Kola & Associates, Ltd.
For more than three decades, Kola & Associates, Ltd. has stood beside individuals, families, and businesses when their liberty, status, and future are at stake.
The firm
For Kola & Associates, Ltd., committed representation begins by understanding the client—their family, their concerns, and what the outcome will mean for their future.
Led by Isuf Kola, the firm combines more than thirty years of experience with personal attention, clear communication, and a team approach. Clients are treated with dignity, kept informed, and supported through every stage of their matter.
Our legal team
Our attorneys work together to provide responsive, thoughtful representation while giving every client the personal attention their matter deserves.
Founder and senior attorney Isuf Kola earned his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1992 after graduating cum laude from Loyola University Chicago. A former DuPage County Assistant State’s Attorney, he has also served as counsel to the Open Society Foundation in Albania and brings more than three decades of U.S. and international legal experience to the firm.
Languages: English and Albanian
Anzur Ismail is an associate attorney who has practiced with Kola & Associates since 2015. His work focuses on immigration and criminal defense, including USCIS filings and removal matters. Admitted to the Illinois bar and authorized to practice before EOIR, Anzur earned his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in 2014 and a B.S. in Business Administration from DePaul University in 2004. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. Clients can expect diligent preparation, individualized attention, and consistent communication throughout their case.
Languages: English, Urdu, and Gujarati
Rawan Hishmeh is an associate attorney with Kola & Associates, where she has practiced since 2021. Her work focuses on immigration, criminal defense, and federal court matters. Admitted to practice in Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Rawan earned her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2021. She approaches each matter with clear communication, diligent preparation, and determined advocacy. Drawn to the complexity of the law, she works to provide clients with thoughtful guidance and careful representation at every stage of their case.
Languages: Spanish and Arabic
Votjona Mile is an associate attorney at Kola & Associates with more than 15 years of international legal experience. Licensed in New York and Albania, she focuses on immigration law, including removal defense, family-based petitions, humanitarian relief, waivers of inadmissibility, and visas for artists.
Before joining the firm, Votjona operated her own law practice in Albania, representing clients in more than 500 cases and handling litigation through the appellate and Supreme Court levels. She holds an LL.M. in International, Transnational, and U.S. Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a master’s degree in European Business Law from the University of Tirana.
Votjona brings a compassionate, practical approach to helping individuals and families navigate the U.S. immigration system and build a secure future.
Languages: English, Albanian, and Italian
Inji Akbar is an attorney focused on U.S. immigration law, particularly removal and custody defense. She represents clients in Immigration Court and federal court and works on asylum, cancellation of removal, VAWA, adjustment of status, USCIS petitions and waivers, habeas, and mandamus matters. Inji is admitted in New York and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She earned an LL.M. from Case Western Reserve University in 2022 and an LL.B. from Baku State University in 2020. She brings clear communication, strategic research, and careful courtroom preparation to each matter.
Languages: English, Turkish, and Azerbaijani
JeongMee Mok-Morrison is an associate attorney who joined Kola & Associates in 2025. She appears in immigration and criminal matters and meets with clients to help them understand what to expect at hearings and interviews. She works with clients to prepare and present their claims, helping them put their best foot forward throughout the process. Before joining the firm, JeongMee worked in public accounting, assessing state and local tax matters. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University, where she majored in political science, minored in sociology, and completed a certificate in creative writing. She received her J.D. from UIC School of Law, formerly The John Marshall Law School, in 2022. She is licensed to practice in Illinois and before the Executive Office for Immigration Review. JeongMee is detail oriented and calm under pressure, and finds meaning in helping others present themselves as clearly and fully as possible.
Angelica Bendik joined Kola & Associates in 2026 and focuses her practice on immigration law. She represents individuals and families in asylum, adjustment of status, waiver, USCIS interview, asylum interview, and immigration court matters. Her work includes preparing applications and supporting evidence, guiding clients through each stage of the process, and helping them prepare for important interviews and hearings.
Angelica values careful preparation, honest communication, and treating every client with compassion and respect. She understands that immigration matters can be stressful and deeply personal, so she takes time to listen, understand each client’s circumstances, explain what to expect, and answer questions. Clients can expect her to be thorough, responsive, and straightforward. She prepares each matter with attention to the client’s individual situation and helps clients feel informed and supported throughout the process.
