Meet Our Team
Will Tao
Principal Lawyer / Founder
Laura Schemitsch
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Dr. Hamidreza Siavashpour
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Karina Juma
Articling Student
Torah Lee
Articling Student
Tamara Yang
Case Manager
Tobie Lin
Case Manager
Olivia Yin
Business & People Operations
Meet Our Team
Will Tao
Principal Canadian Immigration, Refugee and Admin Lawyer / Founder
Laura Schemitsch
Canadian Immigration Refugee, and Admin Lawyer
Dr. Hamidreza Siavashpour
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Karina Juma
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Yussif Silva
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Tamara Yang
Case Manager
Edris Arib
Director of Case Management
Olivia Yin
Business & People Operations
Meeting Angela
Early in our practice, we met Angela Lee Harris, a lawyer who is passionate about social justice and assisting people on their journeys to building a better future. Angela articled at a small full-service law firm in downtown Vancouver, BC, where she developed a keen interest in immigration and refugee law. She is also eager to explore the intersections between Canadian immigration law and Indigenous law and communities.
Adding Candy
Shortly after, a former star student from Will’s teaching days at University of British Columbia (UBC), Candy Hui, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), joined the team as a case manager. Candy brings a high-energy, research-intensive approach in working on our immigration matters and with our clients. As a Pharmacist by training, she is always looking for the right solution for our clients.
Our Team, Together
Together, as a team, we want to build a firm around the core principles of compassion, empathy, and justice. We believe that our lived experiences and evidence and research-based knowledge can help guide you in your times of greatest need.
Read about our vision in our open letter below:
Canadian Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship law firm based in the Greater Vancouver area serving clients in Canada and around the World.
Our core areas of specialization:
1. International Students
2. Judicial Reviews
3. Family and Spousal Sponsorships
4. Immigration Appeals
We chose to launch our headquarters in Burnaby, B.C. (with mobility throughout the Greater Vancouver region) because we believe this city represents our ideal future Canada in terms of diversity, resilience, and often hidden beauty. We look forward to welcoming you at our offices.
As set out in our value propositions, we believe there is a way to lawyer differently. We aim to provide process-oriented, cost effective services that are aided (not hindered) by technology and project management. We want to lawyer compassionately and confidently and continue the excellent work we have done to inspire future immigration lawyers and law students.
We want to be Lawyers for Migrant Communities and do this for our next generation. We thank you for being part of our story.
Going Beyond the Law
At Heron Law, we go beyond the limitations that the law often provides. Our clients’ experiences are transformed into advocacy and action. We take lessons learned and apply them to our community work, our strategic litigation, and our participation on policy panels. We advocate for larger systemic changes to benefit our clients and the system as a whole.
Our Visions for Expansion
We hope for Heron Law Offices to provide other legal services beyond immigration law and are actively looking to partner with human rights, family, criminal, small business, non-profit, employment, and social services-related lawyers to transform our Firm into a more comprehensive source for migrant communities.
We invite lawyers, law students, immigration professionals, and support staff interested in our work and our direction to email us at info@heronlaw.ca
Awards and Recognitions
- Lexpert-Ranked Lawyer as one of Canada’s Leading Legal Practitioners in the 2026 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
- Recipient of the Canadian Bar Association’s 2020 Founder’s Award for accomplishments in his first five years of practice
- Four Clawbies Awards, including having the Best Immigration Law Blog in 2019.
Community Involvement
Will has been actively involved in community and public-interest initiatives focused on migration, equity, and civic engagement. His involvement includes serving as a founding member of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Immigration Section Anti-Racism Committee, an honourary member of the Immigration Advocacy Committee of the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE), and a board member of the Roundtable Society. He has also held advisory roles with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (‘FACLBC”), the CBA BC Equality and Diversity Committee, and municipal bodies including the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Communities Advisory Committee and the Mayor’s Working Group on Immigration.
