Lawyer Profile

Biography

Immigration and refugee lawyer with over 10 years of experience in the field of immigration law, policy and advocacy. Quoted in Canadian and international media, including The Guardian, BBC World News, Global News, The Toronto Star, and Fox News. Winner of the 2018 Canadian Bar Association Founders' Award recognizing an exceptional junior lawyer and future leader in immigration law. Currently the Principal Lawyer at Smith Immigration Law. Full-service legal practice in all types of permanent and temporary applications to Canada, with specialization in Federal Court and IRB litigation and LGBTQ immigration issues. Appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada in November 2018 representing EGALE as an intervenor. Appeared as an expert witness in November 2017 to speak on medical inadmissibility before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration which monitor's federal immigration policies. Instructor and Course Developer with Queen's Law. Former Instructor with Toronto Metropolitan University and UBC. Guest speaker at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law and York University's Centre for Refugee Studies. Law degree (J.D.) from the University of Ottawa, Master of Arts (M.A.) in Immigration and Settlement Studies from Ryerson University and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from McGill University. Recipient of the Public Interest Law Fellowship in National Security Law and nominated for the Common Law Section Dean’s Award awarded to a graduating student in recognition of significant contribution made to the law school community. Previously served as a Policy Advisor at Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Membership in the Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association and Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers.