About Us
Connected to our past, prepared for the future
Zaid Hydari
Founder and Managing Attorney
Zaid Hydari has over a decade of experience at the intersection of immigration, international relations, foreign affairs, and humanitarian assistance. Zaid is a first-generation American with a lifelong commitment to public service. His experience ranges from founding and running an international NGO, teaching law, and providing professional services to individuals of various nationalities to secure legal status and documentation as a lawyer.
After obtaining his B.A. from University Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, he spent his early career as a legal professional in Istanbul, assisting hundreds of individuals from dozens of countries navigate the UNHCR and Turkish asylum process. In 2014, Zaid founded the US-based non-profit Refugee Solidarity Network (RSN), an organization that has worked closely with the US Department of State and other major stakeholders to ensure that immigration systems, namely family-based and humanitarian channels, remain available in some of the world’s most important migration contexts. With RSN Zaid has led the organization to support legal services for over 10,000 persons, free of charge, in a number of key host countries, namely Turkiye and Pakistan.
Zaid values the opportunity to pass along his knowledge and experience as an adjunct professor at his alma mater Fordham University School of Law, where he has taught ‘Immigration Law’ and ‘International Refugee Law & Policy’ since 2019.
Zaid understands the critical role that legal assistance plays for individuals navigating complex procedures and is deeply committed to ensuring access to legal assistance for all. He is admitted to practice in New York State and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He has published works in various journals and media including the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Foreign Policy in Focus and has spoken before the UNHCR’s Executive Committee, European Parliament, and the Mexican Senate.
Why “Gray Whale”?
The gray whale, a member of the giant baleen whale family, migrates longer distances than all of the world’s marine mammals. Gray whales travel 10,000- to 14,000-miles round trip on their annual migratory journey. Beyond our physical world, whales carry spiritual significance. In many faiths, whales symbolize transformation. In Maori and other indigenous cultures, whale songs and movements are seen to connect people to their past and guide them towards their future. Our firm aspires to embody this spirit, helping our clients navigate their own journeys of growth and success.