Richard Michael Wilner

Richard M. Wilner, a founding member of Wilner & O’Reilly, APLC, stands as a distinguished legal professional certified by the State Bar of California as a Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law. His extensive expertise extends to practicing law in the State of California and before the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California, the Northern District of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. With a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating, the highest accolade in legal and ethical standing bestowed by peers, and consistent recognition as a Super Lawyer since 2007, Mr. Wilner is a trusted authority in the complex realm of U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law.

Mr. Wilner is renowned for his counsel to a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, middle and small market businesses, entrepreneurs, and foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities in athletics, arts, and sciences. His commitment to public service is evident through his role as a Commissioner on the State Bar of California’s Immigration and Nationality Law Advisory Commission. Additionally, Mr. Wilner has served as the former co-chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s immigration law section and is a board member of the Orange County Jewish Bar Association.

Dedicated to pro bono initiatives, Mr. Wilner provides legal representation to active-duty soldiers from the United States Armed Forces in their immigration needs. He has also served as the former Military Liaison for the Southern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Notably, Mr. Wilner was honored as the Veterans Legal Institute (VLI) 2016 Lawyer of the Year.

A Los Angeles native, Mr. Wilner earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Transnational Business Practice from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, and the University of Salzburg, Austria. He holds a Certificate in International Law from the National University of Singapore and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the University of California, conferred in 1992. Mr. Wilner's global perspective is enriched by his work experiences in Thailand and Vietnam.

Certified by the State Bar of California in Immigration and Nationality Law since 2004, Mr. Wilner has contributed to legal literature with published works like "EB-Immigrant Investors" in OC Lawyer, Vol 54 No. 7, 2012. His involvement in significant cases, such as EEOC vs. Reeves and Associates (U.S.D.C and 9th) and Reeves vs. Hanlon (Cal Supreme), underscores his impact on the legal landscape.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Wilner actively engages in pro bono activities, notably with the Veterans Legal Institute, reflecting his commitment to serving those who have served our nation.