The new issue of Drexel Magazine highlights three of the law school’s accomplished and ambitious alumni: Matthew Borowski, Tanishka Cruz and Jordan Fischer.
The magazine, in its annual "40 Under 40" feature, cited the high-profile case in which Borowski, ’12, represented an Afghan Army captain who had aided U.S. forces but was being denied asylum here. The case became the subject of a 6,300-word feature in Esquire last summer that highlighted the challenging complexities that surround immigration law.
Esquire ran a follow-up article when Borowski – against steep odds – prevailed in court, securing amnesty for his client, who faced a death sentence imposed by the Taliban if he had been forced to return to Afghanistan.
Borowski, who launched his own practice in Buffalo, New York, told the Drexel Magazine that being the son of two immigrants made the area of practice a natural fit.
He credited coursework at the law school that helped him translate his ideals into practical application.
“Drexel had an excellent set of practical courses taught by adjunct faculty, including the immigration litigation course, which was a fantastic introduction to the things that I do on a daily basis now,” he said. “Having a seasoned practitioner teach that course was an excellent choice.”
Cruz, ’12, who appears on the magazine cover, is the founding attorney of Cruz Law, an attorney with the Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville, Virginia and a member of the faculty at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she supervises students in the Immigration Law Clinic.
Two of Cruz’s UVA students recently won the release from detention of an undocumented immigrant who had been facing deportation. In 2016 and 2017, Cruz received coverage in the Washington Post and National Public Radio for her advocacy on behalf of undocumented young immigrants who had been abused or neglected by parents and seek special visas to remain in the U.S.
In an interview with Drexel Magazine, Cruz said she considers her efforts to keep families together and represent vulnerable immigrant populations to be her greatest accomplishment. She credited the law school’s emphasis on experiential learning, its collegial energy and entrepreneurial spirit with making her the lawyer she is today.
Fischer, ’13, teaches European Union Law as an adjunct professor at the law school and co-founded XPAN Law Group, a boutique law firm that focuses on cybersecurity and international and domestic data privacy, a male-dominated environment.
“Providing a unique global solution to the legal needs of a wide variety of companies has been an invigorating journey and one that continues to grow and change,” Fischer said in an interview.
Crediting the law school with providing “a great networking foundation and exposure to a wide variety of industries,” Fischer voiced enthusiasm about creating a sustainable company that meets the growing needs of businesses and supporting future generations of professionals.
“I hope to also use my own experiences, both in the law and in creating my own business, to provide the community with another strong female voice, encouraging others on their own unique paths,” she said.