Practice Areas
Education
University of Illinois, B.A., 1966
University of Texas, J.D., 1969
Honors
Designated a "Texas Super Lawyer," 2003-present
Listed, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2010-present
Listed in US News Best Lawyers in America, 1993-2021
Named a "Top Lawyer," Houstonia Magazine 2019-present
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
District Courts: Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Courts of Appeals: 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, & DC Circuits
U.S. Supreme Court
Profile
Peter Williamson possesses considerable experience handling the entire spectrum of immigration and nationality matters, from employment-based non-immigrant and immigrant, to investor cases, labor certifications and family-based cases. He has represented families and companies in all parts of the United States and over 100 countries, in all aspects of immigration, and has developed particular experience in appellate matters and removal cases. He is board certified in immigration law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Mr. Williamson handles employment cases including E, H, L, O nonimmigrant cases; labor certifications; visa petitions, consular work; family-based matters such as visa petitions and adjustment of status; consular work; naturalizations; and defense of removal (deportation) cases.
Mr. Williamson is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (www.aila.org), an association whose membership consists of over 14,000 attorneys who practice in this field of law. He has served as chair of the Texas chapter of AILA, on the National Board of Governors (1982-present), and on the national executive committee, including service as the national president of AILA. Mr. Williamson is also a founding member of IMMLAW (www.immlaw.com), a national consortium of immigration law firms whose members practice autonomously, but share their knowledge and expertise and exchange ideas and information in emerging areas so that their clients can benefit from the most innovative, highly sophisticated techniques. He serves on the examination committee for the Immigration law specialization exam given by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Significant Matters
- Worked with criminal defense counsel in an employer sanctions prosecution, in which counsel helped convince the federal district court to grant an 88% reduction in the amount of the total fine imposed from that recommended by the United States Attorney and by the federal sentencing guidelines. (January, 2008)
- Brought successful court challenges to long-delayed naturalization case.
Seminars & Presentations
- Mr. Williamson frequently speaks on immigration-related topics at university and bar association seminars on topics including ethics, criminal law aspects, employer sanctions, defense of removal, visa petitions and numerous other subjects. He has appeared as a featured speaker or panelist at numerous seminars throughout Texas, and across the United States as well as Mexico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, England, and Republic of the Philippines.
Professional Affiliations
- Former National President, American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Member, University of Houston Immigration Law Clinic advisory board
- Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
News
News
- Houstonia Magazine names Chamberlain Attorneys as 2021 Top LawyersHoustonia Magazine, November 30, 2020
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys Named to US News – 2021 Best Lawyers in America®, Three Attorneys Recognized as Lawyer of the YearAugust 20, 2020
- Chambers Individual and Practice Rankings for 2020May 4, 2020
- December 2019
- August 15, 2019
- May 10, 2019
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka again named a "Best Law Firm" by US NewsNovember 1, 2018
- Peer Ranked in Construction, Eminent Domain, Employee Benefits (ERISA), Government Relations, Immigration, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Trusts & Estates, Tax, Tax Litigation & Controversy, Trademark, Trusts & EstatesSeptember 18, 2018
- May 5, 2018
- National law firm achieves top rankings in tax law, tax litigation and trust and estates law
- September 2017
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys Ranked in Construction, Litigation – Construction, Eminent Domain & Condemnation, Employee Benefits (ERISA), Government Relations, Immigration, Tax, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, and Trust & Estates CategoriesAugust 2017
- Attorneys Ranked in Tax, Construction, Trust and Estates, Employee Benefits and Immigration CategoriesJune 22, 2017
- Firm and seven attorneys rank on state and national levels in tax and immigration categoriesMay 2016
- November 2, 2015
- October 2015
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka again recognized nationally in The Legal 500 and Chambers & PartnersJune 2015
- Firm and Attorneys Ranked in Tax, Tax Controversy, Construction, Trust and Estates, Employee Benefits, and Immigration CategoriesNovember 2014
- Nine Attorneys from Four Practice Areas Receive Prestigious RecognitionOctober 2014
- U.S. News & World Report recognizes Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in practice areas of construction law, employee benefits, immigration law, tax litigation and controversy, and trusts and estates.
- Tax attorney Larry A. Campagna tops roster of eight Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys ranked by Chambers & Partners in its annual guide to country’s top lawyers and firms
- Peer Evaluations Set Bar for Intensive Selection Process Which Recognizes Outstanding AttorneysOctober 2013
- Practice Areas and Attorneys Win High Marks in Tax and Immigration CategoriesMay 30, 2013
- Firm, Attorneys Ranked in Tax, Construction, Immigration, Trusts & Estates and Eminent Domain & Condemnation CategoriesNovember 2011