Law Times

LAW TIMES / AUGUST 11-18, 2008 NEWS PAGE 3 Janet Bomza found her niche in immigration law BY ROBERT TODD Law Times anet Bomza sits in her plush corner office in a swank mid- town Toronto tower, where an antiquated printer seems out of place next to her state-of-the- art flat-screen computer monitor — like a station wagon parked beside a Porsche. The Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5P printer cost her some $3,000 when she struck out on her own in the immigration law world, she says, and it was the first major purchase she made for her office at the time — a windowless storage room in her dad's law office. Bomza, 42, now the founder and senior partner at immigration firm Bomza Law Group, has kept the printer not only because it still works just fine but as a reminder of her modest beginnings. "It's an important reminder J She recalls immediately being put in charge of dozens of files at the firm, a challenge she embraced and which gave her the confidence to dive into her profession. "I've always been very, very of, here I am now in what I think of as a beautiful office, but that's where I began," says Bomza. She says it was clear from an ear- ly age that she' especially enterprising one at that. Her dad — Toronto lawyer Gary Bomza — ignited a spark by telling stories of his own practice, while an innate entrepreneurial spirit (which saw her selling brooches on consignment at age 10) led her to where she is now. So it's no surprise that, after taking a year off after under- graduate studies at the Univer- sity of Western Ontario to travel throughout Europe, Bomza land- ed at Osgoode Hall Law School. At the time she was unsure d be a lawyer, and an how her passion for the law would mix with her entrepre- neurial spirit. But that question was answered, she says, through a corporate-commercial law course. She also took an international human rights law course "on a whim," which brought about her interest in immigration law. By the time she graduated, Bomza had developed a deep pas- sion for the law, but still juggled the idea of getting an MBA after graduation. During her articles with major Toronto immigration firm Green & Spiegel, however, she found her niche in law. driven and always embraced challenges," she says. "There I was with all of these cases, and I just knew I had to do what- ever I could to get up to steam as quickly as possible and to do the best job I could, even though I really didn't have that much experience." She was hired on to the firm as a junior for Mendel Green, which gave her the opportunity to travel and perform public speeches. She says that experi- ence gave her a deep apprecia- tion for life in Canada. Working for Green — whom she describes as "a great person" — also taught her some impor- tant life and business lessons. Green instilled in her a passion for reading exhaustively on her specialty, and an understanding of the importance of making all of her clients feel like they're her number 1 priority. "I don't think that's so com- mon. A lot of lawyers have such a high volume of work, that it's not always easy to develop those rela- tionships or to establish that rela- tionship with clients, but I really think that's important," she says. With those lessons under her belt after two years with Green, in 1995 Bomza took a risk and in- dulged her entrepreneurial spirit. That involved leaving an "ideal position at a wonderful firm." "I had a wonderful office, I had a fabulous secretary, and I was leaving this ideal circum- stance to go and jump into this unknown realm where I didn't know how I was going Marketplace EMPLOYMENT WANTED SERVICES - Available law clerk. Proficient in estates, real estate, litigation, ADR, corporate/commercial and labour and employment. Part/full time. Messages 416-621-2485. FOR RENT FOR RENT - Executive office, full service within a North York CA firm. Available immediately. Please call Saveria Raffin 416- 631-9800. EXCLUSIVE - Office for Rent - lovely second floor office (approx. 300 sq. feet) located in charming Victorian style three-storey house huge win- dows overlooking mature tree-lined street right next door to Yorkville available October 1, contact Clayton Ruby or Mandy Machin at 416-964-9664 or mandy@ruby-edwardh.com. To advertise call 905-841-6481 www.lawtimesnews.com 'I've always been very, very driven and always embraced challenges,' says Janet Bomza. to fare. But again, having had in many cases throughout my life this sink-or-swim scenario, I figured, well, if you don't try you'll never know. Her father was gracious enough to donate office space for her — the storage room mentioned earlier. "It made me even more moti- a strong reputation. She's done so by becoming says what gives her the most satisfaction, however, is the fact that she's been able to flourish in a male-dominated industry. She says it shows that there is room for women in the profession to be entrepreneurial. "My most important ac- complishment was my ability to develop and establish this firm as a woman in an indus- try which is very much male- dominated," says Bomza. "It's really driven home the point to me that, although it is pre- dominantly a male-dominated industry, that there is so much room for women in the law, and women who are interested in being entrepreneurial and striving out on their own." Over the years, Bomza has encouraged like-minded col- leagues to break out on their own too. But she says it's es- sential for any women inter- ested in doing so to establish vated to succeed," she says of the modest start for her practice. Thirteen years later, it's safe to say that the risk has paid off. Bomza Law Group, specializing in corporate immigration, now consists of six lawyers (currently all women), 10 paralegals, and support staff. interests: corporate-commercial law, labour, and exposure to inter- national law. And here I am today specializing in Canadian, U.S., and global immigration law." Bomza "I was able to combine my three a certified specialist in citizen- ship and immigration law, and staying active in the Canadian Bar Association. (She's past chairwoman of Ontario's immi- gration and citizenship section and an executive member of the province's corporate counsel section.) She's also vice chair- woman of the American Im- migration Lawyers Association's Canada chapter. Bomza says staying active in such organizations is a great way for lawyers to gain stature and de- velop confidence in their specialty. She also thinks its essential to tion law. She says Seligman told her it's vital for women hoping to excel in the law to have the highest skill set possible to best arm themselves in the male- dominated profession. Bomza, mom of three-year-old twins says it was not her inten- tion to create an all-women firm, and male lawyers have worked at the firm in the past. But she says in recent years all the best candi- dates for jobs have been women, and it's all about finding the right people who fit the firm's identity. She says it's "fabulous" to work with all women, and that it's become a very supportive and non-competitive environment. The bottom line is that the firm is thriving. It has outgrown its current office space, and the morning Bomza speaks with Law Times she was in touch with the building's management to expand her space. She wants to make new hires, but needs somewhere to put them. The firm has established a network of partnerships with immigration professionals across the globe, says Bomza, and the next step is to expand across Canada. "It all keeps life in general, as well as the practisc of law, interesting," she says. "To have goals, and to bring those goals to fruition . . . It's all about en- joying the process. To me, the process of growing the firm and seeing it take on a life separate from myself, is a very exciting prospect and experience." LT have a mentor. Hers was Toron- to lawyer Robin Seligman, one of the first women, says Bomza, to excel in Canadian immigra- PRO BONO: SPANNING THE NATION 2ND NATIONAL PRO BONO CONFERENCE & AWARDS DINNER September 18 & 19, 2008, Vancouver, BC Wosk Centre for Dialogue THE 2ND NATIONAL PRO BONO CONFERENCE will bring together legal practitioners, the judiciary, the voluntary sector, and academia from Canada, the United States, and abroad to share ideas and best practices in pro bono legal services, to forge new partnerships, and to explore challenging issues that still lie ahead for pro bono in Canada. Conference opening speaker: The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C. Chief Justice of Canada www.probonoconference.ca Early Bird registration prices until Aug. 5, 2008 For more information and online registration visit: Conference Sponsors Conference Funders This is the third in our Women in Law series that will be running in Law Times this summer, featur- ing profiles of female lawyers from around the province.

• Cover