markets Committee for IIUSA.

EDUCATION

University of Michigan, B.A.

University of Miami School of Law, J.D.

Mrs. Rostova earned her undergraduate degree in Economics from the top-ranked University of Michigan. She subsequently attended the University of Miami School of Law where she graduated with honors.

EXPERIENCE

Ms. Rostova founded her own law firm, Rostova Law Group, in 2013 before merging her practice with partner, Sasha Westerman-Keuning, in 2016. Her firm focused on providing full EB-5 legal support and advising clients on the process of selecting a Regional Center project to ensure success throughout the immigration process. She also represents clients in planning and developing a direct EB-5 project. She also served as a consultant and legal analyst for some of the country's largest EB-5 regional centers, especially in the field of market expansion into the Russian-speaking community. Ms. Rostova represents a significant percentage of all EB-5 investors immigrating to the United States from Russia and former CIS nations. Mrs. Rostova and Mrs. Westerman-Keuning together have supervised and filed hundreds of I-526 investor green card applications without any denials.

Prior to establishing her own law firm, Ms. Rostova was an Associate Attorney at the prestigious Miami immigration law firm of Bernstein, Osberg-Braun P.L. where she was trained by some of South Florida's most respected immigration attorneys. Ms. Rostova also previously had a successful career in management at J.P. Morgan Chase in Sunny Isles and worked at commercial litigation law firms, specializing in insurance and contract dispute matters. Ms. Rostova personal experience overseeing various family business and investments allows her to extend practical and strategic legal advice to investors and entrepreneurs seeking business visas.

LANGUAGES

Ms. Rostova is fluent in Russian and proficient in Lithuanian. She utilizes her fluency in the Russian language and understanding of the business culture of CIS countries to facilitate a smooth transition for clients seeking to conduct business and place investments in the United States.

Email: irina@usainvestorvisas.com.

Fort lauderdale team

Jose de Wit, Esq.

Senior Associate Attorney

Jose joined the Rostova Westerman team in May 2019. He brings his exceptional education, work ethic and five years of experience in immigration to our law group. He regularly handles all types of family-based immigration matters (marriage, fiancé, parents, children etc.), employment-based visa petitions (both non-immigrant and immigrant visas), inadmissibility issues and asylum and deportation cases. A seasoned legal professional, Jose frequently represents clients before the Immigration Court in deportation and asylum proceedings with a great track record for success.

Jose graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University (FIU) with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism which has provided him with outstanding legal writing skills. After working as a journalist and editor at a local newspaper, Jose was admitted to the University of California at Berkeley, a Top 10 Law School, where he completed his juris doctorate (J.D.) degree in 2013. Prior to joining our firm, Jose operated his own immigration law firm both in San Francisco and Miami, garnering years of skills in resolving even the most problematic immigration matters. Jose brings his caring and friendly personality to the firm in addition to his excellent writing skills and knowledge of immigration law. A native of Guatemala, Jose is fluent in English and Spanish.

Email: jose@usainvestorvisas.com

Myriam Rojas

Legal Assistant

Ms. Rojas is a highly experienced immigration paralegal, having worked at highly respected immigration law firms in Miami and Los Angeles for well over a decade. She has a vast range of experience processing cases filed with USCIS and the immigration courts and provides excellent customer service and attention to each and every client.

A native of Colombia, Ms. Rojas has a degree in journalism from the Universidad Externado de Colombia. Prior to immigrating to the United States, Ms. Rojas had an extensive journalistic career in Colombia working for major media organizations such as Noticiero TV-Hoy and Noticiero Nacional where she reported on political and environmental matters. Due to her excellence in journalism, Ms. Rojas received a scholarship to study English and journalism in the United States. She has received countless awards for her journalism and broadcasting skills including the Simon Bolivar National Journalism Award and the Utah Excellence in Journalism award.

Ms. Rojas is one of the most valued members of the Rostova Westerman Law Group team. She is fluent in English and Spanish. Email: myriam@usainvestorvisas.com.

Alexey Blagoveshchenskiy

Legal Assistant

Alexey joined Rostova Westerman Law Group in 2015 and in a short time has become a vital contributor to the team's success. Alexey focuses his skills not only on top-quality legal assistance, but in office management and organization--fields which he excels in. Alexey attended Omsk State University in Russia where he was an undergraduate in Translation Studies. He is a trained translator and interpreter in the Russian and English languages. Alexey is also an official notary for the State of Florida and is available to notarize documents and even conduct marriage ceremonies.

Prior to working in our office, Alexey had a thriving career in hospitality and sales in which he was often the top earner/sales associate at his previous employers. Alexey brings his invaluable expertise in client relations and time management to our practice. Email: admin@usainvestorvisas.com.

Lourdes Espinal

Receptionist/Legal Assistant

Lourdes brings a warm smile to each and every person who walks through the door of our Fort Lauderdale office. Behind her smile is an intelligent young woman who obtained her Bachelor's degree at the Russian Academy of Entrepreneurship. She previously worked in several immigration laws firms as a legal assistant before joining our team

Karine is fluent in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Email: lourdes@usainvestorvisas.com

Galina Urman, Esq.

Of Counsel - Urman Law Group

Ms. Galina D. Urman is an of counsel to Rostova Westerman Law Group and the owner and founder of Urman Law Group P.A. She graduated from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Michigan with honors. She obtained her Bachelor's of Arts in International Relations from Michigan State University, graduating with Honors. Ms. Urman practices both real estate and corporate law.

Ms. Urman assists our law firms' clients with opening up their businesses in the State of Florida. She provides a variety of corporate and business services such as:

Registering/Incorporating a Business in the State of Florida
Obtaining an Employer's Tax Identification Number
Serving as the Registered Agent for a corporation
Drafting Operating/Membership Agreements
Issuing Stock Certificates
Opening a Business Bank Account
Obtaining all applicable business permits, licenses, and insurance policies
Setting up Payroll Services

Ms. Urman's services allow our clients to smoothly transition to running a business in the United States which complies with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.