Kristin Debs practices in immigration and refugee law. She regularly assists clients with refugee applications and appeals, including judicial reviews, as well as both personal and business immigration matters.

In addition, Kristin represents both applicants and intervenors in public law and human rights litigation.

Kristin's practice reflects her internationally-focused education and background in public policy consulting, as well as her keen interest in the rule of law and desire to participate in and build into successful nations and societies. These facets of her experience give Kristin an enhanced ability to advocate for her clients through an understanding of the policies that underlie judicial and administrative decisions in Canada.

Education

LLB, University of Ottawa, French Common Law Section
MA, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University
iBBA, Schulich School of Business, York University

Professional Experience

Kristin has a breadth of legal experience, having worked at a national full service law firm in Toronto, at the Federal Court in Ottawa as a judicial law clerk, and at a federal tribunal. She has been on both sides of the bench, giving her both advocacy and decision-making experience.

Kristin has represented clients before various courts and tribunals including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court of Ontario, the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board. She sits as a director on the the boards of two national non-governmental organizations.

While interning at Amnesty International in Ottawa and the Womens’ Legal Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, Kristin worked in the areas of human rights and the rule of law. As a case worker at the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic, Kristin represented female victims of violence before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Kristin has public policy consulting and program evaluation experience, having worked with a Canadian firm. She consulted on a variety of matters including Canada’s linguistic duality policies, Federal Aboriginal Specific Claims, the Saint John Family Law Pilot Program, and Canada’s involvement with French international television station TV5.

Additionally, Kristin served as an external consultant on the topic of Religious Freedom in Egypt for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and submitted a report to Parliament entitled “Religious Freedom in Egypt: the Case of the Christian Minority”.

Languages

Kristin is fluently bilingual in French and English, and has conversational proficiency in Arabic and Spanish.