About Us

With each new day, the need grows for Canadian-trained lawyers who are able to service clients whose activities and communities cross over borders around the globe.

Smeets Law recognizes that the bedrock of strong lawyer-client relations is a commitment to high-quality service combined with a track record of success. We strive to build such a foundation with each of our clients whether we are incorporating a company for them, obtaining a divorce, defending them against a criminal charge, or drafting a will. If our client does not achieve what has been identified after consultation with us as their goal, we believe we have not served them well.

What sets Smeets Law apart from the rest is the recognition that the need for Canadian legal services no longer stops at the Canadian border. In the current era of globalization clients often lead complicated lives that straddle national boundaries, marketplaces, and communities. They require lawyers like us who have adapted, and who are at home in the global village.

Not only can we incorporate a company for our clients, to illustrate what we offer, we can also make it possible for them to get investors and skilled workers located outside Canada involved in their company. If they are separating from a spouse who lives in another country, we can advise them about how best to establish or protect custody and access rights involving children brought across international borders. If they are charged with a criminal offence we can defend them before the criminal court as criminal defence lawyers. With our experience as Canadian immigration lawyers we can also counsel them on how best to protect their immigration status in Canada in the event of a conviction. As we service many clients with diverse cultural backgrounds, we provide services directly in the client’s own language. This applies whether the client speaks Cantonese, Farsi, French, Hindi, Ilocano, Kazakh, Korean, Kyrgyz, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Tatar, Ukrainian, Urdu, or Vietnamese.

Educational and informative, we have acquired detailed knowledge about many legal processes, their workings, and how they may affect you, your family, friends, and associates.

The lawyers at Smeets Law believe that by educating the public and potential clients we serve everyone’s best interests. If we educate people about their legal rights and prepare them for the appropriate legal action, the process can proceed in a much stronger, more efficient and more cost-effective manner.

One factor which distinguishes Smeets Law is the cosmopolitan culture of our firm. Many members of the firm come from different parts of the world. Winnie Leung comes from Hong Kong, and is able to service clients in Cantonese and Mandarin. Elvira Akhunova holds a law degree from The National Kazakh State University in Kazakhstan as well as one from The University of British Coloumbia, and is able to practice in both countries. She speaks five languages commonly spoken in Central Asia. Bahar Mashreghi is of Iranian heritage, and is able to service clients in Persian. Sharon Se Jung An is from South Korea, and is able to service clients in Korean. Gurpreet Badh has already practiced law in India for several years, and is able to service clients in four languages spoken in India. Agbayani Bulosan has also practiced law outside Canada, in the Philippines, and has in addition worked there for the Philippines Court of Appeals. Ludmila Marenco is from Argentina, and is able to service clients in Spanish. Katrina Sriranpong is of Thai heritage, and is able to service clients in Thai. We also have staff members like Tommy Tran and May Doan, who are able to service clients in Vietnamese. We hope to expand our practice both in Canada and internationally, and welcome all inquiries.

Meet The Team

• Larry Smeets
• Winnie Leung
• Bahar Mashreghi
• Elvira Akhunova
• Sharon Se Jung An
• Gurpreet Badh
• Agbayani Bulosan
• Ludmila Marenco
• Katrina Sriranpong
• Sebastian Smeets
• Anh Tommy Tran
• May Doan
• Julian Smeets
• Carlo Trinidad

Larry Smeets

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Larry Smeets studied international and Asian history at the University of Saskatchewan. He completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree there, and then a Masters of Arts degree. Larry was awarded a full graduate scholarship to complete the Masters degree, which focused on recent Chinese domestic and foreign policy.

After Larry completed his graduate degree, he taught history for the History Department at the University of Saskatchewan for one year. Then he enrolled in the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where he completed a Bachelor of Laws degree. While he was completing his law degree he taught night courses in Chinese history for the university’s extension division. Larry completed his legal education in 1990. He then moved to British Columbia to article and to practice law. In 2002 he established his own law firm, Smeets Law.