Her personal background and Polish heritage shaped her interest in immigration law and give her perspective on challenges clients may face. Angelica earned her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law in 2022 and her bachelor’s degree in political science from Northeastern Illinois University. She is licensed to practice in Minnesota and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association. She takes particular care to help clients understand the issues in their cases and feel prepared for each next step.
Languages: English and Polish
Ameer Ahmad is an attorney at Kola & Associates. He supports the firm through legal research and writing, motions and briefs, immigration-court filings, evidence review, and hearing preparation. A significant part of his work involves detained removal matters, including immigration bond motions, communication with detained clients and sponsors, and development of supporting evidence and potential relief. He also works on asylum, family-based immigration, adjustment of status, waivers, and matters involving the intersection of criminal and immigration law. Ameer earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 2025 and a B.A. in Health Administration from Governors State University in 2021. His prior experience includes a Rule 711 student-attorney externship with the Will County Public Defender’s Office, as well as work in personal injury, medical malpractice, civil litigation, and real estate. He is known for responsive communication, careful preparation, persistence, and attention to detail.
Languages: English and Arabic
Professional biography to be added soon.
Syeda Safia Quadri is Of Counsel at Kola & Associates, bringing 14 years of legal experience. Her practice includes immigration matters before USCIS and immigration courts, bond hearings, habeas corpus petitions, and criminal matters, including motions to vacate convictions. She previously practiced with the firm and founded Quadri Law Group, representing individuals and families in removal defense, family-based immigration, asylum, VAWA, and religious worker matters. Safia earned her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago and is admitted in Illinois, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Seventh Circuit.
Languages: Hindi and Urdu
Nesreen Said is an attorney whose practice focuses on immigration law, including removal defense, asylum, adjustment of status, naturalization, prosecutorial discretion, and related relief before USCIS and EOIR. She joined Kola & Associates in 2018 and is admitted in Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Her immigration experience began before law school, when she spent six years as an immigration paralegal. She earned her J.D. from Valparaiso University Law School in 2016, where she served clients through the Immigration Law Clinic on asylum, removal, prosecutorial-discretion, and appellate matters. She later supported the federal Foreign Labor Certification Program, reviewing and processing more than 500 H-2B labor certifications. Nesreen earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois Chicago and is a member of AILA, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. Her own family’s immigration experience informs her commitment to thorough preparation, clear communication, and helping clients understand every stage of the process.
Languages: English and Arabic
Xiomara Herrera brings more than 15 years of experience in criminal and immigration law, along with extensive knowledge of the legal field and a strong commitment to supporting the firm’s attorneys, staff, and clients. She began her legal career at Kola & Associates in early 2013 and, over the years, grew into a leadership role overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations.
Xiomara takes pride in keeping the office organized, anticipating the team’s needs, and helping the firm run efficiently. Her reliability, compassion, and attention to detail help create an environment where the legal team can focus on providing strong representation and clients feel supported, respected, and heard. She keeps in mind that every case affects a person or family and may shape their future.
Languages: Spanish (fluent)
Andriy Moskalyk is an immigration paralegal and multilingual legal translation and interpretation specialist at Kola & Associates, where he has worked since 2021. He prepares immigration forms and applications and provides interpretation during attorney-client consultations, case-preparation meetings, and hearing preparation. He also translates legal documents and correspondence, helps clients stay informed about case progress, and coordinates with attorneys so clients are prepared for interviews and court hearings.
Before joining the firm, Andriy worked with boutique law firms focused on immigration, criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury, and workers’ compensation. He also conducts research on international relations, political developments, human rights, and country conditions to support immigration matters and court submissions.
Andriy earned an LL.M. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, an LL.B. from West Ukrainian National University, and an M.A. with honors in International Relations and Translation from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. He pursued doctoral studies in political science from 2011 to 2014 and holds a French-language certificate. He brings 11 years of legal experience to his work.
Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and French
The professionals who support our clients and legal team.
