Gabriel Castro

Senior Associate and head of office // Los Angeles

 
TEST

“If you really want to create the best product, if you want to be the top of your industry, you’re going to have to bring in the best talent, and it doesn’t and shouldn’t matter where that talent is coming in from. Whether that’s to play point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers or to be a software engineer, you’re going to want to be able to bring in the best from around the world."

Driven by his family’s own immigration story, Gabriel Castro has risen to become a Senior Associate and head of BAL’s Los Angeles office and Sports and Entertainment practice.

Gabriel has represented business of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to local mom-and-pop shops. He has helped professional sports franchises in the NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and MLS secure visas for top international talent. He is particularly adept at finding creative immigration strategies for athletes in emerging sports, including e-sports and entertainers in the music, film and television industries.

Gabriel began his legal career with the U.S. Department of Justice through the Attorney General’s Honors Attorney program, where he served as an Attorney Advisor to the Los Angeles Immigration Court. Subsequently, Gabriel was the Directing Attorney for Immigration and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, where he helped families in the Los Angeles community navigate the U.S. immigration system.

The son of a Mexican immigrant, Gabriel developed his work ethic watching his father open a Mexican restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. He enjoys giving back to the community, and has previously served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and the Greater East Valley.

Gabriel is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and is listed in the Best Lawyer’s guide 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, J.D.
University of Alabama, B.A., Communications

English, Spanish

State Bar of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Recent activity

Immigration News

Episode 89: On global mobility and cat cafés

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Immigration News

Episode 85: What’s next? H-1B second round cap selection Q&A

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Immigration News

Episode 77: Nika Mühl and gender disparities in the P-1 visa process

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Immigration News

Episode 76: Immigration solutions for labor shortages in the hospitality industry

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November 7, 2024 // New Orleans, LA

SLA Fall Symposium: Tech and Sports: Data, Deals and Decisions

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