Co-founder/Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Will Tao (he/him) JD, LLM
Will Tao is an experienced Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer with over a decade of experience and the founding lawyer of Heron Law Offices, a firm known for its principled and client-focused approach.
Will provides legal services in all areas of Canadian immigration and refugee law with a focus on complex applications, overcoming refusals, inadmissibility matters, appeals, and judicial reviews. He regularly appears before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada. His focus is on international students, families, and temporary foreign workers. His current work includes challenging the government’s use of Automated Decision Making, navigating inadmissibility matters involving security and misrepresentation, and developing strategic immigration solutions for applicants in the tech, arts, entertainment, and sports industries.
Will provides expert immigration legal opinions for family, criminal, civil, and other intersecting legal matters, as well as for employees’ unions.
Will also provides strategic advice and consultation to government, media, educational institutions, and businesses on immigration, refugee, decolonization, and race equity issues. He is the founder and creator of the award-winning Vancouver Immigration Blog, through which he works to make immigration and refugee law more accessible to the general public.
A key opinion leader in Canadian immigration, Will has been frequently invited to speak at various conferences and comment in the news. He has served as an expert affiant before the Federal Court (FC), and has consulted with the Treasury Board Secretariat. In December 2024, Will appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to provide expert testimony on reforms to the International Student Program.
Education & Bar Admission
- Juris Doctor (JD), University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law (2014)
- Master of Laws (LLM), University of British Columbia – Peter A. Allard School of Law (2025)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of British Columbia – History and International Relations (2011)
- Called to the Bar of British Columbia (2015)
Representative Work and Cases
Will’s practice covers Canadian immigration, refugee, citizenship, and broader administrative law, across both complex litigation and solicitor matters.
- Federal Court judicial reviews, statutory appeals, and mandamus applications arising from refused or delayed study permit, work permit, permanent residence, and citizenship decisions.
- Litigation involving immigration inadmissibility, including security, misrepresentation, and criminality.
- Challenges to automated decision-making and AI-assisted triage systems used in immigration processing.
- Expert affiant work in immigration-related proceedings before the Federal Court.
- Complex study permit applications (overseas, ports of entry, and in-Canada), including non-traditional applicants and cases with multiple prior refusals.
- Family sponsorship matters, including spousal, partner, parent, and grandparent sponsorships.
- Economic and business immigration, including Express Entry, provincial nomination, and strategic planning for clients in the technology, arts, entertainment, and sports sectors.
- Immigration legal opinion intersecting with family, criminal, labour, and civil law, including expert immigration legal opinions for courts, unions, and counsel.
- Inadmissibility strategies (Temporary Resident Permits and criminal rehabilitation), Humanitarian and Compassionate applications, and application of status for individuals without status.
- Permanent resident card renewals and citizenship applications.
Selected cases include:
- Expert legal opinion letter in immigration for a family law case, Allen v Allen-Bakshi, 2026 BCSC 58 (CanLII)
- S v. Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2020 FC 718 (CanLII)
- Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), 2019 FC 418 (CanLII)
- Z v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2018 FC 502 (CanLII)
- Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) v. M, 2018 FC 729 (CanLII)
- C v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2018 CanLII 89016 (CA IRB)
- W v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2016 CanLII 90976 (CA IRB)
Awards and Recognitions
- Lexpert-Ranked Lawyer as one of Canada’s Leading Legal Practitioners in the 2026 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
- Recipient of the Canadian Bar Association’s 2020 Founder’s Award for accomplishments in his first five years of practice
- Four Clawbies Awards, including having the Best Immigration Law Blog in 2019.
- Best Lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers since 2019.
Community Involvement
Will has been actively involved in community and public-interest initiatives focused on migration, equity, and civic engagement. His involvement includes serving as a founding member of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Immigration Section Anti-Racism Committee, an honourary member of the Immigration Advocacy Committee of the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE), and a board member of the Roundtable Society. He has also held advisory roles with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (‘FACLBC”), the CBA BC Equality and Diversity Committee, and municipal bodies including the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Communities Advisory Committee and the Mayor’s Working Group on Immigration.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Laura Schemitsch (she/her)
Laura Schemitsch has been practicing Canadian immigration and refugee law since 2020 with a wide scope of matters and complexity.
