Christian M. Frank Fas, founder of USADefend Law Firm located in Lakewood, Colorado, serves as a defense counsel attorney with a distinguished 17-year career. His main areas of practice are USA investment, employment, and exceptional ability visas. Christian graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Criminology in 2003 and subsequently earned his law degree cum laude from the Pontifical Catholic University Law School of Puerto Rico in 2006.
Throughout his career, Christian has provided legal counsel and representation to hundreds of clients in both civil and criminal cases before multiple state and federal district courts. His expertise extends beyond defense counsel, where he focuses on international real estate investments, Puerto Rico tax benefits for individual resident investors and export services companies, federal civil litigation in United States District Court, cryptocurrency and blockchain law and regulations in the USA, and international estate planning for Americans.
As a serial entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio of businesses throughout his career, Christian has a unique perspective on legal matters. He is committed to providing his clients with the best possible legal representation while caring about their personal and financial well-being.
Accomplishments & Accolades
1998
Enrolled in Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Social Deviation.
Completed Automotive Mechanics course at Mech Tech College, and certified as ASE mechanic
1999
Centennial Cable TV – Broadband Internet Tech
Puerto Rico’s first broadband cable internet technician at Pegasus Cable TV, then Centennial Cable TV, serving the entire northern, western and southern areas of Puerto Rico.
2002
Acquired Martin’s Pizza and Pasta
Pizza restaurant with delivery, serving locally for over 40 years in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
Organized, coordinated and successfully participated as accused in a mock trial that followed the investigation performed by the authorities, where a Preliminary Hearing, Bail Arraignment, Jury Selection and Mock Trial by jury were held at the Mayagüez Campus of the PUCPR.
2003
Graduated – Bachelor’s Degree with honors (cum laude)
Major: Criminology. Minor in Social Deviation
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus
Recognized as a Collegiate All American Scholar by the United States Achievement Academy for outstanding academic excellence.
Student Memberships:
American Society of Criminology
Criminology Student Association – PUCPR Société Internationale de Criminologie
2004
Elected Chief Justice
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, José de Diego Chapter, Ponce, PR
Deployed the first PUCPR Law School WiFi network.
2005
Webmaster – PUCPR Law School newspaper Prima Facie
Organized the Phi Alpha Delta ‘Sail Away’ where 300 law school students and faculty cruised on Empress of the Seas through the Caribbean.
Managed and deployed digital distribution platform for the Bar Exam Review held during Summer 2006 by the “Fundación para la Difusión y Desarrollo del Derecho, Inc.” presided by internationally recognized authority in Civil Law, Professor Rosario del Pilar Hernández Vera, Esq.
2006
Graduated – Juris Doctor – PUCPR Law School with honors (cum laude)
Volunteered with the Curriculum Revision Committee for the PUCPR Law School for its American Bar Association accreditation.
Published the first law review article EVER on digital notarial services and remote digital notarization in Puerto Rico: The Future of Notaries in the Digital Age
2007
Admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar
RUA Núm. 16,407
Admitted to Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico – Colegiado 16,667.
Founded Christian M. Frank Fas Law Offices at Calle Mayor #7, Ponce, PR.
Civil and Criminal litigation, with particular focus on United States-Puerto Rico Interstate relations.
Complex interstate divorces involving division of marital estates. Disputes over breach of exclusive distribution contracts of products and services. Business startup planning, creation and formation in Puerto Rico.
Complex probate litigation, estate division and impeachment of testaments in Puerto Rico. Development of digital notarial practices.
Alpha and Beta testing of electronic document filing systems in multiple legal jurisdictions.
Interstate Child Support Collections Defense.
Complex Estate and Probate Litigation, focused on multi-jurisdictional estate divisions. Forensic post-mortem estate accounting and asset reconstruction for complex litigation.
Legal counsel to multiple Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm related industries, including import, export and excise tax compliance, and international trade.
2008
Founded BoricuaLaw.com
Puerto Rico’s first legal blog, Boricualaw.com, focused on interstate litigation, Exclusive Distribution Contracts under Law 75, law practice management, and Puerto Rico & USA territorial relations.
