Overview
Reginald A. Pacis is a Shareholder practicing in Butzel's Detroit office. He concentrates his practice in Immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/ Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews. Mr. Pacis is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Michigan’s Super Lawyers (Immigration Law). He was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year” in Immigration Law in 2013 and again in 2023 by Best Lawyers and he continues to maintain an AV rating in the Martindale Hubbell publication.
Mr. Pacis is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive terms from 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 as Chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms. He previously served as Secretary (2001 to 2003) and Membership Chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA (1998 to 2003).
Mr. Pacis has been a speaker on immigration topics at many business, Hispanic, and Filipino presentations. He is a frequent presenter in the Annual Butzel Immigration Seminar. He was a presenter and member of the faculty for the 2004 AILA National Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and published in the 2004 AILA National Conference materials with an article discussing Special Registration of certain classes of immigrants. He was a presenter and discussion leader at the 2006 AILA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. As part of a panel of immigration lawyers in 2007, Mr. Pacis spoke on immigration employer compliance issues for an immigration seminar sponsored by the Governor's Advisory Council on Asian Pacific American Affairs in Lansing, Michigan. He testified during the January 18, 2008 Michigan Senate Transportation Committee's public hearing that examined the impact of proposed drivers license legislation on immigration issues. He was also a presenter at the 2008 AILA National Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada and published in the 2008 AILA National Conference materials with an article discussing border immigration issues. He testified on June 18, 2010 during the open session at the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights public meeting examining the proposed immigration bill similar to the recently enacted Arizona bill. He was a presenter and discussion leader in the 2010 AILA National Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, the 2011 Spring AILA Conference in Washington, D.C., the 2011 AILA National Conference in San Diego, California 2014 AILA National Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, and the 2015 AILA National Conference held again in National Harbor, Maryland. He was also a speaker in a video presentation discussing family law and immigration law for ICLE (Institute for Continuing Legal Education) in 2014.
Mr. Pacis' article, "Changes Involving the Visa Waiver Program and the Michigan Driver's License Application Process" appeared in the Winter/Spring 2009 issue of the Michigan International Lawyer published by the State Bar of Michigan.
Mr. Pacis has served in a variety of committees in the Filipino and professional communities. He completed an appointment by Governor Granholm for service on the Advisory Committee for Asian Pacific American Affairs (ACAPAA). He served on the Michigan AILA Advocacy Committee from 2007 to 2010. He was appointed by Governor Snyder to serve on the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC) for a four year term from 2019 to 2022. Mr. Pacis previously served as Chairperson of the Michigan AILA Committee responsible for liaison with the Michigan Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") Agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security presiding over inspections and security of the U.S. border, from 2005 to 2007. His service expanded to the AILA National CBP liaison Committee as a member, Vice Chair and Chairperson of the AILA National CBP liaison Committee. He also served as Vice Chair on the AILA United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") Field Operations Liaison committee, the AILA education “Distance Learning” committee, the USCIS/ AILA Nebraska Service Center Liaison committee, and on the USCIS/ AILA National Benefits Center liaison committee. USCIS is the agency that presides over U.S. immigration benefits such as green cards and petition approvals. He is presently serving on AILA's Paralegal conference planning committee. He is presently serving on AILA's Law Student Outreach committee and was selected in May 2024 to serve as a Board Member of the State Bar of Michigan Immigration Law Section.
Mr. Pacis received his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in 1996 and his B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1992. He joined the State Bar of Michigan in 1997.
Primary Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
James Madison College at Michigan State University 1992, B.A.
Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University 1996, J.D.
Admissions
- Michigan
Memberships
- American Bar Association
Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization
Philippine Chamber of Commerce of Michigan
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
AILA National Board of Governors - Member (2003-2004 and 2004-2005)
AILA - Michigan Chapter - Chairperson (2003-2004 and 2004-2005)
AILA - Michigan Chapter - Membership Chairperson (1998-2003)
AILA - Michigan Chapter - Secretary (2001-2003)
AILA - Michigan Chapter - Advocacy Committee (2007-2009)
AILA National Committee - liaison with Customs and Border Protection (division of U.S. Department of Homeland Security presiding over inspections and security of the U.S. border)
Michigan AILA Committee - Current Vice Chair of committee responsible for liaison with the Michigan Customs and Border Protection Agency former member (2005-2007) former Vice Chair (2009-2010) former Chair (2010-2011)
AILA Border Security Committee (2007-2009) - AILA USCIS Field Operations Liaison Committee - Current Vice Chair (2012-2013) former member (2011-2012)
- Advisory Committee for Asian Pacific American Affairs (ACAPAA) - appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm
International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit - Member of the Board of Directors - State Bar of Michigan Immigration Law Section - Member of the Board of Directors
Awards & Recognitions
Awards & Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America®: "Lawyer of the Year," Immigration Law, 2013, 2023, 2025
The Best Lawyers in America® - Immigration Law, 2009-2025
National Federation of Filipino American Associations of Michigan Award for Excellence in Law, October 6, 2007
Michigan Super Lawyers, Immigration: Business, 2011-2024
DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Immigration Law, 2011-2025
Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Immigration, 2021-2023