Over the years Larry’s practice has followed two main paths. One is a litigation path, which includes both criminal and civil litigation. The other is an immigration and international track.In recent years some of his cases have attained national prominence in Canada as well as internationally, and have been featured in news pieces offered by such media as the CBC National News, CBC “As It Happens” (to listen to an interview conducted on October 23, 2009, go to Part 2 of “As It Happens Larry Smeets”), The National Post, The Globe and Mail, and The Vancouver Sun, along with various local television and newspaper outlets.”

Larry is a member of several organizations, including The Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Canadian Council on International Law. He is also on the list of assigned counsel of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Larry’s hobbies and interests are varied and wide-ranging. He has devoted much of his time to the study of languages, and is able to communicate at various levels of proficiency with his clients and others in French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Russian, and Spanish. More recently, he has begun to study Vietnamese.

Larry has also devoted much of his time over the years to writing legal articles, opinion pieces, and poetry. His writings have been featured in various publications, including the Australian Journal of Law and Society, The Far Eastern Economic Review, and The Vancouver Sun. His poetry and opinion pieces have also been published in various publications. His first book of poetry Voices From The Global Village will be published soon.

Larry loves music. He plays the piano and sings.

Winnie Leung

Winnie Leung articled at Smeets Law in 2004, and became an associate after being called to the Bar in 2005. She is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Winnie received a Bachelor of Commerce (2000, specializing in Finance), and a Bachelor of Law, both from the University of British Columbia (2003). Winnie also studied international business and human rights law at Lancaster University, United Kingdom in 2003. She completed the Canadian Securities Course and Level I of the Chartered Financial Analyst Program.

Winnie had represented the People’s Law School, to speak at public seminars on various topics of law. She also answers legal questions regularly on the radio station CHMB AM 1320. Winnie is a participant in the Violence Against Minority Women Project, a project directed towards helping minority women understand how Canadian law defines domestic violence, and dedicated to increasing knowledge about the negative impacts of violence against women.

Winnie’s practice areas include corporate and commercial law, real estate and residential tenancy law, family law, wills and estates, immigration, customs, personal injury, administrative law (workers’ compensation, employment insurance, Canada Pension Plan), and civil litigation.

Corporate and Commercial
Winnie assists clients with the incorporation, amalgamation, and reorganization of companies. She provides advice on the drafting and negotiation of various agreements such as shareholders’, asset purchase, share purchase, partnership, joint venture, employment, agency, trust, confidentiality, and indemnity agreements, as well as other contracts, promissory notes, releases, and shareholders’ and directors’ resolutions. She also prepares annual reports, and handles all corporate filings at the Corporate Registry.

Real Estate and Residential Tenancy
Winnie prepares Contracts of Purchase and Sale and mortgages, completes refinancing and conveyances of purchases and sales of residential properties, registers and removes caveats and certificates of pending litigations, negotiates with landlords regarding commercial leases, and represents both landlords and tenants in residential tenancy disputes. She has represented clients in Dispute Resolution Hearings before the Residential Tenancy Branch.

Wills and Estates
Winnie prepares wills, powers of attorney, guardian appointments, and representation agreements. She has represented clients before the Supreme Court of British Columbia on applications to obtain committeeship of the person and the estate of patients. She also provides advice on probate, estate administration, and litigation.

Family
Winnie prepares cohabitation, marriage, and separation agreements. She has represented clients in the Provincial Court and the Supreme Court of British Columbia on court applications, and in conferences regarding access, custody, child support, spousal support, division of assets, adoption, child abduction, restraining orders, separation, and divorce.

Immigration and Customs
Winnie prepares work permit and immigration applications (including Skilled Worker, Business, Humanitarian and Compassionate Ground, Sponsorship of Family Members, International Student, and BC Provincial Nominee Program applications). She has represented clients before the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board of the Canada, and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Personal Injury
Winnie assists clients in negotiating settlements with insurers and ICBC respecting slips and falls, and motor vehicle accidents. She has represented clients in personal injury claims before the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Administrative
Winnie represents clients before administrative tribunals and regulatory bodies such as WorkSafeBC and the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal, the Employment Standards Branch, Service Canada, and Real Estate Council. She has also assisted clients in seeking judicial review in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Federal Court of Appeal.

