Drew Nishiyama is a former immigration judge and accomplished trial attorney who has represented individuals, families, government agencies, and institutional clients in courtrooms and administrative proceedings across the country. His experience on both sides of the bench, together with more than a decade of service as a United States Air Force judge advocate, gives him an unusually broad perspective on how consequential legal decisions are made, and how careful preparation, sound judgment, and determined advocacy can change the course of a client’s life.

For Drew, that work is deeply personal. His grandmother, a United States citizen, and her family were forcibly removed from the California coast and incarcerated at the Manzanar internment camp during World War II. After the war, she rebuilt her life in New Jersey. Drew grew up near Philadelphia in a family of public servants, carrying with him both the memory of what can happen when government power is exercised without sufficient regard for individual rights and the example of a family that responded through resilience, education, and service.

That history instilled in Drew a lifelong commitment to public service and to standing beside people navigating institutions far more powerful than they are. It also informs the empathy he brings to immigration law, where a single decision can determine whether a family remains together, whether a person can live and work safely, and whether years of sacrifice will lead to stability or sudden upheaval.

Drew attended Muhlenberg College, where he studied economics and political science and competed as a collegiate track and field athlete. The demands of college athletics reinforced habits that have remained central throughout his career: preparation, endurance, accountability, and the ability to perform under pressure. He later earned both his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law and a Master of Public Affairs, specializing in public policy, from the university’s Truman School of Public Affairs.

After completing his graduate education, Drew spent three years on Capitol Hill as a congressional staff member in the United States Congress. That experience gave him firsthand knowledge of the legislative process and of how federal policy is developed, implemented, and translated into consequences for real people. It also strengthened the skills in legislative analysis, government affairs, and policy judgment that he continues to bring to complex federal matters.

In 2013, Drew commissioned as a judge advocate in the United States Air Force. He graduated from Commissioned Officer Training as a Distinguished Graduate, an honor recognizing exceptional performance and leadership. He went on to serve on active duty at Keesler Air Force Base, later served in the Wisconsin Air National Guard, and has continued his military legal career in the Air Force Reserve. Through sustained performance and leadership, he has continued to earn promotion and positions of increasing responsibility.

Drew was competitively selected to serve as an Area Defense Counsel, placing him among the Air Force advocates entrusted to independently defend service members facing serious criminal and administrative allegations. He distinguished himself among his peers as a top-rated defense counsel, combining exacting preparation with steady courtroom judgment and a genuine commitment to the people he represented. His military service has also included deployment in support of the nation’s mission and extensive experience advising within demanding operational environments.

His civilian career is equally varied and litigation-focused. As an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington, Drew represented the Department of Children, Youth, and Families in consequential child-dependency matters. At the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, he represented the agency in hearings and dispute resolution before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Federal Labor Relations Authority. He later practiced civil defense, handling substantial and complex liability matters for insured clients and public entities. Across each position, the common thread has been serious advocacy in cases where the outcome matters profoundly to the people involved.

In 2026, after a competitive federal selection process, the Attorney General appointed Drew to serve as a temporary immigration judge. He joined a newly appointed group that completed a robust judicial training program before taking the bench. In that role, Drew presided over immigration proceedings and gained direct insight into the evidentiary, procedural, and practical considerations that shape cases in immigration court.

That judicial experience now strengthens his work for Paladin’s clients. Drew understands the importance of presenting a clear record, identifying the issue that will matter most to the decision-maker, and preparing every witness and filing with precision. Just as importantly, he understands what is at stake beyond the case file: family unity, safety, military careers, professional reputations, and the ability to build a future in the United States.

Drew joins Paladin Law Group as a partner after a career marked by uncommon breadth. He brings to the firm the discipline of a military officer, the perspective of a judge, and the instincts of a trial lawyer. His clients receive advocacy that is strategic, candid, and fully committed to protecting their rights when the stakes are highest.