Laura has successfully represented clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and has assisted clients overcome complex immigration issues including application refusals, humanitarian and compassionate requests, inadmissibility issues, procedural fairness letter responses and judicial reviews. Laura helps employers, entrepreneurs, permanent resident applicants, temporary foreign workers, international students, and visitors on their unique Canadian immigration journeys.
Laura’s academic work has been published in peer reviewed journals and prominent media outlets. In November 2022, Laura was invited to speak before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in Canada’s House of Commons.
Laura found her passion for immigration and refugee law in 2017 when she joined Capital Rainbow Refuge, a private sponsorship group that brings LGBTQIA2S+ asylum seekers to Ottawa. Laura completed her articling placement at Gerami Law PC, a boutique immigration and refugee law firm in Ottawa between August 2019 and June 2020 and was hired back as an immigration and refugee lawyer.
Laura moved to British Columbia in June 2020 with her family and transferred her law license to BC. She worked in the Sea to Sky region until starting at Heron Law Offices in June 2023.
When Laura is not working she enjoys exploring the outdoors, dancing, crafting and her volunteer work.
Representative Work
Laura’s practice covers Canadian immigration, refugee, citizenship, and broader administrative law, across both complex litigation and solicitor matters, including
- Federal Court judicial reviews, and mandamus applications arising from refused or delayed study permit, work permit, permanent residence, and citizenship decisions.
- Litigation involving immigration inadmissibility, including misrepresentation, and criminality.
- Refugee claims and appeals before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
- Response to Procedural Fairness Letters, complex inadmissibility issues
- Complex study permit applications (overseas, ports of entry, and in-Canada), including cases with multiple prior refusals.
- Family sponsorship matters
- Economic and business immigration, including Express Entry, provincial nomination, in particular, BC PNP Entrepreneurs
- Labour Market Impact Assessments and Advising Employers re: Offers of Employment and Employer Portal
- Inadmissibility solutions (Temporary Resident Permits and criminal rehabilitation), Humanitarian and Compassionate applications, and application of status for individuals without status.
- Permanent resident card renewals and Permanent Resident Travel Document applications (including with H&C considerations)
- Citizenship applications
Education & Bar Admission
- Honours Bachelor of Arts in History, Minors in Art History and Religious Studies – McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario), 2012, Summa Cum Laude
- Master of Arts (MA) in Art History – Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) 2014
- Juris Doctor (JD) – English Common Law, Specializations in Public Law and Law and Social Justice, University of Ottawa (2019)
- Called to the Bar of Ontario, (2020-2021)
- Called to the Bar of British Columbia, (2021)
Awards and Recognitions
Recipient of the Canadian Bar Association’s 2025 Founder’s Award for accomplishments in his first five years of practice:
- Laura Schemitsch, Shifting Landscapes: Legal Justifications for Exceptional Immigration and Refugee Policies for Vulnerable Transgender Americans and Foreign Nationals Arriving from the United States of America Who Are Impacted by the Safe Third Country Agreement (Dec 2025), CBA Founder’s Award Paper
Publications
- Laura Schemitsch, “The risks of immigration misinformation to Canada’s int’l students” The Pie News (6 December 2024)
- Laura Schemitsch, “CBSA Announces Some NEXUS Centres are Reopening: Assessing the Pros and Cons of the Program” Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (12 December 2022)
- Laura Schemitsch, “The Parent and Grandparent Program: Past challenges and Strategies for Improvement” Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (23 September 2022).
- Laura Schemitsch, “Holding the new backlog task force to account as Canada’s immigration backlog continues” Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (22 August 2022).
- Laura Schemitsch, “No more excuses for our immigration backlog” (2 February 2022) #1 Top Read Article in CBA National Magazine 2022.
