Meet Silvia
Silvia Graves
Founding Partner
I want to earn a client's trust for life.
Languages
English
Spanish
Professional & Volunteer Affiliations
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​State Bar of Texas
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American Bar Association
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American Immigration Council, past Trustee
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American Immigration Lawyers Association, former Texas Chapter President (includes Oklahoma and New Mexico)
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Amigos por Vida Charter School, President of the Board
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Houston Coalition for Immigration Reform
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Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year Recipient
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Mexican-American Bar Association
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Mexican Institute of Culture, former Advisory Board Member
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University of Houston Legal Clinic, former Board Member
Biography
Silvia Graves has practiced immigration law exclusively for more than 30 years and has built a reputation for consistently providing honest, effective legal counsel to corporations, institutions, and individuals. Since founding the firm, Silvia has applied a personalized, client driven approach to enable and advance each client’s immigration objectives.
Under Silvia’s leadership, the law firm has developed a distinct expertise in consular and border issues, corporate immigration, and inadmissibility waivers. Silvia’s ability to assess and resolve complex cases with expediency has furthered the firm’s success in these areas. She has leveraged her extensive knowledge to lead the programming of conferences for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Organizations routinely invite her to speak on immigration issues, including investor processes, consular matters, and workforce mobility.
Silvia stays at the forefront of policy changes through her consistent communication with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, and members of Congress at headquarters and field office levels. During her years in professional practice, Silvia has held multiple leadership positions within AILA and the American Immigration Council (AIC), including as AILA Texas Chapter President. In addition, she has served as an AILA mentor in consular immigration for more than 25 years.
Silvia regularly volunteers in the Houston community. She has spoken to audiences of administrators, students, and parents in lectures at local schools and universities about immigration policy updates, the impact of legal changes, and new opportunities. Since 2002, Silvia has served as a board member of the Amigos por Vida Charter School in the Gulfton community of Houston. The school serves an at-risk youth population, and more than 80% of students are considered English language learners. Silvia has also spoken as a guest lecturer on the practice of immigration law at various law schools.
Silvia earned a Juris Doctorate and a Masters degree in Psychology from Catholic University of America. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Silvia is a member of the State Bar of Texas and has received the Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, the organization’s highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability, for more than 10 years.
In her personal time, Silvia enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren.