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Michael Battista is certified by Ontario’s Law Society as a
Specialist in Immigration and Refugee Law. A partner at Jordan
Battista LLP, he leads the firm’s services in immigration / refugee
law.
Since becoming a lawyer in 1992, Michael has been practicing
immigration and refugee law exclusively. He has assisted clients on
all immigration issues with a particular focus on economic
immigrants, family sponsorships, and humanitarian and compassionate
applications. In 2007 he was elected to the executive committee of
the Ontario Bar Association's Immigration Section. He also represents Children's Aid Societies in cases
of Crown wards and former Crown wards who are facing removal or
seeking status in Canada.
Michael teaches at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law and
frequently delivers immigration and refugee training to health care
professionals, social workers, and community activists.
The breadth of Michael's expertise includes matters related to same
sex relationships, including sponsorships based on same-sex
relationships, refugee claims based on sexual orientation/identity,
and skilled worker applications by American citizens seeking to
obtain Canadian permanent residence for them and their same sex
partners.
Michael has appeared as a witness before the House of Commons and
Senate on issues of immigration such as the expansion of the family
class. He worked with Canada's national LGBT equality group EGALE in
successfully lobbying the Canadian government to extend immigration
rights to same-sex couples, and is a frequent commentator on a broad
range of immigration issues in the media.
Michael’s skills and expertise have been repeatedly recognized by
the readers of Xtra, Toronto’s LGBT newsmagazine, who voted him Best
Lawyer in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Appearing regularly before Canadian tribunals and courts dealing
with immigration/refugee matters, in 2001 Michael represented
Amnesty International before the Supreme Court of Canada in a case
involving the international standards prohibiting torture. In 2005
he made submissions before the United Nations Committee against
Torture on Canada’s compliance with international human rights
obligations.
Michael served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the AIDS
Committee of Toronto and has extensive experience in issues of HIV
and immigration. His expertise on issues of HIV and immigration were
recognized by the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) when he was admitted to
the OAN's Honour Roll in 2007. He was elected as a Canadian delegate to Amnesty
International’s International Council Meeting in Morelos, Mexico, in
2003 and 2005.
Michael is assisted by his
assistant Sudaa Siva.
Please contact Michael at (416) 203-2899, x. 31 or
mbattista@jordanbattista.com
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