SAN MATEO, Calif., November 2025 — Ballout Law APC, a leading immigration law boutique based in San Mateo and San Francisco, has been named one of California’s Top Boutique Law Firms of 2025 by the Daily Journal. This annual recognition honors exceptional legal talent and visionary leadership among small and midsized firms shaping the state’s legal landscape.
Founded in 1992 by Haitham S. Ballout, Ballout Law APC has spent more than three decades helping thousands of immigrants overcome complex legal challenges and secure their future in the United States. The firm is nationally recognized for its strong record of appellate victories and its compassionate, client-centered approach to immigration law.
It’s a blessing to wake up and do work that changes people’s lives,” said Founder and Managing Attorney Haitham S. Ballout. “We’re honored by this recognition and deeply grateful to every client who has trusted us along the way.
Championing Immigrant Rights Before the Ninth Circuit
Ballout’s recognition follows a series of landmark wins before the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In February 2025, the court unanimously ruled in favor of a Honduran family fleeing death threats, finding that lower courts had failed to properly assess the reasonableness of future fear and the country’s dangerous conditions. Read more about that case here.
Ballout’s reputation as a steadfast advocate for immigrants’ rights was further cemented by his previous success in Maldonado v. Holder, where the Ninth Circuit clarified that immigration judges must consider all relevant evidence in asylum cases — ensuring that no single factor unfairly determines a person’s fate. The ruling made it easier for future asylum seekers to justify their right to remain in the U.S. under the law.
Immigration judges are under a lot of pressure to deny asylum claims these days,” Ballout explained. “The Ninth Circuit is where we win cases. That court is a blessing.
Built on Resilience and Purpose
Ballout’s journey is one of perseverance and conviction. Himself an immigrant from Lebanon, he arrived in the U.S. at 14 with no English and limited resources. After earning his law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law and studying comparative law at the University of Cambridge, he sent out more than 150 resumes before deciding to start his own practice — a decision that would shape decades of immigration advocacy.
Since then, Ballout Law APC has built a legacy of leadership and compassion, guiding clients through the most complex immigration matters, including deportation defense, asylum, family-based petitions, and appeals.
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Top Boutiques 2025 – Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal
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