Biography
Nadia Bakhtiari is an Associate Lawyer at Esna Law PC, a Toronto-based law firm focused exclusively on Canadian immigration, refugee, and citizenship law. Called to the Ontario Bar in 2019, Nadia has extensive experience in immigration and refugee litigation and complex immigration applications.
Nadia's practice includes
- Litigation: Federal Court applications for leave and judicial review, including challenges to immigration and refugee decisions.
- Refugee claims and appeals: Representation before the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) and Refugee Appeal Division (RAD).
- Immigration hearings and appeals: Representation before the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), including sponsorship appeals and removal order appeals.
- Humanitarian applications: Humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications and pre-removal risk assessments (PRRA).
- Permanent residence: Express Entry, spousal sponsorships, and other permanent residence applications.
- Temporary residence and inadmissibility: Temporary residence applications, inadmissibility matters, and Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) applications.
Education & bar admission
- Juris Doctor, University of Windsor Faculty of Law
- Juris Doctor, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto
- Called to the Ontario Bar in 2019
- Exclusively practises immigration and refugee law
During law school
- Fellowship placement at a Toronto legal clinic
- Chair of the Windsor chapter of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL), where she co-led the 2016–2017 "Lift That Cap" campaign advocating for the removal of restrictions on private refugee sponsorship, gathering more than 500 signatures
- Conducted legal research on immigration matters and DACA applications at Michigan United in Detroit
- Contributed to refugee sponsorship initiatives and legal research through Pro Bono Students Canada
Community & professional involvement
- Former volunteer and advocate with refugee and immigrant-serving organizations
Awards & recognition
- Access to Justice Award, University of Windsor Faculty of Law (2018)
- J.W. Whiteside Award, University of Windsor Faculty of Law (2018)
- Windsor Law Social Justice Fellowship (2017)
- Voice for Justice Fellowship, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (2017)
- Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award, University of Toronto (2015)
Beyond the office
Outside the office, Nadia enjoys playing tennis and discovering new restaurants in Toronto.
Publications, talks & media
Media
- Featured in Legal News, "Dual law student fights for the rights of refugees" (March 2017), on her refugee advocacy
- Featured in CBC News Windsor coverage of the impact of the 2017 U.S. travel restrictions on dual-degree law students
Talks
- Panellist, Immigration Law Career Panel, University of Windsor Faculty of Law, organized with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (2020)