Samanta Reyes joined Kola & Associates in 2026 as a Legal Assistant. She supports clients and the legal team through front-desk service, appointment coordination, client communications, and translation. She welcomes clients, helps coordinate office visits, relays questions to the appropriate team members, and follows up about appointments, payments, biometrics, and case-related notices. Her prior experience in customer service and logistics strengthened her organization, communication, and attention to detail. Samanta earned a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Universidad Politécnica de Aguascalientes in Mexico and holds a current Illinois Notary Public commission. She values clear, respectful communication and aims to help clients feel heard and supported. Her calm and professional approach helps make interactions easier during stressful moments.
Languages: English and Spanish
Luisa Torres joined Kola & Associates in 2020 and supports U visa, T visa, criminal, DUI, Secretary of State, and detained-client matters. She prepares legal forms and supporting documents, coordinates with clients, tracks deadlines, and helps attorneys maintain organized case workflows from intake through completion. Luisa provides translation and interpretation and explains legal requirements in clear, practical terms. Her background in an immigrant family gives her a personal understanding of the challenges clients may face when navigating the legal system. She earned an associate degree in Human Resources from Milwaukee Area Technical College. Clients and colleagues value her organization, compassion, dependable follow-through, and commitment to helping people feel heard and supported during important moments in their lives.
Languages: English and Spanish
Stephanie Heuss joined Kola & Associates in 2025 and supports immigrant-visa and consular-processing matters, with a primary focus on DS-260 applications. She gathers and reviews client information and supporting documents, identifies missing or inconsistent information, and coordinates with clients and the legal team to keep applications accurate, complete, and timely. Before joining the firm, Stephanie worked as an administrative assistant at an immigration law firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a background that strengthens her communication, listening, and interpersonal skills. She helps bridge communication with Spanish-speaking clients and makes complex requirements easier to understand by breaking them into clear steps. Clients and colleagues can expect compassionate service, careful attention to detail, and an organized approach to each matter.
Languages: English and Spanish
Rocio Martinez has supported Kola & Associates since 2024. As a Legal Assistant, she helps prepare and review immigration applications for submission to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), supporting clients and attorneys through the filing process. With two years of experience in this work, Rocio is committed to helping people obtain their immigration documents and wants clients to know that she cares about them. She holds a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and brings customer service experience and involvement in Latin American organizations to her work.
Languages: English and Spanish
Eksara Hysa joined Kola & Associates in 2025 and supports clients and attorneys throughout the preparation of USCIS applications. Her work includes collecting and reviewing documents, following up with clients, preparing responses to Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny, assisting with appeals, and helping keep cases accurate, organized, and on schedule. Eksara earned a Master of Science in Law from the University of Tirana Faculty of Law and holds a Notary Public license. Her prior experience includes an internship with the Administrative Court of First Instance of Tirana and service as a secretary with the Prosecutor’s Office in Albania. She understands the challenges of living abroad and navigating an unfamiliar language and legal process. Clients and colleagues can expect her to be responsive, organized, calm under pressure, caring, and always ready to help.
Languages: English and Albanian
Jocelyn Vicuna has supported the firm’s legal team since April 2024. As a Legal Assistant working with the court team, she helps clients prepare asylum and cancellation of removal applications, gathers and organizes supporting documents, and assists with address updates for immigration court and USCIS. Jocelyn is known for her dependable, organized, and detail-oriented approach. She aims to make complex processes easier to understand through clear communication and practical, step-by-step guidance.
Languages: English and Spanish
Rudina Bani joined Kola & Associates in 2020 and supports the firm’s immigration team by monitoring court dates and case progress, uploading documents to MyCase, and keeping hearing dates organized on the firm calendar. Her work helps attorneys prepare applications efficiently and stay current on upcoming court dates. Before joining the firm, Rudina worked in Greece and Albania in customer service and design-related roles. She is known for being responsive, organized, compassionate, and calm under pressure. Rudina has also volunteered to help organize activities at her mosque during Ramadan.
Languages: Albanian, English, and Greek
Nara Habib joined Kola & Associates in 2023 and brings approximately 15 years of legal, government, and international experience. She supports immigration matters, including asylum, removal proceedings, and cancellation of removal. Her work includes legal research, assisting with draft filings and supporting documents under attorney supervision, USCIS follow-up, MyCase case organization, and remote-hearing coordination. Nara earned an LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She speaks Azerbaijani, English, Russian, and Turkish with excellent professional proficiency.
