About Brendan J.
Brendan J. Venter built his legal foundation in the classroom and on the bench. He earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 2008, where he studied Spanish and Latin American studies. He went on to receive his J.D. from Albany Law School in 2013.
After law school, Venter spent a year as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. The clerkship exposed him to federal litigation practice and the mechanics of courtroom procedure. He handled legal research, drafted memoranda for the court, and managed the day-to-day flow of cases assigned to the judge.
Venter moved into private practice in 2015 when he joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP as an associate. He worked on matters for firm clients across a range of administrative and civil issues. That period provided hands-on experience in client counseling and case preparation at the trial level.
In 2019 he joined Harris Beach PLLC as an associate. Two years later he was elevated to partner. At Harris Beach he has taken on greater responsibility for case leadership and client management. He also participates in internal training and in the development of firm processes for handling immigration-related matters.
Venter has been active in professional circles tied to immigration law. He joined the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2015 and serves on the executive board of the Upstate New York chapter as secretary, a role he has held since 2019. Those positions have kept him engaged with changes in federal policy and regional practice issues.
He is admitted to practice in New York and represents both individuals and employers in immigration-related proceedings. His work includes advising clients on compliance questions, handling administrative filings, and appearing before federal and administrative bodies. He applies the procedural experience from his clerkship to litigation and appellate matters when they arise.
Colleagues and clients describe him as practical and thorough in courtroom preparation and client communication. He balances casework with his responsibilities on the AILA Upstate New York executive board.
He is currently a partner at Harris Beach PLLC and concentrates his practice in immigration law at the firm.
