Gabriel Castro

“If you really want to create the best product, if you want to be the top of your industry, you’re going to have to bring in the best talent, and it doesn’t and shouldn’t matter where that talent is coming in from. Whether that’s to play point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers or to be a software engineer, you’re going to want to be able to bring in the best from around the world.

Driven by his family’s own immigration story, Gabriel Castro has risen to become a Senior Associate and head of BAL’s Sports and Entertainment practice. He is based in BAL’s Los Angeles office.

Gabriel has represented businesses of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to local mom-and-pop shops. He has helped professional sports franchises in the NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and MLS secure visas for top international talent. He is particularly adept at finding creative immigration strategies for athletes in emerging sports, including e-sports and entertainers in the music, film and television industries.

Gabriel began his legal career with the U.S. Department of Justice through the Attorney General’s Honors Attorney program, where he served as an Attorney Advisor to the Los Angeles Immigration Court. Subsequently, Gabriel was the Directing Attorney for Immigration and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, where he helped families in the Los Angeles community navigate the U.S. immigration system.

The son of a Mexican immigrant, Gabriel developed his work ethic watching his father open a Mexican restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. He enjoys giving back to the community and has previously served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and the Greater East Valley.

Gabriel is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has been listed in the Best Lawyer’s guide since 2022. He has been quoted as an expert in several top publications, including The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.