Biography
Our Team
Steven Tress, Barrister and Solicitor
A Canadian Immigration Lawyer and a Criminal Lawyer with a practice in downtown Toronto, Steven graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1986 and was called to the bar in Ontario in 1988.
With over 36 years experience, Steven represents clients in all types of immigration matters, both inside and outside Canada, as well as appeals from various types of decisions of Citizenship and Immigration Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency to the Federal Court of Canada, and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Steven represents clients charged with all types of criminal offences and conducts trials in all levels of courts, as well as conviction and/or sentence appeals. He also represents clients at bail hearings, bail reviews and bail pending appeal.
Steven is currently serving part-time as Adjunct Instructor at Queen’s University in the Immigration and Citizenship Law Graduate Diploma Program, which is a licensing prerequisite to becoming a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. He is a member of the Toronto Lawyers Association and has been active with various sections and committees of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario), including:
- Criminal Justice Section Executive
- Immigration Law Section
- Joint Committee on Court Reform
- Advisory Committee to the Attorney General of Ontario
- Annual Institute Committee
- Continuing Legal Education Committee
Steven has lectured for various Criminal Law and Immigration Law programs, as well as served as a Course Instructor at Seneca Polytechnic’s Immigration Case Management Program, Academy of Learning Immigration Consultant Program, Herzing College’s Paralegal Program and the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course.
During his career, Steven has travelled to several countries to personally meet with clients and assist them in the preparation of applications under the entrepreneurial programs and self-employed category, including China/Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Thailand, South Korea, Guyana, Jamaica, and Cuba. While sifting through mounds of business records at the clients’ places of business and working with KPMG – a leading accounting firm – in the preparation of business reports to support their applications, Steven has gained insight into how various countries conduct business affairs, and how such acumen can benefit the Canadian business environment.
Gerrie Wagner,
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB)
Certified Court Interpreter, Certified Medical Interpreter
Prior to her career shift, Gerrie served as a freelance translator and interpreter for 19 years in Vancouver, BC. Certified by the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) as a court and medical interpreter, she actively supported the Chinese immigrant community, bridging language and cultural gaps. Ms. Wagner also served as a board director of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of BC (STIBC) for five years and continues as a certified member for the court system in B.C. and Yukon. Gerrie has also collaborated with numerous organizations, such as the Canada Wood Council and Canada World Youth, as a designated interpreter and translator.
With a decade of teaching experience in Canada, Ms. Wagner developed and delivered Mandarin and Chinese Cultural Studies courses at BCIT for five years, catering to students seeking business ventures with China. She further broadened her impact by teaching the Post Undergraduate Diploma Program in Translation and Interpretation at Simon Fraser University for five years. Notably, she served as the designated interpreter for Langara College's Higher Education Strategic Leadership Program during this period.
We are pleased to announce that Gerrie has successfully completed the Specialization Examination and is now fully licensed to represent clients at all four divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
As a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, Gerrie thrives on fostering cross-cultural understanding and empowering individuals to navigate new environments. Committed to helping qualified individuals achieve their Canadian dreams, she guides them through study, work, and immigration processes.
Jun (Jane) Li, Legal Assistant
Licensed Paralegal
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC)
Jane Li is an experienced legal professional with a diverse background in law, specializing in immigration policy. She holds a Juris Master’s degree from Liaoning University and a Paralegal Certificate from Centennial College. Jane has been licensed as a lawyer in Mainland China since 1999, a Paralegal of the Law Society of Ontario since 2015, and a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant since 2016.
Before her current position, Jane gained experience at Globaltimes International Consulting Corp. and Shapiro Real Estate & Business Lawyers, where she refined her expertise in immigration law and client management. Her skills include drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, and guiding clients through the immigration application process.
Fluent in English and Mandarin, Jane is well-equipped to serve a diverse clientele and navigate complex legal matters with ease. She is currently pursuing accreditation with the National Committee on Accreditation and has successfully passed 9 out of 10 exams to date, demonstrating her dedication to her field and commitment to excellence.
At our firm, keeping up with recent developments in the law and procedures is essential to providing quality representation and ensuring desirable results.
Client communication is important to us. If we are not available to speak with you personally when you call, you may leave a detailed and confidential message and we will return your call within 24 hours. In urgent cases, we will return your call on a priority basis.
