OWS Law
6 lawyers · Established 2017 · City of Toronto, Peel Region
One of 229 law firms listed in North York, and one of 69 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
About OWS Law
One of the highest-rated law firms in Toronto, going by its Google reviews.
OWS Law is a full-service firm founded in 2017 by three lawyers, Obaidul Hoque, Shahwar Akbar, and Washim Ahmed. It operates as an association, meaning each lawyer practices as an individual entity rather than as part of a single traditional partnership. The firm's head office is on Yonge Street in North York, with its other lawyers based out of offices in Scarborough and Mississauga. Between the three locations, the firm covers civil and commercial litigation, corporate law, immigration and refugee law, employment law, family law, personal injury, real estate transactions and mortgage defense, and wills and estates.
Each founder brings a different focus to the practice. Shahwar Akbar was called to the bar of Ontario in 2017 after articling with Ryerson University's General Counsel Office, and works mainly in residential and commercial real estate out of the Mississauga office. Washim Ahmed was called to the bar in 2016, holds an LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School, and practices immigration, refugee, and family law from the Scarborough office. Obaidul Hoque handles civil and commercial litigation and administrative law from the North York office, including appeals before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, and the Federal Court of Canada. The firm describes its approach as "Your Background Matters," and its staff speak French, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Russian, Romanian, Igbo, and Swedish besides English.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Founded in 2017 by Obaidul Hoque, Shahwar Akbar, and Washim Ahmed.
- Shahwar Akbar was called to the bar of Ontario in 2017, holding an LLB Hons from the University of Wales.
- Washim Ahmed was called to the bar of Ontario in 2016 and holds an LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School (2015).
In the community
- Washim Ahmed co-founded the Canadian Rohingya Development Initiatives and continues to serve as an advisor to the organization.
- Washim Ahmed serves as an Education Law panel lawyer for Pro Bono Law Ontario.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleLawyers 6
Neelam Farooq
Lawyer
Family Law
Obaidul Hoque
Lawyer
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionAdministrative & Regulatory Law
Rodrigo Z. Giraldo
Lawyer
Employment & Labour LawReal Estate Law
Shahwar Akbar
Lawyer
Business & Corporate LawReal Estate Law
Washim Ahmed
Lawyer
Immigration LawFamily Law
Zaheed Moral
Lawyer
Real Estate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2016–2022 · median 7 years in practice 5 of 6 lawyers
- Law schools
- Sabana University and University of Toronto, University of Leicester, University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School, University of Wales 4 of 6 lawyers
- Languages on the roster
- English, Spanish
Who handles what
Offices 3
The neighbourhood
OWS Law's head office sits on Yonge Street in North York, with its other two lawyers practicing out of offices in Scarborough and Mississauga rather than a shared branch location. Because the firm operates as an association of individual lawyers, each of these three offices is the working base for one of the founding lawyers, not a satellite staffed on a rotating basis.
That footprint lines up with the firm's stated approach. OWS Law built a multilingual staff, speaking French, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Russian, Romanian, Igbo, and Swedish along with English, to serve clients across the diverse communities its three GTA offices sit in.
Frequently asked questions
- What areas of law does OWS Law handle?
- The firm covers civil and commercial litigation, corporate law, immigration and refugee law, employment law, family law, personal injury, real estate transactions and mortgage defense, real estate litigation, and wills and estates.
- Does OWS Law offer services in languages other than English?
- Yes. The firm's staff speak French, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Russian, Romanian, Igbo, and Swedish in addition to English, so clients aren't limited to being served in their second language.
- Where are OWS Law's offices located?
- The head office is in North York on Yonge Street, with additional offices in Scarborough and Mississauga, each home to one of the firm's founding lawyers.
- Can OWS Law help with a refugee claim or immigration appeal?
- Yes. The firm handles refugee claims, humanitarian and compassionate applications, sponsorship processes, appeals before immigration tribunals, judicial reviews, inadmissibility issues, and detention reviews.
- I'm behind on my mortgage and worried about foreclosure, can OWS Law help?
- The firm's real estate practice includes mortgage defense work: reviewing mortgage documents, assessing a lender's claims, and negotiating alternatives such as loan modifications, forbearance agreements, or short sales.
- How do I find out if I have a case?
- OWS Law offers a consultation to look at the specifics of a matter and evaluate it. The firm notes that many people underestimate whether their concerns amount to a valid legal claim.
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