Chuck Berendes - La Crosse, WI

Overview

Chuck is a La Crosse native and an Aquinas graduate. Chuck did his undergraduate studies at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN where he served two years on the Student Senate, spent a semester in China and delivered the commencement address at the graduation ceremony. Upon graduation Chuck moved to San Diego for an adventure. While in California Chuck worked as a foreman on the construction of a large apartment building and led five men who had been released from San Quentin prison just days before starting work on the construction site. It was this experience that motivated Chuck to attend law school. He moved back to the Midwest and attended the University of St. Thomas School of Law. While at St. Thomas Chuck was involved in a number of volunteer opportunities including founding an after school study program at a local elementary school and recruiting other law students to serve as tutors. Chuck also served as the Student Body President in his third year of law school. During law school Chuck married his wife Polly, also a La Crosse native and their first child was born at the beginning of his last semester at St. Thomas. After law school Chuck and his family returned to La Crosse and Chuck took a position as an immigration attorney at Catholic Charities. Chuck worked at Catholic Charities for 9 years and built an immigration practice that served immigrants from all over the western side of Wisconsin. For half of his time at Catholic Charities Chuck also served as the Assistant Executive Director of the agency overseeing the creation of the Warming Center in La Crosse and another in Wausau and a full time homeless shelter in Eau Claire and varied programs from adoption, to services for children on the autism spectrum. During his time at Catholic Charities Chuck and Polly had two more children and Chuck earned a Masters in Business Administration from Viterbo University. Before joining Pittman & Pittman Chuck served as the General Manager of a local real estate company and learned much about the real estate industry.

As an experienced immigration attorney at Pittman & Pittman, Chuck has helped numerous individuals and families navigate the complex immigration system. He specializes in fiancé visas, marriage-based Green Cards, Naturalization and cases involving parole in place. Chuck understands the importance of keeping families together and has successfully represented many US citizen wives whose undocumented husbands were at risk of deportation. With compassion and expertise, he guides his clients through the legal process, ensuring that US citizen spouses and their loved ones have the best possible chance at obtaining legal status and building a life in America.

Chuck and Polly live in La Crosse with their three children. Chuck is active in numerous community organizations including his parish, and serves on the board of the MidWest Music Fest, Beer By Bike Brigade, La Crosse SOUP, and was the board president Shelter Development and spent years in leadership with the Cub Scouts when his sons were young. Chuck enjoys spending time with his family on road trips or watching sporting events around the Midwest.