Languages: Azerbaijani, English, Russian, and Turkish
The professionals who support trial preparation and courtroom matters.
Erdem Yilmaz brings approximately eight years of experience in the legal field. His work focuses on legal research, case preparation, and document management. He organizes and reviews case materials, prepares documents for attorney review, and contributes to the development of case files. Erdem takes a methodical approach to detailed information and clear communication, helping clients understand document requirements and the next steps identified by the legal team.
Languages: English and Turkish
Gulnara Abdullayeva supports clients and the legal team through oral and written translation, document preparation, and case-file organization. She brings five years of translation experience and focuses on accuracy and preserving the meaning of legal information. Gulnara helps make complex processes easier to understand and supports clear communication with Russian-speaking clients. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Glasgow and has skills in legal translation, legal research, and document management.
Languages: English (C1), Russian (native), Azerbaijani (native), and Turkish (working proficiency)
Rukiye Aytac brings approximately seven years of legal experience, including several years supporting U.S. immigration matters. She assists with asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, removal defense, and USCIS filings by preparing forms and supporting evidence, reviewing records, organizing case materials, communicating with clients, and tracking deadlines and filing requirements. Rukiye earned her LL.B. from Marmara University Faculty of Law in 2018 and is a registered attorney with the Ankara Bar Association. Her training includes GDPR and information-technology law, and her work spans Turkish law and U.S. immigration case preparation. Clients and colleagues can expect responsive communication, careful attention to detail, calm organization, and a practical approach that turns complex requirements into clear, manageable steps.
Languages: Turkish (native) and English (professional)
Yeliz Perikli supports the preparation and organization of immigration cases, including applications, written pleadings, personal statements, supporting evidence, and country-conditions materials. She works closely with clients to gather information and documents and helps ensure that case files are complete, organized, and ready for attorney review and filing, particularly in asylum and removal matters. Before entering the legal field, Yeliz spent twenty years in software business development, where she developed strong skills in client communication, technology solutions, business processes, and problem-solving. She studied at Yıldız Technical University and Anadolu University and has specialized training in accounting, finance, and financial reporting. Yeliz is known for being responsive, organized, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure.
Languages: Turkish (native) and English (professional)
Areas of practice
Every engagement begins by listening to the client, understanding what matters most, and building a strategy around their needs and goals.
Removal defense, family and business immigration, asylum, waivers, naturalization, detention matters, and appeals.
Strategic defense in felony and misdemeanor matters, including careful attention to immigration consequences.
Federal litigation, appeals, mandamus and agency-delay actions, constitutional claims, and emergency relief.
Petitions challenging unlawful detention, prolonged custody, and other restraints on personal liberty.
Representation for individuals seeking compensation after accidents and injuries caused by negligence.
Professional credentials
The firm’s advocacy is grounded in decades of active practice and experience before state and federal immigration tribunals.
Client reviews
Public client feedback repeatedly highlights clear explanations, prompt communication, knowledgeable staff, and personal attention. The summaries below are drawn from recent public Google reviews, alongside verified Avvo feedback.
Clear guidance at every step and a team that made the clients feel involved.G.G. · Google review
Knowledgeable, professional, and supportive throughout a green-card matter.M.D. · Google review
An urgent matter received personal attention and a thoroughly explained process.D.D. · Google review
Professionalism, legal knowledge, and genuine care from the first consultation.B.J. · Google review
Strong courtroom support and professionalism during a demanding immigration hearing.M.A. · Google review
“Everything was explained to me in a real way.”H. · Avvo review
“Very loyal… very happy with his services.”I. · Avvo review
“Always maintained open communication.”O. · Avvo review
Google review text is summarized for readability. Reviews reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee a similar result in any future matter. Read reviews on Google.
A client is never simply a case. Their future is a responsibility we accept personally.The firm’s commitment
We take time to understand each client’s circumstances, concerns, and long-term goals.
Clients receive clear explanations, realistic guidance, and timely updates throughout the representation.
We pursue the client’s objectives with care, determination, and respect for what the outcome means to them.
Secure client access
Existing clients can securely access their MyCase account online.
Begin with a consultation
Speak with us about your concerns, your goals, and how our team can help you move forward.