Meet David S. Santee
David Santee has been winning complex legal matters for more than 25 years. His practice combines both his decades of representing individuals and institutions in immigration matters with his significant trial experience. A leader in the field of advocacy, he fights in court to strengthen the rights of immigrants, represents both individuals and businesses on immigration applications filed in the United States and at consular offices all over the world, and represents individuals facing deportation. He also has extensive experience handling criminal matters. He has represented thousands of clients facing criminal charges and has represented hundreds of clients on trial before a judge or jury.
Dedicated to defending your rights
About Attorney David S. Santee
Mr. Santee began his legal career “in the trenches” as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where he tried more than 250 criminal trials to verdict. Because of his experience as a courtroom advocate, Mr. Santee was appointed Assistant Dean for Trial Advocacy Programs at Villanova law school in 2007. At Villanova, he designed the law school’s integrated trial advocacy program, where second-year law students apply in a courtroom what they are learning in their Evidence class. He taught courses in trial advocacy, evidence, and legal writing. He continues to teach trial advocacy to practicing lawyers as an instructor with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He launched his own law firm in 2013. He makes it possible for individuals and their families to live and work lawfully in the United States. He helps businesses land talented employees from overseas. He has won freedom for clients sentenced to serve the rest of their lives in prison and he has helped other clients avoid prison altogether.
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Career Highlights
- Numerous approvals of family and employment-based applications before USCIS and the Department of State.
- Extensive experience with the Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Program (350+ project applications and 100+ investor petitions).
- Tried approximately 250 criminal trials to verdict.
- Secured release of Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, subject of the Pulitzer Prize winning podcast, Suave.
- 10+ years as an Adjunct Professor at Villanova University School of Law.
- 6 years as Villanova’s Director of Trial Advocacy Programs.
- 4 years as an assistant public defender in Philadelphia.
- 3 years of experience as a civil litigator with Rawle & Henderson, the oldest law firm in the U.S.
- Faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Education
- Temple University Beasley School of School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1999
- Villanova University, Bachelor of Arts, 1995
Recent Publications
- More than Words: Rethinking the Role of Modern Demonstrative Evidence, 52 Santa Clara L. Rev. 105 (2012)
Professional Activities
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL)
Awards and Affiliations
