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ABOUT OUR
LGBTQ+ IMMIGRATION
LAW FIRM IN CANADA

Our Mission statement:

We provide expert, experienced,  client-driven legal services in all Canadian immigration and refugee matters.

 

Rooted in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, we provide a safe, non-judgmental, compassionate environment for our clients. No client should apologize for their history, their identity, or their fears. We celebrate diversity.

 

We believe the law operates best when it recognizes the diversity of human experience and allows it to flourish. This principle inspires our legal advocacy.

 

We are teachers and learners who believe the law should be accessible and comprehensible regardless of an individual's background.

We Help Change Laws

We have been involved in changing Canadian immigration law. We have appeared before the House of Commons and Senate to address changes to the definition of ‘family’ to include same-sex and queer families. We have appeared before Parliamentary Standing Committees on immigration issues to advocate to remove medical inadmissibility from Canadian law. We have appeared at every level of court in Canada, including the Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. We regularly advocate for refugees and persons denied applications before the Immigration and Refugee Board. Click here to read about our important court cases.

 

We are community leaders

We work closely with community organizations to lead legal information seminars on topics related to refugees, sponsorship, appeals, risk assessments, removal orders, and other services to new immigrants. Our office was the birthplace of Rainbow Railroad, an international LGBTQ+ refugee support organization. We provide legal support to community-based organizations such as the 519 Church Street Community Centre, the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment, EGALE Canada Human Rights Trust, and the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention. Our perspective on immigration issues is frequently sought out by media. Review a selection of media articles here

 

We are teachers

We are adjunct faculty at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and School of Public Policy and Governance, regularly provide papers and presentations at legal conferences throughout Canada and internationally and have authored a legal text on the intersection of immigration and family law. We authored a chapter in the first legal text entirely devoted to the practice of LGBTQ2+ law in Canada. 

We are immigrants

We are proud to have diverse staff who understand the immigrant experience. The migration experience is in our DNA.

Our Founder, Justice Michael Battista

With over 30 years’ experience practicing immigration and refugee law, Justice Battista was the founder of Battista Migration Law Group. In May 2024, he was appointed as a Judge for the Federal Court of Canada, leaving the firm in the capable hands of our new leadership team: Pablo Irribarra, Nicholas Woodward, Joycna Kang, and Mathew Wilton, along with our incredible support staff.

Michael is co-author of:

 

  • Canadian Family and Immigration Law: Intersections, Developments and Conflicts (Carswell),

  • Family Class Sponsorship in Canadian Immigration Law (Emond),

  • the immigration chapter in LGBTQ2+ Law: Practice Issues and Analysis (Emond).

 

Michael has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in the following cases:

  • Suresh v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2002 SCC 1 (involving international law on non-refoulement to torture),

  • Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) v. Chhina, 2019 SCC 29 (involving immigration detention),

  • Canadian Council for Refugees, et al. v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, et al., Docket 39749 (S.C.C) (involving the constitutionality of the Safe Third Country Agreement).

 

Michael was an executive member of the Ontario Bar Association's Citizenship and Immigration Section from 2006 to 2008 and served as Litigation Coordinator for the Canadian Bar Association’s Immigration Section for three years. He has been voted by his legal peers for inclusion in the annual publication of Best Lawyers since 2015.

 

In recognition of his expertise, Michael has been recognized with the following awards:

  • 2023 Business Advocate of the Year award from Canada's 2SLGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce,

  • 2019 Canadian Bar Association Volunteer Appreciation Award,

  • 2018 Innovative Teaching Award from the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy,

  • 2013 Community Service Award from the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (MCC),

  • 2006 Ontario AIDS Network Honour Roll inductee.

 

Michael is Founding Chair of Rainbow Railroad and was Chair of the Board of the AIDS Committee of Toronto. 

OUR  TEAM

Find out more about our Team
Learn about us by talking to us over the phone or via email.
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