- Arghavan Gerami and Laura Schemitsch, “Canada’s immigration removal machine” (13 Jan 2021), CBA National Magazine.
- Laura Schemitsch, “So, About Those Anti-Immigration Claims Being Made This Election” (7 Oct 2019), Huffington Post.
- Laura Schemitsch, “Setting a Deportation Target Puts Canadian Values on the Line” (7 Nov 2018), Huffington Post.
Community Involvement
- Board Member, Sea to Sky Community Services, Squamish, BC (2023-ongoing), Governance Committee Chair (2024-ongoing)
- Senior Legal Team Volunteer, Capital Rainbow Refuge, Ottawa, ON (remotely, 2020-ongoing)
- University of British Columbia Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) Manual Immigration and Citizenship Chapters Editor, (2023-ongoing)
- CARL Advocacy Committee (2022-ongoing)
- CILA Editorial Committee (2022-2024)
Education & Bar Admission
- Honours Bachelor of Arts in History, Minors in Art History and Religious Studies – McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario), 2012, Summa Cum Laude
- Master of Arts (MA) in Art History – Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) 2014
- Juris Doctor (JD) – English Common Law, Specializations in Public Law and Law and Social Justice, University of Ottawa (2019)
- Called to the Bar of Ontario, (2020-2021)
- Called to the Bar of British Columbia, (2021)
Awards and Recognitions
Recipient of the Canadian Bar Association’s 2025 Founder’s Award for accomplishments in his first five years of practice:
- Laura Schemitsch, Shifting Landscapes: Legal Justifications for Exceptional Immigration and Refugee Policies for Vulnerable Transgender Americans and Foreign Nationals Arriving from the United States of America Who Are Impacted by the Safe Third Country Agreement (Dec 2025), CBA Founder’s Award Paper
Publications
- Laura Schemitsch, “The risks of immigration misinformation to Canada’s int’l students” The Pie News (6 December 2024)
- Laura Schemitsch, “CBSA Announces Some NEXUS Centres are Reopening: Assessing the Pros and Cons of the Program” Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (12 December 2022)
- Laura Schemitsch, “The Parent and Grandparent Program: Past challenges and Strategies for Improvement” Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (23 September 2022).
- Laura Schemitsch, “Holding the new backlog task force to account as Canada’s immigration backlog continues” Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (22 August 2022).
- Laura Schemitsch, “No more excuses for our immigration backlog” (2 February 2022) #1 Top Read Article in CBA National Magazine 2022.
- Arghavan Gerami and Laura Schemitsch, “Canada’s immigration removal machine” (13 Jan 2021), CBA National Magazine.
- Laura Schemitsch, “So, About Those Anti-Immigration Claims Being Made This Election” (7 Oct 2019), Huffington Post.
- Laura Schemitsch, “Setting a Deportation Target Puts Canadian Values on the Line” (7 Nov 2018), Huffington Post.
Representative Case & Work
- Ferreria v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 267
- Bihari v Canada (Attorney General), 2025 FCA 202
- Administrative law litigation before the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal
- Residential tenancy disputes before the RTB Representing and advising clients on a wide range of temporary visa and permit applications, including Visitor Visas, Visitor Records, Study Permits, and Work Permits
- Representing clients in complex inadmissibility matters, including challenging inadmissibility findings through litigation, and submitting Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) applications
- Advising and representing clients who have lost status in Canada, including status restoration applications, reconsideration requests, and judicial review proceedings
- Challenging negative immigration decisions resulting from prior representatives’ negligent or incompetent representation
- Assessing clients’ circumstances against all relevant federal and provincial immigration programs, and developing strategic plans to obtain permanent residence in Canada or regularize status
- Assisting clients in responding to IRCC request letters, concerns, procedural fairness letters, and reports issued by immigration authorities
Community Engagement
- Provides four pro bono consultation sessions per month for clients referred by Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia
- Provides one pro bono consultation session per week for clients referred by Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society (VLMFSS), focusing on temporary and permanent immigration solutions for victims of family violence.
