Michael Lukens

Michael Lukens

CAIR Coalition

Moderator and Coordinator, Retaining Talent in Traumatic Times

Michael has served as the Executive Director since February 2024. Prior, Michael was the Associate Director at CAIR Coalition, which he joined in 2014. He is responsible for oversight of the legal and operational programs of the organization, including the Detained Adult Program, the Detained Unaccompanied Children’s Program, the Immigration Impact Lab, the Finance Team, and the Operations Team. Michael assists with development, communications, and board governance and sits on the Leadership Team of CAIR Coalition. Michael also serves as a liaison to law firms and the broader non-profit community, as well as directly representing children in removal proceedings.

Prior to joining CAIR Coalition, Michael was a senior associate at Paul Hastings where he focused on environmental matters and served as the Pro Bono Coordinator for the firm’s DC Office. In addition to his commercial portfolio and pro bono responsibilities, Michael worked on many direct representation matters for pro bono clients, including immigration, non-profit governance, landlord/tenant, and contract matters. Michael received his J.D. from Hofstra School of Law and his Masters of Public Management from the University of Maryland.