Daria focuses her practice on removal defense, with particular experience representing clients in detention all over the U.S., many of whom are asylum seekers fleeing persecution. Licensed to practice law in both the United States and Russia, Daria brings more than 15 years of experience in immigration, asylum, and extradition matters, and has a deep understanding of the international human rights standards that protect people from forcible return.
Prior to joining Massa Viana, Daria practiced immigration law in the United States, including in her own practice in Washington State. She also represents asylum seekers pro bono through the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR Project) in Massachusetts
Russia, Daria worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the Right to Asylum Advocacy Project, where she served as Head of the Legal Department. The project, carried out jointly with the Russian NGO Institute of Human Rights, represented asylum applicants from Central Asia, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, North Korea, and elsewhere before national authorities, the European Court of Human Rights, and the U.N. Human Rights Committee. Under her leadership, the project won landmark judgments at the European Court of Human Rights protecting individuals from forcible removal and persecution. For fifteen years, she also worked as a pro bono lawyer with Stichting Justice Initiative, pursuing strategic human rights litigation on behalf of victims of grave human rights violations in the former Soviet Union, and earlier with the Nobel Prize–winning Human Rights Center Memorial.
From 2006 to 2021, Daria was a teaching fellow at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), where she taught Russian criminal law and procedure, the European human rights protection system, and ethics. Daria is a recognized expert for the Council of Europe and has tutored several programs under its project “Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals.” She also adapted a UNHCR course on Asylum and the European Convention on Human Rights for Russian-speaking audiences.
Daria earned her Bachelor’s and Master of Laws degrees, with honors, from MGIMO University. She later received an LL.M. in Transnational and American Law from the University of Dayton School of Law.
Having spent her career defending people who have been forced to flee their homes, Daria understands what is at stake for every client who walks through the door. She brings that experience, along with her fluency in Russian, to her work every day at Massa Viana
Education
LL.M. Transnational & American Law – University of Dayton School of Law (2023)
Certificate, Introduction to U.S. Immigration Law – American University Washington College of Law (2019)
Master of Laws (J.D. equivalent), with honors – MGIMO University (2006)
Bachelor of Laws, Russian and International Law – MGIMO University (2004)
Admissions
Washington
Russian Federation
Involvement
Pro Bono Attorney, Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR Project)
Recognized Expert, Council of Europe