- Contributor to People’s Law School publications, including:
- If Your Sponsorship Breaks Down
- Sponsoring Your Spouse or Partner
- When Abuse Puts Your Immigration Status at Risk
- Founder and host of the Lawyer Explains YouTube Channel, where he publishes educational videos on Canadian immigration law in English and Farsi
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Dr. Hamidreza Siavashpour* (he/him)
Hamidreza Siavashpour (he/him) is a Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer and a proud member of both the Law Society of British Columbia and the Iran Central Bar Association. He has a PhD in Public International Law at the University of Tehran.
After immigrating to Canada, Hamidreza earned a master’s degree in Common Law from the University of British Columbia, completed his articles at Everyone Legal Clinic, and was called to the bar in British Columbia.
As a first-generation immigrant who has personally navigated the complexities of the immigration system, Hamidreza offers a unique perspective and deep empathy for his clients. Fluent in both English and Farsi, he assists a diverse range of clients and helps them navigate the Canadian immigration system. His practice primarily focuses on Canadian immigration law, with substantial experience in business, commercial, real estate, and tenancy law. He is dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome legal challenges and achieve their immigration goals.
Outside of his legal practice, Hamidreza enjoys cycling through the stunning landscapes of British Columbia with his wife and creating videos for his YouTube channel, Lawyer Explains.
Hamidreza is proud to be part of Heron Law Offices, where he assists clients from around the world with their Canadian immigration journey, offering dedicated legal support for those facing challenges along the way.
*denotes practicing as a Law Corporation
Education
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Master of Laws (Common Law) (LLMCL) — 2021–2022
Community Engagement
- Provides four pro bono consultation sessions per month for clients referred by Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia
- Provides one pro bono consultation session per week for clients referred by Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society (VLMFSS), focusing on temporary and permanent immigration solutions for victims of family violence.
- Contributor to People’s Law School publications, including:
- If Your Sponsorship Breaks Down
- Sponsoring Your Spouse or Partner
- When Abuse Puts Your Immigration Status at Risk
- Founder and host of the Lawyer Explains YouTube Channel, where he publishes educational videos on Canadian immigration law in English and Farsi
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Karina Juma (she/her)
Karina Juma (she/her) is a Canadian Immigration & Refugee Lawyer whose practice is informed by a strong commitment to refugee protection, climate justice, and human rights. She provides legal services in English and French, and has a basic understanding of Gujarati and Hindi.
Karina articled at Heron Law Offices and has been working with the firm’s Principal Lawyer, Will Tao, since January 2024 on legal and policy issues relating to automated decision-making in immigration.
Karina earned her Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Ottawa in 2024, graduating with honours. She also holds a Master of Arts (MA) in International Affairs from Carleton University, where she specialized in Health, Displacement and Humanitarian Policy.
Before law school, Karina completed a Joint Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in History and Political Science at the University of Ottawa in French Immersion. She co-authored Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions, a book on refugee sponsorship, and her work has been published in the Canadian Yearbook of Human Rights.
Karina’s interest in immigration and refugee law is shaped by her parents’, grandparents’, and extended family’s immigration journeys, alongside the histories and migration experiences of members of her faith community, the Ismaili Muslims.
Outside of work, Karina enjoys hot yoga, fitness and spin classes, and keeping up with pop culture.
Representative Work
Karina has experience ranging from:
- temporary and permanent residence applications (e.g. visitor visas, study permits, PGWP, bridging open work permits, family sponsorship, Express Entry, H&C)
- document requests and responses to procedural fairness letters
- reconsideration requests
- refugee claims
- immigration appeals (e.g. parent sponsorship)
- port of entry preparation
- inadmissibility (e.g. misrepresentation) and complex inadmissibility (e.g. security, serious criminality), border/CBSA enforcement actions
- judicial review (including mandamus and file re-openings)
Education & Bar Admissions
- Joint Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in History & Political Science (French Immersion) – University of Ottawa, 2020
- Master of Arts (MA) in International Affairs with a specialization in Health, Displacement and Humanitarian Policy – Carleton University, 2024
- Juris Doctor (JD) – University of Ottawa, 2024
- Law Society of British Columbia, 2025
Publications
Published by the University of Ottawa Press in 2022, Karina co-authored a book on refugee resettlement and activism titled Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions. Her work has also been published in the Canadian Yearbook of Human Rights.