2009
Exclusive Distribution Contracts for USA Imports in Puerto Rico
Represented multiple fine tobacco cigar companies in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico for importation of tobacco products to the USA and Puerto Rico, under Act 75 (Puerto Rico Dealer’s Act).
2010
Microbreweries and Brewpubs
Represented and procured seed funding for multiple microbrewery and brewpub startups, and lobbied before state congress for the legalization of homebrew beer to pioneer the Craft Beer industry in Puerto Rico.
2011
Boricualaw.com is nominated by LexisNexis
Top 25 Estate, Probate and Elder Law Blogs.
2012
Pioneered the Homebrewing community in Puerto Rico
Frst prize in multiple beer homebrewing competitions nationwide in Puerto Rico and the USA.
Completed a 2 year apprenticeship in artisanal bread baking focused on Italian and French breads.
Organized the first delegation from Puerto Rico to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado.
2014
Certified as PADI Rescue Diver
PADI Certified as Rescue Diver with DAN Oxygen Provider Certificate with 300+ dives to date.
2015
Pioneered Trail Running in Puerto Rico
Founded Night Runners (Corredores Nocturnos) the first trail running team in Boqueron, Puerto Rico
Began training intensively in USA immigration law, asylum and removal defense.
2016
Founded USADefend Immigration in Denver, Colorado
Admitted to the United States Federal District Court for Colorado and the US Bankruptcy Court for Colorado.
Practice Areas:
Immigration and Civil Rights litigation, primarily focused on removal defense; Representation before EOIR in Asylum Defense cases of LGTBQ+ individuals from Central and South America fleeing persecution in their native countries.
Primary legal resource for Univision Colorado news for immigration matters.
Family immigration including waivers, VAWA and U Visa applications.
Complex removal cases before Immigration Court.
Asylum Defense in Removal Proceedings before Immigration Court.
Immigration Appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Immigration Appeals before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Civil Rights Violation Lawsuits before Federal District Court.
Nationally recognized Hispanic and Latinx civil rights activist.
Immigration and Civil Rights litigation, primarily focused on removal defense; Representation before EOIR in Asylum Defense cases of LGTBQ+ individuals from Central and South America fleeing persecution in their native countries. Primary legal resource for Univision Colorado news for immigration matters. Family immigration including waivers, VAWA and U Visa applications.
Complex removal cases before Immigration Court. Asylum Defense in Removal Proceedings before Immigration Court. Immigration Appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals. Immigration Appeals before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Civil Rights Violation Lawsuits before Federal District Court.
Nationally recognized Hispanic and Latinx civil rights activist.
2017
Pro-Bono representation of refugees in asylum proceedings.
Volunteered with Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) providing Pro Bono representation for immigrant refugees seeking asylum in the United States before immigration court in deportation proceedings.
2018
Joined American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Recognized as certified services provider by the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC) of Puerto Rico, agency that manages the PR Incentives Act (Act 60, former Act 20/22).
Volunteered at TransRockies Run providing remote alpine location support and logistics to racers and personnel.
2019
Admitted to United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted to the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals for Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Volunteered at Mt. Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska, providing remote location support and logistics to racers and personnel.
Transitioned to 100% virtual legal practice to travel to over 60 countries.
2020
Joined National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA)
Volunteered as beta tester for the Denver Immigration Court (EOIR-DEN) online document filing system in response to COVID-19 Pandemic.
Volunteered as beta tester to the EOIR Webex/Remote Hearing program to provide legal representation remotely through teleconference.
2021
Founded Expat Expert
Founded Expat Expert to create and implement comprehensive solutions for investors and business owners to legally reduce their tax exposure, diversify and protect their wealth, acquire second citizenship, and unleash their full financial potential.
Volunteered with Western Pack Burro Association providing remote location support and logistics to racers and personnel.
2022
Founded Thrybal Wellness Retreat in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Thrybal is an all-inclusive wellness retreat designed specifically for lawyers, offering a holistic approach of body, mind, and soul to help lawyers develop a work-life balance and cope with the stress and demands of practicing law. The retreat includes workshops, seminars, and alternative stress-reducing techniques, and is located in beautiful Costa Rica.
2023
Admitted to United States District Court for Nebraska
Focus on federal litigation of delayed immigration applications pending at the USCIS Nebraska Service Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
