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34 www.canadianlawyermag.com FEATURE TOP 10 IMMIGRATION BOUTIQUES 2020 Top Immigration Law Boutiques While immigration law experts have been receiving more calls than ever, it's also been the most challenging time for lawyers to handle these queries WITH BORDER closures, courtrooms shut and immigration application processing at a virtual standstill, for Canada's top immigra- tion firms, it was all about adapting to life in the time of COVID-19. One would expect that immigration lawyers would be in demand more than ever during a pandemic that has shut the Canadian border, with some exceptions, to the rest of the world. While it is true that immigration law experts have been receiving more calls than ever from clients worried about the status of their resi- dency or work visa application or looking at how they might be reunited with a family member in another country who is not a Canadian citizen, it's also been the most challenging of times for HOW WE DID IT Canadian Lawyer asked lawyers, in-house counsel and clients from across Canada to vote on the top immigration boutiques. They were asked to rank their top firms from a preliminary list, with a chance to nominate a firm that was not included on the list. To be considered in the vote, firms were required to have at least 80 per cent of their business come from immigration law. The final rankings were determined through a points system, in which firms were rewarded on a sliding scale for the number of first to 10th-place votes received. The quantitative results are combined with feedback from respected senior members of the bar and in-house counsel when applicable. lawyers to handle these queries. Not only are they stymied by a federal government that has most of its employees working from home, with most immigration application processing grinding to a halt, getting answers on how to manoeuvre through the new border-crossing rules has become a challenge in itself, as the policies and regulations keep changing. So, it is a testament to all those who made it on to Canadian Lawyer's list of top immi- gration law boutiques that all were able to keep busy and hold the hands of clients who needed navigation through some very personal and emotional ordeals. Here are the top 10 immigration boutiques, presented in alphabetical order.