Sharon
An
Partner, Vialto Partners LLP
Sharon is an immigration lawyer with over 15 years of experience. Her practice encompasses all immigration matters including residence applications, inadmissibility issues and immigration compliance for corporations. She has served as a designated representative before the Immigration and Refugee Board.
When Temporary is the Only Option
Matt Ayres
Chief Labour Market Economist, Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
Matt has 30+ years of experience as an economist and has been in his current position since 2022, leading the Labour Market Information, Reporting and Evaluation Team. His team produces an annual BC Labour Market Outlook and provides insights into current immigration and labour market trends.
Immigration Law’s Next Chapter
Anita Boscariol
Associate Counsel, Watson Goepel LLP
Anita’s practice focuses on Aboriginal law and immigration law. She has over 25 years of experience working in the public sector and formerly served as Assistant Deputy Chair of the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board. Anita also teaches immigration law as an adjunct instructor at Queen’s University Law School.
Litigation Tactics to Make the System Move
Adrienne Denham
Lawyer, LeBeau Law
Adrienne is an immigration lawyer dedicated to helping individuals seeking permanent or temporary residence. Drawing on her first-hand experience of immigrating to Canada, she helps clients navigate the stressful process with compassion. Adrienne is on the executive of the CBABC Immigration Law Section and a member of the CBA National Immigration Law Section.
Choosing the Right Path to Permanent Residence
Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC
Associate Counsel, Larlee Rosenberg
Jeevyn practices workplace immigration law, with a background in employment law. She brings a unique perspective to considering the practical implications of government policy and regulation, having served as the President of the Law Society of BC for 2024. Following the completion of her term, she accepted an appointment to serve as a member of the Transitional Board of Legal Professions BC.
Immigration Law’s Next Chapter
Amandeep Hayer
Principal, Hayer Law
Amandeep has exclusively practiced immigration and citizenship law since he was called to the Alberta Bar in 2015. Later called to the B.C. Bar, Amandeep started his own firm, Hayer Law. He has appeared as an expert witness to the House of Commons Citizenship and Immigration Committee on behalf of the CBA and regularly speaks on immigration and citizenship issues.
When Temporary is the Only Option
Victor
Ing
Partner, Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre
Victor has practiced immigration law for over a decade and co-founded Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre. He has appeared in the BC Supreme Court as an expert witness in immigration law matters and is a regular contributor to the South Asian Post, providing monthly insight on current immigration trends and changes.
Choosing the Right Path to Permanent Residence
Richard
Kurland
Lawyer, Kurland, Tobe
Richard is an immigration lawyer and editor-in-chief of Lexbase, a law and policy immigration publication providing monthly summaries of Federal Court decisions. He was Special Advisor to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, oversighting International Affairs and Immigration. In 2017, the Senate of Canada awarded Richard a medal for his dedicated efforts to streamline the national immigration system.
Litigation Tactics to Make the System Move
Kamaljit K. Lehal
Senior Lawyer, Lehal Law
Kamaljit’s practice focuses exclusively on immigration law. Her advocacy for immigrant women who are victims of intimate partner violence was instrumental in the creation of an expedited immigration process for such victims. She has advocated for trauma informed provisions in policy and guidelines that govern hearings before the Refugee Protection Division and Refugee Appeal Division.
No Way Forward, But Can’t Go Back
Hannah Lindy
Lawyer, Larlee Rosenberg
Hannah provides service in all areas of immigration, refugee and citizenship law. Her expertise encompasses humanitarian and compassionate considerations, family sponsorship, pre-removal risk assessments and more. During law school, Hannah was a board member of the UBC Law Review and served as judicial intern to the Provincial Court of BC.
No Way Forward, But Can’t Go Back
Benton Mischuk
Lawyer, MKS Immigration Lawyers
Benton has worked in immigration from every angle — as a visa officer posted to Canadian missions all over the world, as a manager with the BC Provincial Nominee Program and as an immigration lawyer. He brings this unique blend of real-world experience to the table to support his clients with informed, innovative advice.
When Temporary is the Only Option
Erica Olmstead
Partner and Lawyer, Edelmann and Company Law Offices
Erica practices immigration, refugee and criminal law. She has extensive experience resolving complex inadmissibility cases for individuals obtaining and keeping their immigration status. Erica also works as a case reviewer at Legal Aid BC’s Appeals Department and as an adjunct professor at Allard School of Law, teaching a seminar on appellate advocacy.
Litigation Tactics to Make the System Move
Helen
Park
Partner, Dentons
Helen is the co-lead of Dentons National Immigration Group with a practice centered on business immigration for corporate clients worldwide. She offers advice on permanent residence options, work permit applications, and work force and labour shortage needs. Helen is also a leading expert on immigration matters in the entertainment industry, advising clients on issues for foreign workers who must urgently work on film productions in Canada.
When Temporary is the Only Option
Ian
Ross
Executive Director, BC Provincial Nominee Program
Ian started his public service career in 2002 and has held a range of senior leadership roles in immigration programs, poverty reduction, accessibility, income assistance and employment programs. He is currently Executive Director of the Immigration Programs Branch, which is responsible for the BC Provincial Nominee Program, B.C.’s only direct economic immigration tool.
Immigration Law’s Next Chapter
Marina Sedai
Senior Lawyer and Principal, Sedai Immigration Law Corporation
Marina has practiced exclusively in immigration and citizenship law for 21 years, focusing primarily on economic, family and inadmissibility matters. She has served as a legal expert for courts in Canada and abroad, particularly on nuanced issues involving regulatory interpretation and immigration procedure. She frequently speaks to legal and academic audiences across Canada, delivering practical insight on evolving law, policy and system design.
Choosing the Right Path to Permanent Residence
Katharine Van
Nostrand
Partner, Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LLP
Katharine has a broad range of experience helping clients navigate the intricacies of business immigration law and related human resources issues. She represents business clients in their endeavors to obtain Canadian legal work authorization for international talent and provides advice on both short- and long-term immigration goals. Outside of her client work, Katharine researches cases for the British Columbia Annual Practice.
Choosing the Right Path to Permanent Residence
Fadi
Yachoua
Managing Lawyer and Founder, Yachoua Law
Fadi leads a team across Vancouver and Ottawa dedicated to immigration, refugee and citizenship law. He maintains a broad practice supporting individuals and organizations with transactional, enforcement and litigation matters. Fadi is a frequent speaker at legal and community events, an advocate for the rights of migrants and refugees, and was a board member at the BCCLA and MOSAIC.
Litigation Tactics to Make the System Move
Brian
Yuen
Litigation Partner, Coal Harbour Law
Brian is a civil litigator with 15+ years of experience. He specializes in immigration law, along with administrative law and estate litigation. Prior to starting with his current firm, Brian worked at WorkSafe BC, the BC Securities Commission and the Department of Justice in Ottawa.
Immigration Law’s Next Chapter