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Tristan Gunn is a partner at Tapia-Ruano & Gunn, P.C., a Chicago immigration law firm, where he represents individuals and families in a broad range of U.S. immigration matters. His practice includes family-based immigration, removal defense, humanitarian relief, waivers of inadmissibility, adjustment of status, federal litigation, and complex immigration matters. He represents clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the federal courts.
Mr. Gunn has been recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers from 2024 through 2027, after previously being selected to Illinois Rising Stars from 2018 through 2022.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Gunn serves as an Adjunct Professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he teaches immigration legal writing and advocacy. He also periodically presents for the DePaul Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic and has presented on immigration law and practice for attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals.
Mr. Gunn is extensively involved in the immigration bar. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Executive Board of the American Immigration Lawyers Association's Chicago Chapter, after previously serving as Chapter Secretary. His AILA Chicago leadership has included work involving government liaison, litigation, advocacy, continuing legal education, and professional engagement. He also served as Chair and Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Immigration and Nationality Committee from 2020–2022.
At the national level, Mr. Gunn has served as Chair of AILA's National Membership Engagement Committee and Chair of the Removal & Litigation Track for the AILA Annual Conference Planning Committee. He has been selected as a speaker and panelist for AILA National conferences and webinars and has contributed to AILA educational programming and publications, including Navigating the Fundamentals of Immigration Law, Immigration Practice Pointers, and the U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Law Toolbox.
His professional service has also extended beyond the organized immigration bar. Mr. Gunn has presented for the Cook County Public Defender's Office Annual Conference, served on the DePaul University College of Law Diversity Council, and participated in community immigration initiatives, including a 2024 Migrant Work Clinic organized by Chicago's 47th Ward and Anshe Emet Synagogue.
Mr. Gunn is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.
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Practice Area
13 years
Free Consultation
$0 first 30 minutes
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Chat withState: Illinois
Acquired: 2012
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53 W Jackson Blvd Ste 852, Chicago, IL, 60604-3830
20 Client Reviews
Showing 6 - 10 of 20 reviews
Posted by anonymous | June 02, 2019 | Hired Attorney
Excellent client service
We had a great experience working with Tristan Gunn. He was very professional and knowledgeable. He was patient with our questions and provided us with clear answers. We will hire him again without any reservation. His staff was also excellent.
Posted by Brenda | April 25, 2019 | Hired Attorney
Excellent service.
The Law Office of Tapia-Ruano and Gunn are une of the best in the Chicago land area. I hardly recommend their services. I never imagine to the office be able to get my residence renewed because of some issues that I had on my record. In contrast, they achieve to the UICIS renew my residence without c...
Posted by Anh | April 06, 2019 | Hired Attorney
AOS case - Knowledgeable and realistic
Tristan successfully helped me attain permanent residence status so I'm very grateful for all the work that he and his staff put into my case. I had some complication with my F1 status so I was worried it would be a roadblock for my case. However, he laid out the situation in a very comprehensible wa...
Posted by Yuliana | January 27, 2019 | Hired Attorney
Review
I hired Tristan Gunn twice and have nothing but great things to say about this firm! Carlina Tapia Ruano is also great. She is very kind and honest. I would highly recommend this law firm.
Posted by DIANA | January 24, 2019 | Hired Attorney
TERRIBLE LAWYER
My name is Diana. In March of last year I requested Tapia-Ruano & Gunn’s services to help me with my husband’s immigration process. When we had the interview I explained my situation in detail and they said they could help. Since most people (from what I heard from these lawyers) live in the US while...
I did represent this client, but ended my representation almost 5 months before the date of this review. Representation ended because this client would not follow instructions. Unfortunately, I cannot give details here in this public forum of examples as to the thorough level of service and instruction she was actually provided with while she was represented, due to the rules pertaining to confidentiality of current and even past clients. I can only say a great deal of time was invested in instructing her, repeatedly, on what was needed to prepare the paperwork related to her case. When I ultimately arrived at a point where it became clear she would not follow my advice or instruction moving forward with her case I informed her that I was terminating my representation and she was refunded a portion of her payments to my office that was fair considering time and work performed up to that point. Every case is a partnership between the attorney and client. The information comes from the client. If a client is unwilling or refusing to cooperate or provide needed documentation and information than the case quickly stalls or falls apart and representation cannot continue. This is a case of a client being frustrated with the process, a process that made her case more difficult because of her specific situation, and sadly that frustration was directed at my office.
"I endorse attorney Gunn. He is an experienced immigration attorney, has thorough understanding of immigration laws and agency practices, and benefits the AVVO forum by elaborate and substantive responses."
"Tristan is a passionate advocate who is always fighting for his clients. He and I have worked together on various projects with AILA over the years. He has been working doing lots of advocacy to represent the needs of his clients and the need for immigration reform."
"Tristan is a good attorney who genuinely cares about his clients. He is involved in numerous projects and committees in the immigration law field, and his involvement shows his commitment and up-to-date knowledge in this ever changing field of law."
"I had the pleasure of working with Tristan for five years at an immigration law firm. He is a dedicated advocate for his clients, and he thoroughly prepares every case. He truly cares about his clients and strives to achieve the best outcome in every case."
Immigration lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Immigration lawyer
2021
Illinois Rising Stars, SuperLawyers
2021
Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
2020
Illinois Rising Stars, SuperLawyers
2019
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2019
Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
2018
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2018
Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
2018
Rising Star, Chicago Magazine
2018
Top Lawyers, Chicago Lawyer Magazine
2017
Emerging Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
2017
Top Lawyers, Chicago Lawyer Magazine
2012 - Present
Attorney, TAPIA-RUANO & GUNN PC
2006 - 2012
Office Manager/Paralegal, TAPIA-RUANO & GUNN PC
2005 - 2006
Legal Assistant, Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, PC
2018 - Present
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinoismember
2012 - Present
American Immigration Lawyers Association (Chicago chapter)Member
2012 - Present
Chicago Bar AssociationMember
2012 - 2018
Illinois State Bar AssociationMember
2011
JD - Juris Doctor
2004
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2019
Crimmigration: How Criminal Defense Attorneys can Better Protect their Immigrant Clients
2019
2017
The signing of President Trump's Executive Order 13769, signed into effect on January 27, 2017. Tristan spoke on the conditions of detention centers and the treatment of undocumented immigrants, as well as a general explanation of the ban itself.
2017
How to Effectively Represent Your Client at a USCIS Interview
2016
Immigration 102: Government Agencies
Spanish
English
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
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