How does Edwardh Ghadiyali Law's block fee work?

Edwardh Ghadiyali Law doesn't charge an hourly rate while it's managing a client's case. Instead, clients are quoted what the whole case is expected to cost, plus taxes, an arrangement known as a block fee payment model. Billing then happens in stages as the work gets done, on a payment schedule negotiated with the client.

Can I hire the firm just to review my disclosure while I handle my own case?

Yes. If you'd rather run your own case, the firm can review the evidence with you or take on one particular hearing or task. That help is billed at $350/hour, and the cost is quoted to you up front, before any work begins. (Fees as of October 2026.)

Does Edwardh Ghadiyali Law accept collect calls, and when is the best time to phone?

Yes, Edwardh Ghadiyali Law accepts collect calls. Its lawyers are often in court in the mornings, and the best time to reach the office by phone is after 2:00 pm.

Can I speak with Edwardh Ghadiyali Law in Kiswahili, Gujarati or Urdu?

Yes. The team is fluent in Kiswahili, Gujarati, Hindi and Urdu, as well as English and Spanish, and is semi-fluent in French, Marathi and Arabic.

If I don't qualify for Legal Aid, can the firm set up monthly payments?

Yes. For people who don't qualify for Legal Aid, the office can offer monthly payment plans to suit their financial circumstances.

Do I need an appointment to visit the Lancaster Street East office?

Yes. Edwardh Ghadiyali Law asks visitors to book an appointment in advance, since its lawyers spend a lot of time in court advocating for clients and may not always be at the office.

Edwardh Ghadiyali Law: Law Firm in Kitchener, ON

About Edwardh Ghadiyali Law

Edwardh Ghadiyali Law practises criminal law and only criminal law, offering defence to people in Kitchener, Waterloo and Oshawa. Its work reaches across Waterloo Region, the GTHA, Oshawa and Ontario's Central East Region, guiding people through the justice system at some of the hardest moments they'll face. The team offers legal services in more than eight languages.

The firm has served more than 200 clients. Alefia Ghadiyali co-founded it with Mel Edwardh. The firm's lawyers have practised criminal law in a number of Ontario communities, Ottawa, Peterborough, Lindsay and Toronto among them, and they've kept strong relationships in those places.

Ghadiyali holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa and was called to the Ontario bar in 2021. Born in Tanzania, Ghadiyali brings a global outlook shaped by time in India, Toronto and Dar-es-Salaam. After articling at Cooper, Sandler, Shime and Bergman, Ghadiyali worked on Missing and Missed, the report of the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigation, which came out of the Bruce McArthur murders.

Law school brought other work too. Ghadiyali joined groups such as FAFIA on the National Inquiry of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and took part in United Nations work on violence against women and housing rights. Ghadiyali also helped build a Muslim Legal Clinic and picked up experience with both the Court of Appeal and the Crown Attorney's office.

Practice areas

Criminal Defence

Core criminal charges

Edwardh Ghadiyali Law defends people facing sexual offence and child pornography charges, domestic and youth offences, property, fraud and theft cases, and drug, driving and breach charges. It also defends people charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Provincial offences

The firm also handles provincial offence charges, from traffic and workplace violations to trespassing and environmental infractions.

Notary services

Notary services are available too, covering oaths, certified true copies and the authentication of documents.

Good to know

Accessible parking A laptop showing a video call

Virtual appointments A calendar with a checkmark beside a clock

By appointment An office interior with a desk and chairs

In-person services

Fees & payment

A clipboard with a speech bubble and a no-charge dollar coin

Free consultation Scales of justice and a gavel above a Legal Aid banner

Legal aid

How Edwardh Ghadiyali Law works

Edwardh Ghadiyali Law exists because of a belief that Canada has a profound gap in access to justice. The firm holds that competent legal representation is a right, and that nobody should have to face the criminal justice system alone.

Day to day, the firm commits to returning every call and email within 24 hours. Its lawyers work with each client so the strengths and weaknesses of the case are clear and decisions are informed ones. The firm sees good advocacy as the product of hard work, and it aims to walk into court better prepared than anyone else there. Every legal service it provides comes from a licensed lawyer.

Affiliations & connections

Legal Aid Ontario: Edwardh Ghadiyali Law accepts legal aid certificates. Clients who retain the firm through legal aid have all their costs paid by Legal Aid Ontario under its certificate system.

Lawyers 2

Alefia Ghadiyali Criminal Defence Lawyer Criminal Defence Mel Edwardh Criminal Defence Lawyer Criminal Defence

This firm’s lawyers at a glance

Called to the bar: 2021 · median 5 years in practice 1 of 2 lawyers
Law schools: University of Ottawa 1 of 2 lawyers

Who handles what

Criminal Defence
Alefia Ghadiyali, Mel Edwardh

The neighbourhood

Edwardh Ghadiyali Law's office is at 130 Lancaster Street East in Kitchener, postal code N2H 1N1. The Ontario Court of Justice's Kitchener courthouse is at 85 Frederick Street.

Frequently asked questions

How does Edwardh Ghadiyali Law's block fee work?: Edwardh Ghadiyali Law doesn't charge an hourly rate while it's managing a client's case. Instead, clients are quoted what the whole case is expected to cost, plus taxes, an arrangement known as a block fee payment model. Billing then happens in stages as the work gets done, on a payment schedule negotiated with the client.
Can I hire the firm just to review my disclosure while I handle my own case?: Yes. If you'd rather run your own case, the firm can review the evidence with you or take on one particular hearing or task. That help is billed at $350/hour, and the cost is quoted to you up front, before any work begins. (Fees as of October 2026.)
Does Edwardh Ghadiyali Law accept collect calls, and when is the best time to phone?: Yes, Edwardh Ghadiyali Law accepts collect calls. Its lawyers are often in court in the mornings, and the best time to reach the office by phone is after 2:00 pm.
Can I speak with Edwardh Ghadiyali Law in Kiswahili, Gujarati or Urdu?: Yes. The team is fluent in Kiswahili, Gujarati, Hindi and Urdu, as well as English and Spanish, and is semi-fluent in French, Marathi and Arabic.
If I don't qualify for Legal Aid, can the firm set up monthly payments?: Yes. For people who don't qualify for Legal Aid, the office can offer monthly payment plans to suit their financial circumstances.
Do I need an appointment to visit the Lancaster Street East office?: Yes. Edwardh Ghadiyali Law asks visitors to book an appointment in advance, since its lawyers spend a lot of time in court advocating for clients and may not always be at the office.

Where to find them

130 Lancaster Street East, Kitchener, Ontario N2H 1N1 · 226-499-3118

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