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The Lawyer’s Daily
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently ruled that the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction framework should only be applied in cases when the child’s habitual residence…
The Lawyer’s Daily
The Supreme Court of Canada has revised how domestic courts determine a child’s “habitual residence” in a controversial move that some call “a step forward,” while others foresee more uncertainty, litigation…
Law Times
The Hague Convention can play a crucial role in whether children are returned after a parental abduction following a custody dispute, say lawyers.
The Globe and Mail
International child abductions are on the rise, especially in countries with high immigration rates. Global Affairs Canada is currently dealing with 187 cases. Applications to the Hague Convention reached 2,730 in 2015, 102 of which involved Canada.
National Post
Couple’s young daughters taken from Canada to child-custody limbo in Casablanca
Saltwire
Couple’s young daughters taken from Canada to child-custody limbo in Casablanca
The Lawyer’s Daily
SCC upholds Ontario court order to return wrongly retained children to Dubai in groundbreaking case
The firm has a long history of taking on pro bono cases of public importance. In 2017, Farrah Hudani acted on behalf of the Defence for Children International in the Supreme Court of Canada on the seminal Hague Convention case, Office of the Children’s Lawyer v. Balev (2018) 1 S.C.R. 398. In this groundbreaking appeal, Defence for Children International argued the importance of hearing from children with less restrictions and barriers in Hague Convention cases.
In 2018, Farrah Hudani and Christina Doris acted on behalf of the Defence for Children International in the Supreme Court of Canada on the seminal immigration case, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Attorney General of Canada v. Tusif Ur Rehman Chhina. Farrah, making the argument on behalf of the Defence for Children International, set out the importance of the availability of the Writ of Habeas Corpus for immigrant children and more specifically the fact that creating procedural hurdles for children to access their right to Habeas Corpus exposes them to risk of harm.
In 2022, Farrah Hudani and Jessica Luscombe, acting on behalf of Defence for Children International in the Supreme Court of Canada on the pivotal case, F. v. N. , intervened on the issue of the application of the best interests test in jurisdiction disputes involving non-Hague Convention countries and specifically Canada’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Launched in 2020, the PBSC Family Justice Centre (FJC) provides free unbundled legal services
to self-represented litigants in Ontario who are unable to afford a lawyer but do not meet the threshold to qualify for legal aid services. Carina Chan has been volunteering with the FJC since its inaugural year as a pro bono lawyer supervisor, overseeing and mentoring law students as they assist FJC clients.
The Luke’s Place Virtual Legal Clinic provides free summary legal advice to women across the
province of Ontario who have experienced intimate partner violence and who cannot afford a lawyer. Since 2017, Carina Chan has been volunteering with the clinic and assisting Luke’s Place with the development of resources on family violence and the family court process.
Since 1982, the Red Door has provided emergency shelter and support for women who are fleeing violence at home, families who are evicted, refugees or young mothers who may have nowhere to go. It has grown to be one of the largest family shelters in the city, providing shelter and support to over 500 families every year. Carina Chan has served as a board member for the Red Door since 2018 and the firm is a proud sponsor of the shelter’s annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.
The YWCA Toronto is dedicated to improving the lives of women, girls, and gender diverse people
in Toronto of all faiths, sexual orientations, races, cultural affiliations, and creeds by offering, among other services, a range of housing options, employment and training programs, community support programs including interest-free loans and grants, and family programs. Tharmini Kuhathasan
serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the YWCA Toronto, and a member of their Advocacy Advisory Committee.
Christopher Burrison is privileged to volunteer as manager and coach at the Leaside Hockey Association, where he emphasizes inclusiveness and fair play among competitive hockey players on two hockey teams. Christopher and the Firm also proudly support the Leaside Hockey Association with sponsorship and fundraising
– Maya Angelou
Pro Bono & Public Policy Work
The firm has a long history of taking on pro bono cases of public importance. In 2017, Farrah Hudani acted on behalf of the Defence for Children International in the Supreme Court of Canada on the seminal Hague Convention case, Office of the Children’s Lawyer v. Balev (2018) 1 S.C.R. 398. In this groundbreaking appeal, Defence for Children International argued the importance of hearing from children with less restrictions and barriers in Hague Convention cases.
In 2018, Farrah Hudani and Christina Doris acted on behalf of the Defence for Children International in the Supreme Court of Canada on the seminal immigration case, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Attorney General of Canada v. Tusif Ur Rehman Chhina. Farrah, making the argument on behalf of the Defence for Children International, set out the importance of the availability of the Writ of Habeas Corpus for immigrant children and more specifically the fact that creating procedural hurdles for children to access their right to Habeas Corpus exposes them to risk of harm.
In 2022, Farrah Hudani and Jessica Luscombe, acting on behalf of Defence for Children International in the Supreme Court of Canada on the pivotal case, F. v. N. , intervened on the issue of the application of the best interests test in jurisdiction disputes involving non-Hague Convention countries and specifically Canada’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
PBSC Family Justice Centre
Launched in 2020, the PBSC Family Justice Centre (FJC) provides free unbundled legal services
to self-represented litigants in Ontario who are unable to afford a lawyer but do not meet the threshold to qualify for legal aid services. Carina Chan has been volunteering with the FJC since its inaugural year as a pro bono lawyer supervisor, overseeing and mentoring law students as they assist FJC clients.
Luke’s Place Virtual Legal Clinic
The Luke’s Place Virtual Legal Clinic provides free summary legal advice to women across the
province of Ontario who have experienced intimate partner violence and who cannot afford a lawyer. Since 2017, Carina Chan has been volunteering with the clinic and assisting Luke’s Place with the development of resources on family violence and the family court process.
The Red Door Family Shelter
Since 1982, the Red Door has provided emergency shelter and support for women who are fleeing violence at home, families who are evicted, refugees or young mothers who may have nowhere to go. It has grown to be one of the largest family shelters in the city, providing shelter and support to over 500 families every year. Carina Chan has served as a board member for the Red Door since 2018 and the firm is a proud sponsor of the shelter’s annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.
YWCA
The YWCA Toronto is dedicated to improving the lives of women, girls, and gender diverse people
in Toronto of all faiths, sexual orientations, races, cultural affiliations, and creeds by offering, among other services, a range of housing options, employment and training programs, community support programs including interest-free loans and grants, and family programs. Tharmini Kuhathasan
serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the YWCA Toronto, and a member of their Advocacy Advisory Committee.
Leaside Hockey Association
Christopher Burrison is privileged to volunteer as manager and coach at the Leaside Hockey Association, where he emphasizes inclusiveness and fair play among competitive hockey players on two hockey teams. Christopher and the Firm also proudly support the Leaside Hockey Association with sponsorship and fundraising
– Maya Angelou