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Our services
Fogarty Law Firm provides professional legal services for clients in Immigration Law and Citizenship Law of Canada. Whether you need help with your application forms, or experienced counsel to represent you when dealing with government bodies, or to plead your case in court, Fogarty Law Firm is ready to work with you. We are also available to assist you after your arrival in Canada so that you may respect conditions imposed and residency requirements.
At Fogarty Law Firm, our watchwords are experience, integrity and innovation. We focus on you, our client, so that your goals may be realised through the maze of the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship legal systems.
We pride ourselves in analysing your file from all perspectives, taking into account the latest legal developments and government procedures, while striving to provide the highest level of professional services.
At Fogarty Law Firm, we are committed to:
Our team
Fogarty Law Firm is growing. Visit our website regularly to become acquainted with new members of our team as we continue to expand our circle of service to assist you.
Stephen J. Fogarty is recognized as a leading attorney in Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Law. He founded Fogarty Law Firm in Montreal, Quebec, during 2007, after having provided counsel service to other firms for many years. He has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1986 and of the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario) since 1991.
Steve Fogarty has extensive experience representing clients to government agencies, negotiating settlements, making detailed legal submissions, and pleading cases in court. He has received numerous requests to provide specialized training for prestigious associations of lawyers and judicial organizations. He also supports public legal education by giving talks to community organizations, writing articles in local newsletters, and granting interviews to the media.
In addition to regular professional training, Mr Fogarty’s education includes a bachelor’s degree with honours in philosophy and political science from McGill University, a master’s in philosophy from the University of Ottawa, a licentiate in philosophy from St Paul University, and degrees in common law and in civil law from the McGill Law School. Prior to starting formal studies in law, Mr Fogarty gained detailed practical knowledge of the Canadian government while working for several years as a research officer for the Library of Parliament.
Stephen Fogarty has served as a board member of educational and charitable institutions and as a minor league baseball coach for his son’s teams. He pursues his interests in photography and in music, and is studying classical violin at the McGill Conservatory. He lives with his wife and two children in the Montreal area.
John C. M. Donovan acts as senior special legal counsel to Fogarty Law Firm, assisting us with his insight, experience and advice.
Mr Donovan was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1977 and heads his own law firm located in Westmount, Quebec. Mr Donovan has served for many years as a part-time Municipal Court Prosecutor, a role he still fulfills, as well as having widespread experience in civil law matters. In recent years he has also focused on legal issues relating to the rights and care of the elderly, a field of increasing relevance due to Canada’s aging population.
Mr Donovan obtained his B.A. from the University of Montreal (Loyola College), his M.A. from the University of Montreal, and is a graduate of McGill University Law School. Married with five children, Mr Donovan is active in his church, charitable causes and in the community. He is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Westmount and was also a part-time lecturer in business law at Concordia University.
Ms Isabel Ramirez Guardia is a special legal counsel for Fogarty Law Firm. She is a member in good-standing of the Venezuelan Colegio de Abogados (advocates’ professional order) since 2001, having graduated from the prestigious Universidad Católica Andrés Bello Law School in Caracas.
Born in France but raised in South America, the trilingual Ms Ramirez Guardia worked in Venezuela in private legal practice as a civil and corporate lawyer, and as a consulting lawyer for a government agency. Since immigrating to Canada, she worked with several independent film production companies consulting in international entertainment law matters such as co-production treaties. She also has extensive practical experience of Canadian corporate law providing paralegal services for businesspersons while dealing with government regulatory agencies.
Ms Ramirez Guardia understands migration issues from the perspective of one who succeeded in her own immigration procedures and became a Canadian citizen. Her professional background and knowledge of Hispanic and Latin American laws and customs is a tremendous advantage for our clients from these regions, whether they wish to apply for residency as investors or skilled workers, to sponsor family members, or even for those clients seeking temporary status as visitors, students or workers. In addition, Ms Ramierz Guardia can readily assist our clients wishing to start their own businesses following arrival in Canada.
