Joel Guberman

Practice Areas

Joel has been practicing in the field of US and Canadian immigration law for over 40 years. Joel advises his clients on immigration issues related to conducting business across international borders, including applications for visas and work-permits. He also advises on matters such as North American free trade, treaty investors and treaty traders and other issues related to worldwide skilled worker immigration. His clients include senior executives and individuals as well as institutions and large multinational organizations.

Licensed to practise law in Ontario, Canada and Massachusetts, USA, Joel has been at the forefront of Canada/US cross border issues since prior to the inception of NAFTA. He has a particular expertise in US immigration matters for businesses and individuals. Joel was a founding member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Canada Chapter and is a past Chair of that organization, as well as the Ontario Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Law section. Joel lectures and participates in numerous seminars, panels and symposiums on both Canadian and U.S. immigration law.

According to the “International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers” (the official research partner of the International Bar Association) “Joel Guberman is…the leading lawyer in Canada for corporate immigration matters” and is on its “most highly regarded individuals” list internationally.

He is:

•Certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Immigration Law.

•Past-Chair of the Ontario Bar Association, Immigration and Citizenship Section.

•Past-Chair of the Canada Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association – of which he was a founding member.

•Also listed in the “Lexpert Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada” and the “Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals”.

•Recognized in Best Lawyers® Canada 2025 for Immigration Law in Toronto.

Career

Partner

Guberman // Appleby Immigration Lawyers

Sep 2022 - Present

Senior Immigration Counsel

CILF

Jul 2018 - Aug 2022

Chair & Founding Partner

Guberman, Garson LLP

Aug 2014 - Jul 2018

Senior Partner

Guberman, Garson Immigration Lawyers

1991 - Aug 2014

Professional Memberships

ADMISSIONS & AFFILIATIONS

-Called to the Ontario Bar (1977)

-Law Society of Ontario

-Canadian Bar Association

-Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association

-Certified Specialist, Law Society of Upper Canada (since 1992)