Canada's leading immigration law firms address citizenship, refugee issues
This year, Canadian Lawyer’s top 10 immigration law boutiques have delivered high-quality legal services, have made substantial contributions to this field of law, and have assisted individuals, families, and businesses in their navigation of complex immigration processes.
The country’s best immigration law firms, selected from a pool of 47 nominees, include boutiques of varying sizes from provinces including Ontario, Quebec, B.C., Alberta, and Manitoba. They show strong leadership and take on difficult immigration cases. The act with integrity in all their dealings and exemplify the legal profession’s highest ideals.
The leading immigration law firms address issues engaging the law of citizenship, immigration, refugees, and national security. They assist clients with their immigration needs such as temporary and permanent residency, labour market needs for Canadian employers, study permits for international students, and the entry of skilled foreign workers.
The top immigration law firms stay up to date with evolving jurisprudence, legislation, rules, regulations, and procedures so that their clients can receive expert counsel amid this ever-changing legal field. They make a point of respecting regional differences and of cultivating in-depth knowledge of local immigration laws.
The winners help clients seamlessly and easily go through every stage of their immigration journeys, promptly respond to their clients’ questions, effectively manage expectations through personalized communication, and generally expend tireless efforts for their clients’ rights and interests.
The awardees employ competent and ethical lawyers who offer practical advice based on legal knowledge, morals, and client needs so that they can achieve remarkable results for their clients.
“To succeed in immigration law, you need a supportive community,” says Barbara Jo Caruso, founding partner at Corporate Immigration Law Firm. “Collaboration and sharing are essential for navigating its complexities.”
The winning firms know the value of collaboration and community engagement. They share their expertise and knowledge with the broader immigration community and bar and present and teach continuing legal education programs at organizations like the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA).
“In Canadian Lawyer’s announcement of who’s who and who is succeeding, there’ll be a common thread that those people haven’t gotten there on their own,” adds Caruso, who is also CILA’s co-president. “Regardless of where you’re practising immigration law, to succeed, immigration lawyers need a community to bounce ideas off of to keep abreast of all the changes.”
“For smaller and more focused firms, they’re not going to be generalized in their practice; they’re going to be more specialized and focused on expertise in specific aspects,” Samuel Escobar, CILA’s communications and media vice president, tells Canadian Lawyer. “To be successful in immigration law, firms need to possess knowledge and fluidity.”
Emerging boutique immigration law firms need to seek knowledge because there are upward of 100 different pathways to permanent residency, Escobar says.
The winning firms are Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC; Corporate Immigration Law Firm; Galileo Partners Lawyers Inc.; Gomberg Dalfen S.E.N.C.; Green and Spiegel LLP; Jackman & Associates; Larlee Rosenberg, Barristers & Solicitors; McCrea Immigration Law; Sherritt Greene Immigration Law; and Zaifman Law.
Canadian Lawyer congratulates the top 10 immigration law boutiques for 2024–25. See more information about the winners.
