Experience

Matkowsky Immigration Law

• Canada
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Immigration Lawyer (Partner)

  • Nov 2017 - Present

  Prior to co-founding Matkowsky Immigration Law PC, Sonia spent seven years practicing immigration law with two of Canada’s largest immigration law firms - Green and Spiegel, and KPMG law. Sonia has extensive experience representing both individual clients and Fortune 500 multinational companies from a wide variety of industries. ​ Sonia practices in all areas of Canadian immigration law and can assist clients with a variety of matters including compliance reviews, temporary and permanent residency applications as well as applications for Canadian citizenship. Sonia also represents clients in family class applications and appeals; Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications; Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applications); Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications; Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications; entrepreneurial program and investor applications; enforcement and admissibility matters; Detention Reviews at the Immigration Division (ID); Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) and Federal Court litigation.



Green and Spiegel LLP

• Associate Lawyer

  • Apr 2015 - Nov 2017

  • Representing clients before the Immigration and Refugee Tribunal (Immigration Division and Immigration Appeal Division) and the Federal Court • Representing clients in family class applications and appeals; federal skilled worker applications; Canadian experience class applications; provincial nominee applications; humanitarian and compassionate applications, enforcement and admissibility matters • Advising numerous multinational companies - including those in the financial services, information technology, engineering, energy, pharmaceutical and retail industries - on strategies to ensure ability to transfer foreign workers to Canada • Assisting high net-worth businesspersons with strategies to work and settle in Canada • Obtaining resolution of challenging and complicated files, including overcoming medical and criminal inadmissibility; and, temporary and permanent residence refusals • Advising companies on compliance measures under Canadian foreign worker legislation



KPMG Law LLP

• Ireland
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Lawyer

  • Jun 2012 - Apr 2015

  • Advised numerous multinational companies - including those in the financial services, information technology, engineering, energy, pharmaceutical and retail industries - on strategies to ensure ability to transfer foreign workers to Canada • Advised companies on compliance measures under Canadian foreign worker legislation • Assisted high net-worth businesspersons with strategies to work and settle in Canada • Obtained resolution of challenging and complicated files, including overcoming medical and criminal inadmissibility and visa/work permit refusals • Participated in the development of client relationships and addressed any issues of quality, time standards and communication • Developed an informative communication stream with clients to ensure that all enquiries are addressed • Supervised Immigration Administrators and Submission Writers • Provided guidance to Immigration Administrators and Submission Writers on case matters • Interacted with Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s inland Case Processing Centers, Canada Border Services Agencies at the Ports of Entry, and visa offices worldwide



Greenberg Turner

• Student-at-Law

  • Jun 2011 - Jun 2012

  • Completed assessments to determine clients’ eligibility for Canadian immigration status and/or visas • Advised prospective and existing clients on best strategies to obtain their immigration goals as quickly and seamlessly as possible within the law; • Oversaw preparation and submission of applications for temporary work permits, temporary resident visas, temporary resident permits and other related Canadian immigration documents; • Undertook immigration and related legal research, as needed; • Communicated with government agencies on client cases; • Stayed abreast of legislative developments to ensure accurate legal advice; • Assisted in the preparation of immigration memoranda and summaries.



Corsianos Lee Barristers

• Summer Law Student

  • May 2010 - Aug 2010

  • Drafted a wide range of documents such as contracts, pleadings, facta, motions, mediation memos and motion records for corporate/commercial, real-estate and wills & estates cases • Conducted legal research • Assisted litigation lawyers with trial preparation and on trials • Drafted a wide range of documents such as contracts, pleadings, facta, motions, mediation memos and motion records for corporate/commercial, real-estate and wills & estates cases • Conducted legal research • Assisted litigation lawyers with trial preparation and on trials