Law Offices of George M. Garvida
1 lawyer · City of Toronto
One of 2,347 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 426 handling Immigration Law.
Free consultation
Free consultationAbout Law Offices of George M. Garvida
The Law Offices of George M. Garvida is a sole Toronto practice serving the Filipino Canadian community. Atty. George M. Garvida handles immigration, family law, civil litigation, business and commercial law, criminal defence, notarial services, small claims, and wills, drawing on experience in both the Canadian and Philippine legal systems. The firm says its aim is to represent Filipino community members who have not traditionally had access to legal representation, and it offers a free 15 minute consultation to new clients.
Garvida earned a BA in Humanities and an Ll.B. from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1993, then worked in the Philippines as Counsel and Hearing Officer with the Videogram Regulatory Board and later as a Government Corporate Attorney with the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel. After moving to Canada, Garvida completed a Law Clerk Diploma with Honours at Seneca College in Toronto in 2008 and, in 2014, received a Certificate of Qualification from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, the credential that lets internationally trained lawyers requalify to practise here.
Before opening the practice, Garvida held a range of jobs, including freelance DJ, server at Dunkin' Donuts, kitchen manager at Jollibee in Manila, cook at the IKEA restaurant in North York, and crew member at a Tim Hortons in Pickering. Garvida later opened three Toronto resto-bars, Kalesa, Kalan Chow, and Katipunan, and still offers DJ and sound engineering services through KMR Muzik.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Atty. George M. Garvida holds a BA (Humanities) and Ll.B. from the University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Arts and Letters.
- Garvida completed a Law Clerk Diploma with Honours at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto.
- Garvida holds a Certificate of Qualification from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, issued after completing the National Committee on Accreditation assessment for internationally trained lawyers.
- Before qualifying in Ontario, Garvida worked in the Philippines as Counsel and Hearing Officer with the Videogram Regulatory Board and later as a Government Corporate Attorney with the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Department of Justice.
Fees & payment
Free consultationWho handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm's office sits on Bathurst Street in North York, inside the stretch of Bathurst and Wilson known as Little Manila, home to roughly 47 Filipino owned businesses and the annual Taste of Manila festival. The area grew into a Filipino hub starting in the 1980s and 90s, when the Live In Caregiver Program brought many Filipina caregivers to the neighbourhood to work for its established Jewish community, and a number of those workers went on to settle and bring family to Canada. For a practice built around serving Filipino Canadian clients, an office inside that same neighbourhood puts it in the community it set out to serve, rather than in a downtown office tower.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Garvida Law Office help me sponsor a family member from the Philippines to immigrate to Canada?
- Yes. The firm's immigration practice includes sponsorship applications for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to bring family members to Canada, alongside other immigration categories such as visitor visas, work permits, and study pathways to permanent residency.
- I have a legal issue that touches both Canada and the Philippines. Does the firm handle that?
- The firm lists Philippines law alongside its Canadian practice areas and draws on experience in both jurisdictions, including help obtaining documentation from the Philippines and other countries for immigration files.
- I'm starting a small business in Toronto. Can the firm help me incorporate it?
- The firm's business and commercial law practice covers business planning, choosing an organizational structure, corporate registration, and help with grant and financing applications for startups.
- What happens during the free consultation?
- Garvida Law Office advertises a free 15 minute consultation for new clients. For immigration files specifically, the firm says any consultation fee paid is credited toward the file if the client goes on to retain the firm.
- I've never had to deal with a lawyer or the courts before. Will the firm still take my criminal case?
- The firm describes its criminal defence work as geared toward people who are strangers to the justice system, including Filipino community members facing unfamiliar legal proceedings for the first time.
- Does the firm provide notarial services like certifying documents or travel consent letters?
- Yes. The firm's notarial services include signature verification, administering oaths, and certifying documents such as contracts, affidavits, and travel consent letters.
Where to find them
3768 Bathurst Street, Suite 302, Toronto, ON · 416-638-1529
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Business & Corporate LawListing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