Karina Juma (elle) est une avocate spécialisée en droit de l’immigration et des réfugiés canadiens dont la pratique est profondément ancrée à la protection des réfugiés, à la justice climatique et aux droits humains. Elle offre des services légaux en anglais et en français, et a une compréhension de base du gujarati et de l’hindi.
Karina a fait son stage en droit à Heron Law Offices et travaille depuis janvier 2024 avec l’avocat principal, Will Tao, sur des questions juridiques et politiques liées à l’automatisation des décisions en matière d’immigration.
Karina a obtenu son Juris Doctor (JD) de l’Université d’Ottawa en 2024, avec distinction. Elle est aussi titulaire d’une maîtrise ès arts (MA) en affaires internationales de l’Université Carleton, où elle s’est spécialisée en santé, déplacement et politiques humanitaires.
Avant ses études de droit, Karina a obtenu un baccalauréat en sciences sociales bidisciplinaire de l’Université d’Ottawa, spécialisé en histoire et sciences politiques, en immersion française.Elle est co-auteure de Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions, un ouvrage sur le parrainage des réfugiés, et son travail a été publié dans le Canadian Yearbook of Human Rights.
Karina s’intéresse au droit de l’immigration et des réfugiés en raison des parcours migratoires de ses parents, grands-parents et autres membres de sa famille élargie, ainsi que des histoires et expériences migratoires des membres de sa communauté religieuse, les musulmans ismaéliens.
Hors du travail, Karina aime faire du hot yoga, suivre des cours de fitness et de spinning, et se tenir au courant de la culture pop.
Representative Work
Karina has experience ranging from:
- temporary and permanent residence applications (e.g. visitor visas, study permits, PGWP, bridging open work permits, family sponsorship, Express Entry, H&C)
- document requests and responses to procedural fairness letters
- reconsideration requests
- refugee claims
- immigration appeals (e.g. parent sponsorship)
- port of entry preparation
- inadmissibility (e.g. misrepresentation) and complex inadmissibility (e.g. security, serious criminality), border/CBSA enforcement actions
- judicial review (including mandamus and file re-openings)
Education & Bar Admissions
- Joint Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in History & Political Science (French Immersion) – University of Ottawa, 2020
- Master of Arts (MA) in International Affairs with a specialization in Health, Displacement and Humanitarian Policy – Carleton University, 2024
- Juris Doctor (JD) – University of Ottawa, 2024
- Law Society of British Columbia, 2025
Publications
Published by the University of Ottawa Press in 2022, Karina co-authored a book on refugee resettlement and activism titled Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions. Her work has also been published in the Canadian Yearbook of Human Rights.
Publiée par les Presses de l’Université d’Ottawa en 2022, Karina est co-auteur d’un livre sur l’activisme et l’établissement des réfugiés intitulé Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions (Personnes ordinaires, actions extraordinaires). Elle a également été publiée dans l’Annuaire canadien des droits de la personne.
Yussif Silva (él) se dedica a aclarar los complejos procesos de inmigración. Ayuda a sus clientes a obtener autorización para trabajar, estudiar o residir permanentemente en Canadá, así como a apelar el rechazo de solicitudes, defenderse contra alegaciones de inadmisibilidad y obtener la condición de refugiado.
Habilitado para ejercer la abogacía tanto en la Columbia Británica (Canadá) como en Brasil, Yussif adquirió una valiosa experiencia en asuntos de inmigración de alto nivel durante tres años en Edelmann & Co, uno de los principales bufetes de abogados de inmigración de Canadá.
