Our Partners

Jacqueline Swaisland is an award-winning lawyer, author, and educator. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former Member of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board. Jacqueline’s practice encompasses all areas of Canadian immigration and refugee law. She also acts for both individuals and organizations in cases involving the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She is an experienced litigator, having regularly appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Board and all levels of court, including multiple times before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Warda Shazadi Meighen is an experienced advocate and recognized as a Leading Practitioner (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and a Rising Star (2020) by Lexpert. She holds a graduate degree from the University of Oxford. Warda has appeared at various levels of courts and tribunals, including the Supreme Court of Canada. For the past decade, Warda has taught law at Ontario law schools, including at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law for the past 7 years. Warda began her legal career as a corporate lawyer at in New York. She previously also worked on prosecutions in relation to the Rwandan genocide at the United Nations Tribunal for Rwanda.

Erin V. Simpson is a former Supreme Court clerk who graduated with honours from the University of Toronto faculty of law. She is an award-winning litigator, and a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at law schools. Erin practices all areas of immigration and refugee law, and represents clients at all levels of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. Erin has a particular expertise in immigration and refugee law issues at the Canada-U.S. border, having acted as counsel to Amnesty International, the Canadian Council for Refugees and the Canadian Council of Churches in their constitutional challenge to the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement since 2017.

Jonathan Porter is a senior associate at Landings LLP, where he practices in all areas of Canadian refugee and immigration law. Jonathan has represented clients at various levels of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Federal Court as well as at the Supreme Court of Canada. He regularly works on cases involving complex inadmissibility and enforcement issues, finding creative legal solutions to assist individuals to obtain status and remain in Canada.

Ada Roberts is an associate at Landings LLP. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, where she focused on social justice-oriented areas of the law. Her experience includes working at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, Innocence Canada, the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation, and University of Toronto Law’s International Human Rights Program.

Ali is an associate at Landings LLP. She graduated at the top of her class as the gold medalist from Osgoode Hall Law School. Ali brings a combination of academic excellence and dedicated client advocacy to her work.

Ali came to Landings after clerking at the Court of Appeal for Ontario where she worked closely with three appellate judges, conducting complex legal research, analyzing written submissions to assist in preparing for hearings, and editing draft decisions.

Charlotte Hobson is an associate at Landings LLP. She was awarded the University Medal in Law for graduating at the top of her class from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie. Charlotte is committed to supporting clients through their immigration journeys with empathy and compassion.

Charlotte has a broad range of advocacy and courtroom experience. She previously clerked for the judges of the Superior Court of Justice (Toronto) and the Divisional Court, completed a student clerkship at the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, and summered at a top-tier litigation boutique in Toronto.

Zoe Gladstone is an associate at Landings LLP. She obtained her JD with honours from the University of Ottawa, where she specialized in human rights and international law.

Prior to joining Landings, Zoe completed her articles at another preeminent immigration and refugee law firm, where she assisted clients on a broad range of complex immigration and refugee cases and causes.

Layali Awwad is an associate lawyer at Landings LLP.

Prior to her role at Landings LLP, Layali clerked at the Federal Court and articled at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. During law school, Layali worked in immigration and refugee law at the Community Legal Services of Ottawa’s Immigration Division and at another leading immigration law firm where she conducted legal research and drafted submissions.

Catanne Boan-Mitchell is an associate at Landings LLP. They received their JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, with an academic focus on immigration and refugee law.

Catanne’s practical experience spans multiple roles in the field of immigration and refugee law. They completed their articles at the Refugee Law Office of Legal Aid Ontario, where they drafted many successful applications, submissions, and appeals before administrative tribunals and Canadian courts and appeared as counsel at the Immigration Division and the Immigration Appeal Division.

Mina Eskaroos (he/him) is an associate at Landings LLP. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he received course prizes for the highest grades in both employment and evidence law.

Before joining Landings, Mina gained significant experience working as a coordinator and caseworker at the only immigration clinic in Northern Ontario, where he primarily managed cases involving persecution.

Yulia Pliassounov (she/her) is the Senior Practice Manager at Landings LLP. She graduated with a Bachelor (Hons) in Sociology and Political Science from McMaster University. Yulia is also a licensed Immigration Consultant with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and a member in good standing with CAPIC (Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants). Yulia has a decade of experience in immigration.

Hannah Deloughery (she/her) is a law clerk at Landings LLP. She understands that navigating the immigration and refugee process can be overwhelming for clients and is committed to providing compassionate, supportive and accessible services. Hannah graduated with highest honours from Carleton University with a degree in Human Rights and Political Science. Hannah has a deep understanding of Canadian immigration systems and processes.

Fungai Guta (she/her) is a law clerk at Landings LLP. She graduated with honours from the Community Worker program at George Brown College. She was drawn to the program’s focus on social justice, human rights, and the practical application of an anti-oppressive framework in service delivery and advocacy. Fungai enjoys working with clients and is dedicated to bringing care and compassion as they navigate the complex and potentially overwhelming immigration and refugee process.

Ruwanthi Mudalige Kay (she/her) is a law clerk at Landings LLP. Drawing from her personal experience as an immigrant and her commitment to advocating for marginalized communities, Ruwanthi brings an empathetic, client-centered approach to her legal work. She is skilled in managing complex case files, providing comprehensive legal and administrative support. Ruwanthi’s career in law was inspired by her volunteer work with immigrant communities, which led her to shift her focus from architecture to immigration law.

Nabila Kalid Abdurhim (they/them) is a Legal Assistant at Landings LLP. They received their law clerk diploma from Humber College (2018) then went on to complete their undergraduate degree in Philosophy at York University (2022).

Saniya (she/her) brings a rich background to her role as a Legal Assistant at Landings LLP.  With over a decade of experience in client relations, government program services, and public assistance, she has extensive experience working with people from various cultures and backgrounds. She prides herself on providing empathetic and effective support.