Your Trusted Portland & Miami Immigration Attorney
Experienced, compassionate, and dedicated to guiding clients through every step of the immigration process.
The Batrakova Law Office
Experienced team, big results.
The Batrakova Law Office (TBLO) is a boutique immigration firm in Portland, Oregon, concentrating in the area of business, investor and family immigration. Founding attorney, Irina Batrakova, together with a team of trusted business professionals, works with foreign investors, domestic and international companies in developing appropriate strategies to facilitate the international transfer of skilled employees to secure temporary employment visas and permanent residence. Irina manages the relationship with key corporate and individual investor clients herself, providing legal advice and guidance to small and large companies.
TBLO also works with individual clients in the area of family immigration, and to date, has represented clients from over 70 countries around the world.
Irina Batrakova
Principal Attorney
Irina is a native of Eastern Europe, and in 1994 was selected to participate in the Future Leaders Exchange program, sponsored by Department of State as part of the Freedom Support Act of 1992. She was one of the 1,200 talented and motivated students who spent the 1994 academic year in the U.S. with a goal of enhancing a dialogue between the people of the U.S. and former Soviet Union.
- Portland State University (Cum Laude Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science) – 2000
- Lewis and Clark Law School (Juris Doctorate) – 2004
Prior to founding TBLO in 2012, Irina started her legal career as an Immigration Attorney with Samuels Yoelin Kantor, where she practiced in the area of business and family immigration. She joined a Business Immigration group of Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, one of the largest business immigration practices in the U.S., as a Senior Attorney, where she worked with Fortune 100 companies, providing legal guidance on the issues of business visas and immigration compliance.
Irina was selected Super Lawyers Rising Star in the field of Immigration in 2009 and 2010. She is a regular speaker at the Oregon State Bar events, American Immigration Lawyers Association regional and global conferences on the issues of business and healthcare immigration. Irina is an Executive Committee member and a Past Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section of Oregon State Bar, and an Emerging Leaders board member of Make-A-Wish.
Hobbies: spending time with family, hiking, travel, golf, and watching her son’s baseball.
Languages: English and Russian
Irina Batrakova
Principal Attorney
Irina is a native of Eastern Europe, and in 1994 was selected to participate in the Future Leaders Exchange program, sponsored by Department of State as part of the Freedom Support Act of 1992. She was one of the 1,200 talented and motivated students who spent the 1994 academic year in the U.S. with a goal of enhancing a dialogue between the people of the U.S. and former Soviet Union.
- Portland State University (Cum Laude Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science) – 2000
- Lewis and Clark Law School (Juris Doctorate) – 2004
Prior to founding TBLO in 2012, Irina started her legal career as an Immigration Attorney with Samuels Yoelin Kantor, where she practiced in the area of business and family immigration. She joined a Business Immigration group of Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, one of the largest business immigration practices in the U.S., as a Senior Attorney, where she worked with Fortune 100 companies, providing legal guidance on the issues of business visas and immigration compliance.
Irina was selected Super Lawyers Rising Star in the field of Immigration in 2009 and 2010. She is a regular speaker at the Oregon State Bar events, American Immigration Lawyers Association regional and global conferences on the issues of business and healthcare immigration. Irina is an Executive Committee member and a Past Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section of Oregon State Bar, and an Emerging Leaders board member of Make-A-Wish.
Hobbies: spending time with family, hiking, travel, golf, and watching her son’s baseball.
Languages: English and Russian
Brandon McNamee
Of Counsel Attorney
Originally from Wisconsin, Brandon has built his legal career representing distinguished clients, primarily focusing on visas and green card matters in both the employment and family-based contexts. His clientele is diverse, ranging from domestic international technology start-ups to arts entrepreneurs, global arts organizations, film production studios, and high-profile professionals. Brandon specialized in extraordinary ability petitions, offering immigration solutions that deliver maximum value to his clients. Known for his prompt and thorough communication, thoughtful collaboration, and a compassionate commitment to client satisfaction, Brandon navigates the challenging U.S. immigration landscape with finesse.
- Sarah Lawrence College (Bachelor of Arts) – 2003
- Lewis and Clark Law School (Juris Doctorate) – 2011
Actively involved in the immigrant and arts communities, Brandon is a proud member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He serves as immigration counsel to the Jonah Bokaer Arts Foundation and regularly works with the French cultural organization, Villa Albertine.
Hobbies: literature and writing, vegetarian cuisine, and hiking the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Languages: English
Maria Ponomareva
Paralegal
Maria was born and raised in Belgorod, Russia. She moved to the United States in 2018 at the age of 17 on a scholarship to play Division I tennis at Portland State University while studying Chemistry. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of North Texas in 2022 and completed a Paralegal Certificate through Boston University in 2025.
- University of North Texas (B.S. in Chemistry) – 2022
- Boston University (Paralegal Certificate) – 2025
As a Legal Assistant, Maria supports both family- and employment-based immigration matters, including H-1B specialty occupation cases, TN professionals, H-2B petitions, PERM Labor Certifications, Adjustment of Status applications, and Naturalization matters. Maria is passionate about immigration work and the plight of immigrants, bringing firsthand knowledge to her role as an immigrant who had to navigate the immigration processes in the U.S.
Hobbies: baking, yoga, playing pickleball, and travelling.
Languages: English and Russian
Alexandra Lipets
Administrative Assistant
Alexandra is an undergraduate student at The George Washington University, studying International Affairs and Psychology. After growing up in picturesque Portland, Oregon, she has eagerly taken on the intensity of Washington DC by immersing herself in the world of political advocacy. Through internships and on-campus organizations, Alexandra has engaged with various perspectives, hoping to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of the world politics and various cultures. Her interest in international politics and law has inspired Alexandra’s passion for immigration law and advocacy. Alexandra is an active member of the Pre Law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta and sorority, Alpha Phi.
- The George Washington University – Graduating May 2029
Growing up as a first-generation American and child of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Alexandra was constantly reminded of the legal and psychological struggles surrounding immigration. Working at an immigration law firm to help ease the process for future immigrants is an especially meaningful opportunity for her. At TBLO, Alexandra performs a variety of administrative and scheduling tasks to assist our Attorney and her legal team and curates our social media content and community outreach.
Hobbies: cooking, shopping, discovering new food and matcha spots, and traveling.
Languages: English and Russian
Alexandra Lipets
Administrative Assistant
Alexandra is an undergraduate student at The George Washington University, studying International Affairs and Psychology. After growing up in picturesque Portland, Oregon, she has eagerly taken on the intensity of Washington DC by immersing herself in the world of political advocacy. Through internships and on-campus organizations, Alexandra has engaged with various perspectives, hoping to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of the world politics and various cultures. Her interest in international politics and law has inspired Alexandra’s passion for immigration law and advocacy. Alexandra is an active member of the Pre Law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta and sorority, Alpha Phi.
- The George Washington University – Graduating May 2029
Growing up as a first-generation American and child of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Alexandra was constantly reminded of the legal and psychological struggles surrounding immigration. Working at an immigration law firm to help ease the process for future immigrants is an especially meaningful opportunity for her. At TBLO, Alexandra performs a variety of administrative and scheduling tasks to assist our Attorney and her legal team and curates our social media content and community outreach.
Hobbies: cooking, shopping, discovering new food and matcha spots, and traveling.
Languages: English and Russian