Bo Cooper

Bo is a Partner in the firm’s Washington, DC office, and leads the firm's Government Strategies and Compliance Group. He provides strategic business immigration advice to a variety of clients, including companies, hospitals, research institutions, schools, and universities. Bo served as General Counsel of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) from 1999 until February 2003, when he was responsible for the transition of immigration services to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He was principal legal advisor to the INS during two administrations, at a time when immigration ranked among the most sensitive issues on the national public policy agenda.

Bo has testified frequently before the U.S. Congress, and has made many television, radio, and print media appearances, including the Newshour with Jim Lehrer, Sixty Minutes, Nightline, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, BBC Radio, CBC Radio, and National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Bo was involved in negotiating immigration-related agreements between the U.S. and other governments, and has acted as a U.S. delegate to international organizations.

Representative Experience

Represented clients before the United States Congress and the executive branch agencies

Advised the Commissioner of the INS, the Attorney General of the United States, the White House, other Executive Branch agencies, and the U.S. Congress on all aspects of U.S. immigration law

Directed a legal program of 700 attorneys in 56 offices around the nation, who provided legal and policy advice to the INS and litigated on behalf of the U.S. government