The Origins
Our Team
The Vision
Founded in February 2021 by Will Tao and Edris Arib. The dream was simple – do law differently, and build a law firm that would bring a research-driven and evidence-based approach to practice, offering forward-thinking, client-centered solutions in immigration, refugee, and administrative law.
A Legacy of Excellence
Since its inception, Heron Law Offices has been recognized for its dedication to advocacy and legal excellence, earning prestigious industry accolades, including Best Law Firm (2025).
Our firm continues to push boundaries, combining legal innovation with a deep commitment to social justice and client advocacy.
Building a Strong Foundation
Before founding Heron Law Offices, Will developed a strong reputation as a leading immigration and refugee lawyer, dedicating a significant part of his career to practicing at well-respected Canadian immigration firms. His extensive experience includes representing clients in complex immigration matters, advising on legal policy, and contributing to key legal publications and opinions. Through his work, Will has built a long-standing reputation for legal excellence, client advocacy, and innovative problem-solving in immigration law.
Our Team & Growth
Over the years, Heron Law Offices has attracted top legal professionals who share our dedication to innovation, excellence, and client advocacy. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to building a team of passionate legal professionals who are eager to contribute to our mission and shape the future of Canadian immigration and administrative law.
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 and Refugee 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
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
Will Tao
Awards and Recognitions
- a Lexpert-Ranked Lawyer as one of Canada’s Leading Legal Practitioners in the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
- 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.
- listed as a Best Lawyer™ in the practice area of Immigration since 2019.
Co-founder/Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Will Tao (he/him)
Will Tao (pronouns: he/him) 陶律师，with over a decade of experience in Canadian immigration, is a Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer and the founder of Heron Law Offices.
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. Will 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.
Will also provides strategic advice and consultation to government, media, educational institutions, and businesses on immigration/refugee, decolonization, and race equity related issues. He is the founder and creator of the award-winning Vancouver Immigration Blog, where he hopes to make immigration and refugee law more accessible to the general public. He also has significant past teaching experience as an instructor for University of British Columbia’s Certificate in Immigration Laws, Policies, and Procedures (CILPP) program.
Will is a key opinion leader in Canadian immigration. He has been frequently invited to speak at various conferences and comment in the news. In Dec 2024, Will appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and made representations on the reforms to the International Student Program.
Awards and Recognitions
- a Lexpert-Ranked Lawyer as one of Canada’s Leading Legal Practitioners in the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
- 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.
- listed as a Best Lawyer™ in the practice area of Immigration since 2019.
Representative Cases
- 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)
Community Involvement
Will currently sits as a Board member of the Roundtable Society. He is current Co-Chair and a founding member of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Immigration Section Anti-Racism Committee. He is also an Honourary Member of the Immigration Advocacy Committee of the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE).
He previously chaired the Cultural Communities Advisory Committee of the City of Vancouver and was on the Board of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, British Columbia (“FACLBC”)
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer
Laura Schemitsch (she/her)
Laura Schemitsch has been practicing Canadian immigration and refugee law since 2019 with a wide scope of matters and complexity. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa in 2019 with specializations in Public Law and Law and Social Justice. Prior to studying law, she earned her Bachelor of Arts with Honours from McMaster University majoring in History, and a Master of Arts from Queen’s University in Art History.
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.
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.
When Laura is not working she enjoys exploring the outdoors, dancing, crafting and her volunteer work.
Publications
- 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
Laura currently sits as a Board Member for Sea to Sky Community Services. She is an active member of the Editorial Committee and op-ed contributor for the Canadian Immigration Lawyer’s Association’s (CILA) (https://cila.co/news/) and member of the Advocacy Committee for the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL). Laura previously sat as a Board Member for Capital Rainbow Refuge and continues to assist the organization with Legal Support and Supervision.
Harmit Sarai
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer (Contractor)
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
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).
