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 35 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 a member of the Law Society of Ontario and a member of the Toronto Lawyers Association. He 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 an instructor at Herzing College’s Paralegal Program, Academy of Learning Immigration Consultant Program and the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course.
Erika Perez, Barrister and Solicitor
We are proud to welcome our newest addition to the team as an Associate Lawyer.
Erika is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Toronto Lawyers Association.
Erika attended the University of Toronto for three years before being accepted to the Common Law program at the University of Ottawa. She earned her J.D. (Juris Doctor), graduating with honours, and completed the Law Practice Program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Gerrie Wagner,
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC)
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.
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.
Alice Paik, Legal Assistant
Alice graduated from the University of Toronto in 2016 and has been working with our firm as a legal assistant since 2017.
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.