Konare Law: Trusted Immigration Attorneys Protecting Your Future

Abdoul founded Konare Law in 2011. He has just over eighteen years practicing law; with ten years of experience providing guidance in immigration and nationality law, advising clients in removal proceedings, and applications with USCIS. Abdoul specializes in Appeals, Crimmigration, and Removal Defense, his commitment to excellence furthers the firm’s tradition for aggressive, insightful, and proficient representation for our clients. Abdoul has been a board member at Centro Hispano since 2012, located in Frederick, Maryland.

Robert Powell is an attorney with over eighteen years of federal government experience in immigration law, litigation, and policy. At Konare Law, he handles complex immigration matters, including removal defense, asylum, waivers, and appellate advocacy. He previously served as a Trial Attorney with ICE and as an Immigration Officer at USCIS, leading teams that conducted fraud, public safety, and national security screenings and adjudicated refugee resettlement applications worldwide. Robert began his federal career at EOIR Baltimore as a Legal Assistant and later advanced through the Attorney General’s Honors Program as an Attorney Advisor, advising Immigration Judges on matters involving immigration, administrative, and criminal law. His extensive experience across DHS and DOJ provides him with a comprehensive understanding of agency processes, policy development, and courtroom strategy.

Mayabanza serves as Senior Attorney and leads the Family Division at Konare Law. She began supporting the family division in 2014. At Konare Law, Mayabanza focuses on international family law, including state court Special Immigrant Juvenile Custody and Guardianship, High-conflict, Contested Cross-border Divorce and Custody, Child Support, Appeals, Pre and Anti-nuptial Marital and Settlement Agreements, Protective Orders, and Child in Need of Assistance matters. She also is a certified Mediator and Best Interest/Child’s Advocate Attorney. Mayabanza leverages her extensive experience in full service immigration law to meet the unique needs of Konare Law’s international clients. Mayabanza’s management and leadership experience includes serving as the managing attorney and legal director for MD and DC offices of national and international organizations. She is one of only a handful of lawyers to have chaired both the DC/VA Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Ass’n and the MD State Bar Ass’n’s Immigration Section. She has served on AILA National’s Board of Governors and remains an active national committee member. She is a frequent speaker for the MSBA, including presenting on SIJS custody and asylum at the 2025 annual bar conference. Mayabanza’s civic and charitable service includes family panel attorney for the MD Volunteer Lawyers Service and the Montgomery County Bar Foundation. Mayabanza was rated as a Rising Star in 2015 and has been rated by SuperLawyers each year since 2021.

Mariia Safronova is an immigration attorney dedicated to guiding clients through a wide range of immigration matters. Her practice includes humanitarian relief, such as asylum and cancellation of removal, as well as family-based and employment-based petitions. She is committed to finding individualized solutions for each client and takes pride in providing compassionate, effective, and thorough representation. Mariia earned her J.D. from William & Mary Law School in 2023 and was admitted to the D.C. Bar the same year. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2025. While in law school, she worked in an immigration clinic, assisting clients with asylum and naturalization cases, an experience that deepened her dedication to immigration law. In addition to her U.S. legal training, Mariia holds LL.M. degrees from Peking University and Kutafin Moscow State Law University, with concentrations in Civil and Commercial Law and Private International Law. Before focusing her career on immigration, she practiced as a transactional lawyer specializing in cross-border contracts and agreements, a background that enriches her ability to serve clients with international and multicultural needs.

Kayla’s practice focuses primarily on removal defense. Her experience includes representing clients in detained and non-detained removal proceedings, U visa matters, and cases involving unaccompanied minors before the immigration courts and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Before joining Konare Law, Kayla completed a two-year fellowship with the UNLV Immigration Clinic’s Community Advocacy Office in Las Vegas, Nevada. During her fellowship, she represented clients before the Las Vegas Immigration Court, handled appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and litigated matters before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Kayla has also assisted with federal habeas petitions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status predicate-order matters in Nevada family courts. Her broad experience across immigration, federal, and state proceedings informs her thoughtful and dedicated approach to representing clients facing complex immigration challenges.

Carmelo brings four years of experience practicing immigration law in the private sector. His work includes family-based petitions, humanitarian relief, removal defense, and other complex immigration matters. He approaches each case with careful legal analysis and a strong commitment to client-centered advocacy.

