Atty. Will Tao
Will Tao is an experienced Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer with over a decade of experience and the founding lawyer of Heron Law Offices, a firm known for its principled and client-focused approach. Will provides legal services in all areas of Canadian immigration and refugee law with a focus on complex applications, overcoming refusals, inadmissibility matters, appeals, and judicial reviews.
Immigration Law Attorney · Serving Burnaby, BC · 11+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Will Tao at a Glance
Will Tao is a immigration attorney based in Burnaby, British Columbia, practicing at Heron Law Offices. They have 11+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2015. Admitted to practice in British Columbia, Law Society of British Columbia (2015). Educated at University of British Columbia (LLM) and University of Ottawa (JD). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Immigration Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Awards: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Lexpert (2026). Serves clients in Burnaby, BC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Will Tao
- Will Tao is an experienced Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer with over a decade of experience and the founding lawyer of Heron Law Offices, a firm known for its principled and client-focused approach
- Will provides legal services in all areas of Canadian immigration and refugee law with a focus on complex applications, overcoming refusals, inadmissibility matters, appeals, and judicial reviews
- He regularly appears before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada
- His focus is on international students, families, and temporary foreign workers
- His current work includes challenging the government’s use of Automated Decision Making, navigating inadmissibility matters involving security and misrepresentation, and developing strategic immigration solutions for applicants in the tech, arts, entertainment, and sports industries
- Will also provides strategic advice and consultation to government, media, educational institutions, and businesses on immigration, refugee, decolonization, and race equity issues
- He is the founder and creator of the award-winning Vancouver Immigration Blog, through which he works to make immigration and refugee law more accessible to the general public
- He also has significant past teaching experience as an instructor for the University of British Columbia’s Certificate in Immigration Laws, Policies, and Procedures (CILPP) program
- A key opinion leader in Canadian immigration, Will has been frequently invited to speak at various conferences and comment in the news
- He has served as an expert affiant before the Federal Court (FC), and has consulted with the Treasury Board Secretariat
- In December 2024, Will appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to provide expert testimony on reforms to the International Student Program
Practice Areas Explained
Will Tao's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Will Tao handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Burnaby.
Immigration Law in Burnaby
Immigration attorneys help with green cards, visas, citizenship, asylum, and deportation defense. Find a verified immigration lawyer for your case.
Will Tao is one of 40,259 immigration attorneys indexed nationally. Browse immigration attorneys in British Columbia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Burnaby
Practicing law in British Columbia. Legal matters in British Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Burnaby are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate British Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in British Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in British Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Burnaby Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Burnaby-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional British Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Burnaby or all attorneys in British Columbia.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Burnaby Choose Will Tao
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Will Tao's practice in the field of immigration.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Will Tao brings 11+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Focused Immigration Practice
Concentrating on immigration means Will Tao's knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, and procedural nuances stays current — unlike generalist practices that spread attention across unrelated fields.
Local Presence in Burnaby
A Burnaby-based practice means Will Tao attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Will Tao Handles in Burnaby
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Will Tao has experience with under British Columbia law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Will Tao directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Will Tao Online
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Will Tao's Practice Areas & Specializations
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