Our Staff

Silvia Valdman Senior Lawyer silvia@valdmanlaw.com Silvia
Silvia Valdman is the senior lawyer and owner of the office. She started her practice in Ottawa in June 2000. Since then, her office has grown and she now also has an office in Toronto, since 2007.
Ms. Valdman graduated University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 1996 (cum laude). She was called the Bar in Ontario in 1998. Prior to completing her law degree, Ms. Valdman graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an Bachelor of Arts Degree (English Language and Literature) in 1993.
Ms. Valdman provides the main strategic legal advice on all files, due to her extensive years of experience on almost all type of refugee, immigration and citizenship files.
She has extensive community involvement, including Immigrant Women Services, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization, Catholic Immigration Centre, Centretown Community Health Centre, Legal Aid Ontario and numerous Women’s Shelters and other immigrant settlement agencies.
Ms. Valdman is presently working on a Masters of Information Studies at the University of Toronto.
Ms. Valdman serves clients Romanian, French and English.
Mohammad Hadi Hakimi Associate Lawyer Hadi@valdmanlaw.com
Mr. Hakimi is a graduate of Shiraz University, Faculty of Law, of Iran
with a LL.L. degree in Civil Law & Islamic Law. He achieved the
highest cumulative grade point average upon graduation in 1995 and
received a letter of recognition from the university.Mr. Hakimi obtained a masters degree (LL.M) in Private law from Shahid Beheshti University, Faculty of Law, of Iran. He wrote hisdissertation on corporate law with perfect marks (A+) in 1998. Hereceived a letter of appreciation from the Dean of the Faculty of Law. Mr. Hakimi graduated the University of Ottawa, School of Law, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2010. He is also a member of the “Afghanistan Independent Bar Association” since 2008 Mr. Hakimi worked as a researcher with the “United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees” (UNHCR) in Tehran, Iran. He also worked with the “International Law Office”, in Tehran, Iran. He has taught and authored law course materials at Kateb Institute of Higher Education in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2008.Born in Afghanistan, Mr. Hakimi lived in several countries and is familiar with different cultures. He speaks English, Farsi and Dari (all dialects), Pashto and Urdu. He has been involved in a variety of community activities for more than three decades. He speaks to legal issues and writes legal opinions for Magazines and media, including BBC World/Persian.
Ronalee Carey Legal Researcher ronalee@valdmanlaw.com ronalee
Ronalee Carey is the office manager and works as a legal researcher.

Ms. Carey provides research concerning the law and country conditions for refugee claimants. Ms. Carey also helps refugee claimants prepare their documentation for their refugee hearing.

For other clients, Ms. Carey assists in the collection and preparation of supporting documentation for skilled worker applications, spousal and family sponsorships and appeals to both the Immigration Appeal Division and the Federal Court.

Ms. Carey graduated from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 1996, having won numerous academic awards and scholarships. She was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1998, having won the McCarthy Tetrault Business Law Prize.

Ms. Carey worked as an associate lawyer at an Ottawa law firm for a short period of time before a lengthy parental leave. During this period, Ms. Carey was very active in her community, serving in volunteer positions with the Ottawa Children’s Aid Society as a foster parent, the Vesta Recovery Program for Women as a board member, St. Christopher’s Preschool as a legal advisor, and with the Ottawa Human Society.

Currently, Ms. Carey works part-time while continuing to care for her busy family.
Bahar Karbakhsh Articling Student Bahar@valdmanlaw.com Bahar_
Ms. Karbakhsh is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa with a specialization in Social Justice Law. She is presently articling and will complete her articles in 2011. Prior to completing her law degree, Ms. Karbakhsh completed an Honours Degree (B.A.) at York University with a double major in Political Science and Law and Society. Ms. Karbakhsh has volunteered and worked for the Centre for Social Justice in the past and has completed a Fellowship placement as a summer intern at the African Canadian Legal Clinic in the summer of 2009. She would like to pursue a legal career in international human rights, with a specific focus on refugee and immigration law. Through her work, she hopes to bridge the gap between people and to spread the message of togetherness, understanding and peace. Ms. Karbakhsh serves clients in Farsi and English.h.