Professional Affiliations
Articling Student
Karina Juma (she/her)
Karina Juma (she/her) completed her Master of Arts in International Affairs at Carleton University, specializing in Health, Displacement, and Humanitarian Policy, and simultaneously earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa in June 2024, with Magna Cum Laude distinction. She maintained a high level of academic excellence throughout her law studies. Prior to law school, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Social Sciences in History and Political Science from the University of Ottawa in 2020.
During law school, Karina worked as a research assistant at The Refugee Hub (now Pathways International) for four years and summered twice at an immigration and refugee law firm in Ottawa. She was also actively involved in the student chapter of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL), serving as co-president for two years. Karina did three coop terms as a junior ATIP officer at the Privy Council Office of the Government of Canada.
Karina’s passion for immigration and refugee law stems from her family background. As the proud child and grandchild of immigrants, she strives to pay it forward by helping newcomers navigate the complexities of the Canadian immigration system. She also draws inspiration from her religious community, the Ismaili Muslims, whose contributions to Canadian society are driven by compassion and service.
In her free time, Karina enjoys Bollywood dance, listening to pop culture podcasts, and baking. She speaks English, French, and Gujarati, and has a basic understanding of Hindi.
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.
I invite you to schedule a 45-minute consultation with me, followed by written summary advice (by email) approved by my supervising lawyer.
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).
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.
I invite you to schedule a 45-minute consultation with me, followed by written summary advice (by email) approved by my supervising lawyer.
As an articling student, Torah is eager to deepen her knowledge of “crimmigration” – the intersection of criminal law and immigration law – and to help clients navigate complex immigration challenges.
Articling Student
Torah Justine Lee (she/her)
Torah understands that every immigration journey is deeply personal. As a first-generation Canadian, she has seen firsthand the challenges and triumphs of navigating the immigration system, giving her a unique perspective and genuine empathy for her clients.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Victoria, Torah developed a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and human experiences. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Bond University in Australia, graduating with Distinction and a Specialization in Canadian Law. During her studies, Torah volunteered with immigration law firms, assisting in Humanitarian and Compassionate Applications, which ignited her passion for immigration advocacy.
Before becoming an articling student at Heron Law Offices, Torah worked as a legal assistant from 2018 to 2024, gaining hands-on experience in family law, personal injury, and criminal law. This diverse background allows her to approach immigration cases with a well-rounded legal perspective, particularly when immigration issues overlap with other areas of law.
Torah is committed to guiding clients through complex immigration matters with compassion, diligence, and a strong legal foundation. Whether you’re seeking to reunite with loved ones, build a future in Canada, or navigate legal hurdles, Torah is here to support you every step of the way.
When not working, Torah enjoys hiking with her dog, spending time with family, and painting.
As an articling student, Torah is eager to deepen her knowledge of “crimmigration” – the intersection of criminal law and immigration law – and to help clients navigate complex immigration challenges.
When not working, Torah enjoys hiking with her dog, spending time with family, and painting.
Publications
“Sustainability in the Sky”, to be published in the 2025 edition of the UBC Journal of International Affairs
Legal Intern
Caitlyn Waterhouse (she/her)
Caitlyn Waterhouse (she/her) is a recent graduate of Simon Fraser University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Studies and English Literature. During her time at SFU, she was deeply engaged in community-based programs supporting newcomer and refugee youth, including leading weekly sessions and developing curriculum for the English Language Support program and coordinating after-school activities through SFU’s Connect Through Homework initiative.
Caitlyn also worked as an assistant policy analyst with the B.C. Climate Action Secretariat, where she conducted research on provincial decarbonization strategies. Her honours thesis similarly focused on pathways toward deep industrial decarbonization.
Originally from Naicam, Saskatchewan, Caitlyn’s commitment to equity and inclusion is grounded in her small-town roots and her belief in the importance of belonging. This dedication was recently recognized with a McCall MacBain Regional Award—granted to just 93 of over 700 Canadian applicants—which supports students who demonstrate exceptional character, leadership, and intellectual curiosity.
Outside of work, she enjoys playing sports, reading, and spending time in nature.
Publications
“Sustainability in the Sky”, to be published in the 2025 edition of the UBC Journal of International Affairs
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 Till June 2026 (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).