In her spare time, Ms Ramirez Guardia is a gourmet chef and teacher in a culinary school. She is also making a documentary film about the current state of our food culture. She lives in Montreal with her husband and their young son.
Jean-François Harvey is the founding partner of Harvey Simard Law Corporation Inc. Mr. Harvey has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1992, and during 2002-03 served as National Chair, Immigration Section of the Canadian Bar Association. Mr. Harvey’s firm has been operating in Hong Kong and Beijing for many years. In 2008, Harvey Simard became one of the first overseas Canadian law firms granted full status by the Law Society of Hong Kong.
Mr. Harvey collaborates with Fogarty Law Firm on a regular basis as our special counsel on legal and government matters for Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China, to the great benefit of our Firm. He also serves as our official agent there when necessary.
Pierre Soucie, MD, acts as a special consultant to the Fogarty Law Firm. Dr Soucie has more than 20 years experience as a medical doctor. He is licensed to practice medicine in two Canadian provinces, Quebec and Ontario, is certified by the Canadian College of Family Physicians, and holds a fellowship in Emergency Medicine.
His current practice focuses on primary care for his own patients and through a major hospital under the publicly-funded medical system in Ontario. In the past he also practiced in the field of private-sector medical services through a specialized clinic in Quebec.
Dr Soucie provides expertise in files which involve general issues of medical inadmissibility. In addition, Dr Soucie can assist us when a Canadian visa officer wishes to refuse a permanent residency application because of concerns about “excessive demand” on Canadian health or social services. Drawing on his extensive practical experience, Dr Soucie is especially well-qualified to assess likely health or social services that would be required to properly treat any medical illness or condition. Dr Soucie’s expertise can provide a key advantage to Fogarty Law Firm clients when we request to Canadian officials that an individual with medical concerns be accepted as an immigrant to Canada.
Vijay Dandapani is a special business advisor to Fogarty Law Firm. He provides advice in key matters such as international marketing, development of innovative legal services, and maintenance of high business standards.
Mr Dandapani is recognized as a leading business executive in New York City, USA. He is President and Chief Operating Officer of Apple Core Hotels, a group of five boutique-style hotels located in Manhattan. He is also a member of the board of directors of prestigious business organizations including: the New York State Hospitality Tourism Association; the quasi-public NYC & Company; and, of the Hotel Association of New York City, for which organization he served as Chair from 2004 to 2006.
Mr Dandapani holds a Master’s degree in hotel administration from Cornell University. He has lectured on hotel management and business development issues on many occasions through organizations such as Arthur Anderson, the University of California at Los Angeles, Columbia University, New York University, and the US National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives.
Mr Dandapani lives in NYC with his wife, a well-known musician, and their two children. His business duties require frequent international travel, notably to his native India, where he continues to have well-established business and professional ties.
Christine Clarke serves as a special consultant to Fogarty Law Firm. Ms Clarke held the position of Data Services Manager for Canada’s leading supplier of portfolio management services and financial data, where she worked for over 18 years. After taking time off to raise her children, she assisted on a part-time basis for a leading non-governmental organization in the field of pre-hospital emergency health care. She currently also provides services in the educational tourism industry. Ms Clarke is also a two-time award winning newsletter editor.
Ms Clarke uses her research skills to provide key information for us on important issues such as, the provision of health care services in Canada, world financial and political trends, economic data, and other matters.
In her limited spare time, Christine enjoys taking piano lessons along with her daughter.
Our Firm’s logo is based on the traditional family crest of the Fogarty family of Ireland, whose roots may be traced back in historical documents there for many hundreds of years. There were Fogartys who emigrated from Ireland to Canada beginning in the early 19th century.
The crest has been stylized somewhat to give it a modern look, and been placed on a yellow disc. For us, this disc represents the complete circle of service we strive to offer our clients with our team. The disc also stands for the globe, our planet, from the four corners of which our clients come to build a better life in Canada.
If you are interested in finding out more information about heraldry and the symbols in our logo, fell free to click on Logo details.
Testimonials
In accordance with the rules of the Quebec Bar Association, Fogarty Law Firm is not permitted to publish any testimonials from among our many satisfied clients.