Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. Excited to Expand its Federal Litigation Practice by Adding Robert Carpenter & Patricia Capt

Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. (MMH) is pleased to announce that Robert Carpenter and Patricia Capt will be joining the firm this summer as we continue to expand our federal litigation practice group to meet the moment. In light of continued challenges to immigration under the Trump administration, MMH is deepening its bench in immigration litigation and federal court advocacy to continue to protect our clients’ rights and deliver results in a rapidly changing landscape. Increasingly, federal litigation is essential in many matters to compel immigration agencies to follow the law and to overturn erroneous denials. 

Robert and Patricia bring more than 30 years of experience leading their own immigration and federal litigation firm, and we are excited to welcome them to MMH. Their depth of knowledge and proven track record will further strengthen our team and expand our ability to serve employers, individuals and families facing high-stakes immigration matters. We look forward to this new chapter for our firm. 

With these additions, MMH reinforces its commitment to strategic federal litigation and comprehensive immigration representation for employers, individuals, and families nationwide.

Robert Carpenter is an immigration litigator with over 30 years of experience representing foreign nationals in removal proceedings, with a practice focused on asylum, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture, cancellation of removal, and adjustment of status. He has secured numerous favorable decisions before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and regularly challenges USCIS denials in federal court, including through mandamus actions addressing unreasonable agency delay and Administrative Procedure Act claims arising from unlawful applications of governing law. Mr. Carpenter has also litigated unlawful no-bond detention matters in federal district courts across seven states, achieving a 100% success rate. He prevailed in the precedent-setting decision of Ming Wei Chen v. Sessions, 864 F.3d 536 (7th Cir. 2017), and has litigated frequently in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits. In recent years, he has handled dozens of appeals in the Ninth Circuit, obtaining multiple remands on behalf of asylum seekers.  

A long-time member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Mr. Carpenter also regularly mentors fellow practitioners. In 2021, he assisted Afghan evacuees at a U.S. Army base on a pro bono basis. Mr. Carpenter maintains deep ties to Chicago and continues a family tradition of civic service, bringing a longstanding commitment to the protection of human rights and the rule of law. Robert earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida, and his JD at DePaul University College of Law.

Patricia Capt also brings over 30 years of experience to MMH. She began her legal career with the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office, representing abused and neglected children in Juvenile Court and adults requiring guardianship over their persons and estates in Probate Court. Ms. Capt later served as Managing Partner of Carpenter & Capt, Chtd. for 30 years prior to joining MMH. In addition to her management responsibilities, she led the firm’s family-based immigration practice, including handling complex family-based and humanitarian-based cases, and advanced arguments that waivers were not required where the categorical approach demonstrated that the least proscribed conduct did not trigger inadmissibility. Throughout her career, Ms. Capt has remained committed to advocating for children, families, and individuals navigating high-stakes legal proceedings. Ms. Capt’s recent matters include securing visa issuance at a U.S. consulate after the government asserted that a negligence-based offense constituted a crime involving moral turpitude; the visa was ultimately issued. She also maintained a near-perfect record in proceedings before the Michigan Tax Tribunal and, in 2022, prevailed before the Michigan Court of Appeals in an appeal of a Principal Residence Exemption denial. The case was remanded for a new hearing before the Michigan Tax Tribunal, which subsequently granted the exemption.  

She earned her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. 

With these additions, MMH reinforces its commitment to strategic federal litigation and comprehensive immigration representation for employers, individuals, and families nationwide.