Anjelica Ruth Lewis, Esq. has practiced law since 2021, dedicating her practice exclusively to federal immigration law. She brings experience from both large and small law firms, with a consistent focus on helping clients navigate immigration matters.

Eiling Valenzuela, Esq. brings more than ten years of legal experience to Konare Law, including approximately four years in the United States. Her background spans immigration law, corporate law, and human resources, with experience supporting individuals, families, businesses, and executives.

Fuad’s professional experience includes asylum, removal defense, and family-based immigration matters. His work reflects a strong commitment to careful legal analysis and client-centered advocacy in complex immigration cases. Fuad holds dual LL.M. degrees, one from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and another from the University of La Sapienza in Rome, founded in 1303 and recognized as one of Europe’s oldest and largest universities. His graduate thesis, “Legal Aid in Asylum Procedures,” examined both European and American immigration systems and marked the early development of his focused interest in immigration law. Originally from Azerbaijan, Fuad earned his bachelor’s degree in law and began his legal career in the private sector before serving as a lead legal advisor at the Central Bank. His international academic and professional background informs his thoughtful approach to immigration practice and strengthens his ability to support clients navigating complex legal processes.

Sandy R. Pineda serves as Of-Counsel to Konare Law. Attorney Pineda is a native Floridian who has practiced immigration law for over a decade. She has advocated for numerous clients in various immigration court proceedings nationwide, covering issues such as removal defense, temporary visas, permanent residency, citizenship, and naturalization. Her clientele spans individual business proprietors, investors, executives, and artists. She offers tailor-made immigration services for clients across the United States and globally. When not practicing law, Sandy enjoys volunteering with her church and spending time with her son and family. She is also an active member of the Associate Corporate Counsel, AILA, and American Bar Association.

Farrukh is deeply committed to supporting immigrant communities, bringing a strong foundation in immigration law and a global perspective to his work at Konare Law. As a law clerk, he provides critical legal support to the firm’s attorneys and clients, ensuring every case is handled with care, clarity, and dedication. His international legal experience gives him a unique understanding of global immigration issues, allowing him to offer thoughtful, culturally informed support to clients from diverse backgrounds throughout their immigration journey. Outside of his legal work, Farrukh enjoys physical fitness, horseback riding, shooting sports, and traveling. His appreciation for different cultures and life experiences continues to fuel his commitment to serving immigrant communities with compassion and respect.

Vallery is deeply committed to supporting immigrant communities, bringing a strong foundation in immigration law and a global perspective to her work at Konare Law. As a law clerk, she provides critical legal support to the firm’s attorneys and clients, ensuring every case is handled with care, clarity, and dedication. Her international legal education and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of global immigration issues, allowing her to offer thoughtful, culturally informed support to clients from diverse backgrounds throughout their immigration journey. Outside of her legal work, Vallery enjoys reading, painting, and traveling. Her love for culture, learning, and creative expression continues to inspire her compassionate approach to serving immigrant communities with respect and understanding.

Vahid joined Konare Law with a strong foundation in international business and trade law. His global legal training and public service experience support the firm’s mission to provide strategic, client-focused advocacy.

Cagla is a bilingual legal professional with an LL.M. from William & Mary Law School and experience in both U.S. and Turkish legal systems. As a Law Clerk at Konare Law, she supports attorneys on immigration matters including asylum, removal defense, and family-based applications. She assists with legal research, case preparation, client communication, and immigration filings. Her international background allows her to connect with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and approach each case with adaptability and care. Outside of work, Cagla enjoys building LEGO sets, reading, cooking, and exploring different cultures through travel.

Seyma is a licensed attorney admitted to the Ankara Bar Association (Turkey) with a legal background spanning Turkey and the United States. Before pursuing her LL.M. at William & Mary Law School, she practiced law in Turkey with experience in employment and labor, business, civil, and corporate law, as well as litigation, mediation, contract drafting and review, and legal counseling. Her experience in litigation, legal counseling, and client advocacy informs a practical, client-centered approach to legal representation. Carolyn earned her B.S. in Sociology from Florida State University, graduating cum laude in 2023. She is a member of the American University Law Review and serves as a Senior Technical Editor on the Editorial Board.