Yussif se unió a Heron Law con la visión de brindar servicios de inmigración personalizados que reconozcan la historia única detrás de la solicitud de cada cliente. Orgullosamente latinoamericano de ascendencia árabe, Yussif aporta sensibilidad cultural a su práctica jurídica diversa. Su enfoque combina la atención al detalle con una genuina atención a las inquietudes y aspiraciones de sus clientes.
Con fluidez en inglés, español y portugués, a Yussif le encanta atender a sus clientes en su idioma de preferencia.
Cuando Yussif no está trabajando, puede encontrarlo practicando artes marciales, esquiando o disfrutando de la naturaleza de BC en una caminata.
Publiée par les Presses de l’Université d’Ottawa en 2022, Karina est co-auteur d’un livre sur l’activisme et l’établissement des réfugiés intitulé Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions (Personnes ordinaires, actions extraordinaires). Elle a également été publiée dans l’Annuaire canadien des droits de la personne.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Yussif Silva (he/him)
Yussif Silva (he/him) is dedicated to bringing clarity to complex immigration processes. He assists clients in obtaining authorization to work, study, or live in Canada permanently, as well as appealing application refusals, defending against inadmissibility allegations, and obtaining refugee status.
Qualified to practice law in both British Columbia and Brazil, Yussif gained valuable experience in high-level immigration matters for three years at one of the leading immigration law firms in Canada.
Yussif joined Heron Law with a vision to provide personalized immigration services that acknowledge the unique story behind every client’s application. As a proud Latin American of Arab descent, Yussif brings cultural sensitivity to his diverse practice. His approach combines attention to detail with genuine care for his clients’ concerns and aspirations.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Yussif thrives in serving his clients in their preferred language.
When Yussif is not working, he enjoys martial arts, skiing, and trying out new recipes.
Con fluidez en inglés, español y portugués, a Yussif le encanta atender a sus clientes en su idioma de preferencia.
Cuando Yussif no está trabajando, puede encontrarlo practicando artes marciales, esquiando o disfrutando de la naturaleza de BC en una caminata.
Director of Case Management
Edris Arib (he/him)
Edris Arib is a seasoned legal and public policy professional with extensive experience in law offices and civil society organizations. He co-founded Heron Law Offices in February 2021 with Will Tao, following nearly three fulfilling years at Edelmann & Co. Law Offices. Initially serving as Director of Operations and Case Manager, he transitioned in February 2022 and has now returned as Director of Case Management.
In this role, Edris collaborates closely with the Manager of Business and People Operations to oversee case management operations, supervise legal assistants and case managers, develop client strategies, and lead training initiatives for lawyers, case managers, and articling students. In addition to his hands-on involvement in case management, he contributes significantly to process improvement and the firm’s growth strategies.
He holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt, Germany, where he is currently in the final year of his doctoral studies.
Community Involvement
Beyond private practice, Edris has held key legal and advisory roles, including serving as Legal Counselor for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), Senior Legal Advisor for the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL), and Policy and Advocacy Consultant for Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin.
Legal Assistant/Case Manager
Tamara Yang (she/her)
Tamara Yang (she/her) holds a Master of Science in International Migration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a Bachelor of Arts (Joint Honours) in Political Science and International Development Studies from McGill University.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Tamara maintains close ties to the local Chinese community that welcomed her family in the early 90s. Prior to joining Heron, she began her post-graduate career in consulting, public affairs, and strategic communications in the United Kingdom (UK). Abroad, Tamara has worked on organizational development projects for global multinational companies, successfully pushed for positive policy changes affecting small businesses in the UK, and led public engagement campaigns in partnership with major companies and industry leaders.
Now, driven by her studies and time in the tech industry, she is interested in the intersections of migration and tech policy. She has extensive research experience, assisting various McGill-affiliated projects and labs on issues such as international organization behaviour, harm reduction policies, and questions surrounding ethical artificial intelligence. Tamara is excited to bring her experience in policy research to Heron Law Offices.
