Michael Hughes B.A. (Hons.), B.C.L., LL.B.
Senior Associate
Toronto
150 York Street, 5th Floor Toronto ON M5H 3S5 CA
michaelh@gands.com
(416) 863-5852
vcard
Bio
Michael Hughes is a Senior Associate Lawyer at Green and Spiegel LLP in Toronto. Michael assists clients with all aspects of Canadian immigration law including corporate and personal immigration matters. Michael assists clients with temporary applications for work permits and study permits, as well as for permanent residency and citizenship. Michael also assists clients in admissibility and enforcement matters, and with litigation before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Michael specializes in corporate immigration matters and his practice focuses primarily on facilitating the entry of personnel into Canada for a variety of multi-national corporations and small and medium businesses.
Michael also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Graduate Diploma Program in Immigration and Citizenship Law at Queen’s University.
Michael is a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. He was called to the Ontario Bar after articling at Green and Spiegel LLP. Prior to law school, Michael worked as an Immigration Officer for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada where he rendered decisions on applications for temporary residence and reviewed files involving criminal inadmissibility. His experience with IRCC has provided Michael with a deep understanding of Canadian immigration procedure and a unique perspective when working with clients.
Education
- Called to the Ontario Bar, 2020
- Bachelor of Laws, McGill University Faculty of Law, 2019
- Bachelor of Civil Law, McGill University Faculty of Law, 2019
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Ottawa, 2015
Languages
- French
Affiliations
- Ontario Bar Association
- Canadian Bar Association
Involvement
- The International Refugee Assistance Project, Co-Director – McGill Chapter, 2016-2017
- Legal Information Clinic at McGill/Clinique d’information juridique à McGill, Student Volunteer, 2017-2017
- PINAY (Filipino Women’s Organization in Québec), Volunteer, 2017-2018
- Queen’s University, Adjunct Instructor for Graduate Diploma Program in Immigration and Citizenship Law, 2025-2026
Blog Posts
- Le Canada est-il vraiment un sanctuaire pour les immigrants LGBTQ+? – Featured Article in Le Devoir
- Economic Pathways to Canadian Temporary Residence for 2SLGBTQI+ Individuals: Work Permit Options for American Citizens
- Important New Policy Guidance for Intra-Company Transfer Work Permits
- Update on Canadian Immigration Processing from India
- HR Toolbox – What is an LMIA?
- Spring 2023 Updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Extended Measures to Help Address Labour Shortages in Canada
- Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations now in force
- Spring 2022 Updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Improvements to Address Labour Shortages in Canada
- COVID-19 AND CANADIAN IMMIGRATION: ANSWERING TRAVEL RESTRICTION QUESTIONS
- UNDERSTANDING CANADA’S SHIFTING IMMIGRATION LAWS IN LIGHT OF COVID-19


