Christopher Helt, Esq., the principal attorney at Helt Law Group, LLC, is a nationally recognized removal defense attorney specializing in providing legal representation to immigrants in various legal forums, including the U.S. Immigration Court, federal district court, federal circuit courts, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Helt is a graduate of Loyola Academy, Loyola University Chicago (with honors), and Loyola University's School of Law. His practice primarily focuses on federal immigration litigation, particularly in matters involving political asylum, refugee law, and deportation/removal proceedings before the U.S. immigration court and federal court systems. He holds an "AV" Preeminent Rating, the highest rating possible by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the esteem of his legal peers.
Mr. Helt's expertise in immigration law has been recognized nationally. He has been qualified twice as an expert witness in federal jury trials related to immigration and asylum issues. He is admitted to various federal circuit courts, including the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th circuits, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the U.S. Supreme Court bar. Mr. Helt has been listed in Marquis' Who's Who in American Law and has made appearances on major news networks such as CNN, FOX NEWS, BBC, and NPR, discussing immigration-related topics.
Throughout his career, Mr. Helt has handled high-profile cases that have garnered significant media attention. His work has been featured in leading newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, as well as national publications such as Time Magazine and The New York Times. He has also appeared on the covers of legal publications like Chicago Lawyer Magazine, where his contributions to immigration law were highlighted.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Helt is committed to pro bono work, providing legal assistance to underserved communities and serving as an active member of the ABA's Military Pro Bono Project.
Mr. Helt is an esteemed educator, serving as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University of Chicago since 2007. He teaches courses on immigration policy and sociological perspectives on terrorism to undergraduate and graduate students.
His dedication to his clients extends beyond U.S. borders, as evidenced by his travel to Pakistan in 2013 to assist a client with an immigration matter, where he also spoke at the National Press Club of Pakistan and appeared as a guest on Pakistani television.
Recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer and featured in ALM's Chicago Top Rated Lawyer, Mr. Helt exemplifies the highest standards of legal and ethical practice in his field.
Additionally, Christopher Helt has been invited to assist the FBI Chicago in restarting the FBI Chicago Citizens Academy and currently serves as their general counsel and a board member. Furthermore, he contributes as a "digital journalist" for Haute Lawyer online magazine.