In her free time, Tamara enjoys baking, pop culture trivia, and running in nature. Tamara is active in her alumni groups in both the UK and Vancouver. She speaks English, French, and Mandarin.
Publications
Published in the 2018 edition of the McGill Journal of Political Studies (MJPS), article entitled Predicting Uganda’s Age Limit Crisis: The Future of Museveni’s Regime. Article and internship experience funded by the McGill Susan Casey Brown Award.
Publications
Published in the 2018 edition of the McGill Journal of Political Studies (MJPS), article entitled Predicting Uganda’s Age Limit Crisis: The Future of Museveni’s Regime. Article and internship experience funded by the McGill Susan Casey Brown Award.
Manager of Business and People Operations
Olivia Yin 殷 (she/her)
Olivia Yin is the Manager of Business and People Operations at Heron Law Offices, where she oversees daily operations with a focus on human resources, accounting, and marketing. In her multifaceted role, she also contributes to quality assurance, internal auditing, and the development of best operational practices, working alongside the Director of Case Management and Client Strategy to ensure smooth operations across the firm.
Before joining Heron Law Offices, Olivia gained extensive experience as a Total Compensation Analyst with a local Provincial Health Authority and held various HR roles in a medium-sized service business. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) and a Diploma in Human Resources Management, both from BCIT. Her academic journey began at the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, where she earned a double degree in Broadcast Journalism and Law.
As a native Mandarin speaker, Olivia plays a key role in assisting the firm’s Chinese-speaking clients, ensuring seamless communication and a client-focused experience.
Case Manager
Tobie Lin - On Leave (she/her)
Tobie joined Heron in October 2022 as a Case Manager. She brings with her 10 years of work experience in Canadian Immigration, with a solid understanding of immigration application and litigation processes.
Tobie has previously supported senior legal counsels and senior founding partners in her previous positions. To stay competitive in this field and continue to master her knowledge, she completed her Immigration Consultant Diploma in 2016. She also has recent experience assisting on complex civil litigation matters.
Tobie assists Will as his primary case manager, resuming a partnership that begin when Tobie served as Will’s primary legal assistant at Larlee Rosenberg.
Tobie is trilingual (English, Mandarin and Cantonese) and is able to assist in communication, appeal hearing preparation, and other immigration-related litigation in all three languages.
Outside of work, Tobie enjoy spending time with her young son and family.
Co-founder/Consultant
Edris Arib
At – On Leave – Completing PhD (he/him)
Edris Arib is a Director of Operations/Case Manager at Heron Law Offices.
Edris Arib is a law and public policy professional with experience in international and civil society organisations. He worked as Legal Counselor for Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and as Policy and Advocacy Consultant for Transparency International.
He holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt in Germany.
Outside the Law Firm, Edris is immersed in his PhD on Grand Corruption and explores BC Parks and Restaurants with his family.
Awards and Achievements
- The Honourable Justice Grant Burnyeat Award in Law, University of British Columbia (2016)
- University of Victoria Faculty of Social Sciences Dean’s List (2016)
- University of Victoria Excellence Scholarship (2011-2015)
Professional Affiliations
Candy is a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC), Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP) and Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan (PAS).
*Candy provides case management services as an independent contractor through her consulting company, CJ Immigrations Ltd.
Co-founder/Consultant
Edris Arib
At – On Leave – Completing PhD (he/him)
Edris Arib is a Director of Operations/Case Manager at Heron Law Offices.
Edris Arib is a law and public policy professional with experience in international and civil society organisations. He worked as Legal Counselor for Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and as Policy and Advocacy Consultant for Transparency International.
He holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt in Germany.
Outside the Law Firm, Edris is immersed in his PhD on Grand Corruption and explores BC Parks and Restaurants with his family.
Professional Affiliations
Candy is a member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC), Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP) and Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan (PAS).
