Michael Battista

Biography

Michael Battista LL.B. (Queen’s) B.A. (Toronto) was called to the Ontario bar in 1992 and has been practicing immigration and refugee law exclusively since that time. He is certified as a specialist in Citizenship and Immigration law (Immigration and Refugee Protection) by the Law Society of Upper Canada. He has represented the Canadian section of Amnesty International in human rights litigation and before domestic and international governing committees. His legal practice involves representation of clients in all areas of immigration and refugee law with a particular focus on immigration issues for lesbians and gay men, medical inadmissibility and refugee claims based on sexual orientation/identity. He worked with EGALE Canada in successfully lobbying the federal government to extend sponsorship rights to same-sex couple. Michael has served as Chair of the AIDS Committee of Toronto, was awarded membership in the Ontario AIDS Network Honor Roll in recognition of his work on issues related to HIV and immigration and is the co-author of Canadian Family and Immigration Law: Intersections, Developments, and Conflicts (2015, Carswell).

Courses Taught:

Integrating Seminar: Legal Analysis in Public Policy “Canadian Migration Policy”