Law firm is closed. Naomi Minwalla is not currently practising law.

Closure of Law Firm and Gratitude

THANK YOU to all clients, volunteers, employees, community groups, interpreters, colleagues, teachers, mentors, NGOs, students, friends and family who generously supported my legal career for over two decades. Working with you made my journey as a lawyer honourable and memorable.

Since I'm no longer practising law, this website now contains historical information about my former law practice in Vancouver, Canada, located on the unceded traditional territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueum First Nations.

Refugee and Other Protection Cases

Most of my career focused on securing legal protection for refugees, trafficked women, migrants, stateless people and others in need of protection. I handled a wide variety of cases, with a wide range of legal and factual issues, for people from all over the world including:

  • Women and girls who fear honour killings, spousal or partner abuse, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, prostitution, slavery, human trafficking and other gender-based oppression
  • Abused and abandoned children
  • Survivors of torture
  • Indigenous people
  • People who belong to ethnic, religious, racial, national and linguistic minorities
  • People who fear serious harm due to their 2SLGBTQI+ identity or expression
  • People who fear gangs
  • Sanctuary cases, conscientious objectors, Buddhist monks, Olympic and other national athletes, diplomats, Indigenous leaders, religious converts, political dissidents, ship jumpers, judges, lawyers, human rights defenders, academics and others.

Internationally Notable Refugee Cases

Dr. Constancio Claver - Successful refugee case for Filipino Indigenous rights leader who narrowly survived a politically-motivated assassination attempt. Dr. Claver's spouse, Alyce, was killed by multiple gunshot wounds while leaning over to protect him during the ambush. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions cited the incident as a case study during an investigative mission to the Philippines (UN Report A/HRC/8/3/Add.2; 16 April 2008, Appendix A, page 60, paragraphs 28-54). You can read more about the case here and here.

Amir Kazemian Sanctuary Case - Successful humanitarian and compassionate grounds case for Iranian survivor of torture who faced the death penalty for apostasy and political dissent. Amir endured years of unsuccessful legal applications because decision-makers did not believe him. One hour before his scheduled deportation to Iran, he took sanctuary in a Vancouver church where he lived for almost three years without leaving the church. Significant new evidence that corroborated the torture and explained the impacts of trauma on Amir's ability to testify and interact with the justice system resulted in a positive humanitarian and compassionate grounds decision. You can read more about the case at the following news links: Globe & Mail, CBC, Globe & Mail, CTV News and Vancouver Sun.

Raúl Gática Bautista - Successful refugee case for Indigenous rights leader and survivor of torture from Oaxaca, Mexico. Raúl endured death threats, torture, illegal arrests and illegal detentions that were designed to silence his Indigenous rights advocacy in Mexico. His circumstances attracted Urgent Action Appeals from Amnesty International.

Practice Areas

  • Refugee Law, Immigration Law, Citizenship Law, International Human Rights Law
  • Criminal Law, Extradition Law, Parole and Prison Law

Community and Systemic Social Justice Contributions

  • Founded, chaired, fundraised and managed a Student Refugee Sponsorship Programme at York University that has continued to sponsor student refugees for over three decades.
  • Led an emergency response that restored public legal aid for refugee claimants in British Columbia after a former provincial Attorney General had announced its termination. This was while serving as Chairperson of the Canadian Bar Association's Refugee Lawyers Group in BC.
  • Volunteered in Afghan and Horn of Africa refugee camps, with a focus on income generation and educational programmes for female refugees.
  • Member of the Board of Directors for the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada for six years.
  • Generous pro bono advice and support to individuals, NGOs, law school clinics, refugee sponsorship groups and academics.
  • Together with other stakeholders, successfully advocated for the Immigration and Refugee Board's (IRB) first Vulnerable Persons Guideline. This was while serving as the Canadian Bar Association's western Canada representative on the IRB National Consultative Committee.
  • Delivered over fifty voluntary presentations and lectures to university, community, legal, governmental, United Nations and NGO audiences on topics related to refugee protection, access to justice, human trafficking, gender issues, legal ethics, detention, social justice and the special needs of female and minor refugees.
  • Media commentaries and interviews on refugee, access to justice and human trafficking issues, including appearances on CBC national television, CBC radio, The Fanny Kiefer Show - Shaw Studio 4, Radio Canada, City TV, M Channel, Global TV, CKNW's Bill Good Show.
  • Member of the Editorial Board for Refugee Update for two years.