Civil Litigation
Winnie has represented clients in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, professional malpractice, commercial disputes, corporate disputes, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, recovery of debt, employment, taxation, and family litigation matters. She has represented clients in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Federal Court of Appeal.

Bahar Mashreghi

Bahar Mashreghi was born in the United States. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of British Columbia, specializing in International Relations. She then studied law at the University of British Columbia, and completed her law degree in 2007.

Bahar started with Smeets Law on August 6, 2007, as an articling student. Prior to that, she worked for the Disability Resource Centre at the University of British Columbia, as well as for Philips Academy and Vancouver Robson College as an ESL instructor.

Bahar was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2008. Bahar’s legal experience has given her the opportunity to gain exposure in a variety of legal fields, particularly, in the areas of real estate, immigration, employment, personal injury (ICBC), and administrative. In real estate law, Bahar has had the opportunity to work with numerous groups including first time buyers, non-residents, investors, builders, and private lenders.

Bahar has been awarded several academic awards, including the U.B.C. Outstanding Student Initiative Scholarship, the Gowling LaFleur Henderson LLP Scholarship, the U.B.C. Diana and PAE Irving Award, and the Law Foundation Award.

Bahar has been actively involved in several organizations over the years, including the Red Cross, Amnesty International, the U.B.C. Persian Club, the Pro Bono Students Canada, West Coast Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), the U.B.C. Law Students’ Legal Advice Program, The Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia, Stop Racial Profiling, and the North Shore Animation Club. Bahar has given regular talks at North Shore Multicultural Society, and Persian Women Community meetings.

Some of Bahar’s cases have been covered in the media. For one example, go to http://www.vancouversun.com/news/criminal+released+immigration+officials+ahead+deportation/4142198/story.html

Bahar’s fluency in Persian/Farsi has helped her expand and strengthen her client base.

Elvira Akhunova

Elvira Akhunova was born in Kazakhstan. She completed a Bachelor of Laws degree at the National Kazakh State University. Subsequently she completed a second Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of British Columbia. She has also obtained an Administrative Legal Assistant Certificate and a Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate from Vancouver Community College, and an Immigration Consultant Diploma from the York College of lndustry & Technology.

Prior to starting with Smeets Law Elvira worked for the Vancouver Provincial Court as a legal assistant; as a research assistant in intellectual property law to Dr. Mira T. Sundara Rajan of the U.B.C. Faculty of Law; and as a lawyer for Maratov & Duletov Law Corporation in Almaty, Kazakhstan, conducting research on issues pertaining to Kazakhstan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

Elvira holds particular interest in immigration law, family law, civil litigation, and intellectual property law.

Elvira is fluent in Russian and English, and is conversant in Kazakh, Ukrainian, Tatar, and Kyrgyz.

During her third year at the Kazakh State National University, Elvira’s term paper “Problems of the Delimitation of Areas of Powers between Different Levels of Authority in Kazakhstan” was introduced at the Annual National Seminar of Law Schools, and she was granted the Second Award among the 120 best papers submitted.

Elvira has represented the People’s Law School in various projects, including in The Violence Against Minority Women Project and in the Family Law Radio Project. To listen to broadcasts of Elvira, go to the website of Shaw Multicultural channel 116, to January 30 and February 27, 2011 (http://www.publiclegaled.bc.ca/section.asp?catid=167&pageid=138). To listen to broadcasts of Elvria on Fairchild Radio 96.1 FM, go to the website of the Fairchild Radio 96.1 Fm to September 16 and November 18. 2010, and to March 15, March 22, and March 30, 2011 (http://www.vancouverovka.com/index.cfm?a=radio_vera).

Elvira also answers legal questions regularly on the radio station Radio Vera 96.1 FM. She also often speaks at seminars offered by the Battered Women Society.

Sharon Se Jung An

Sharon Se Jung An received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia, where she studied Psychology and Family Studies. She received her law degree from Queen’s University. She has also received a certificate in International Business Transaction Course from the Fordham-SKKU Summer Institute in South Korea.

Sharon is a recipient of a UBC Undergraduate Scholar Program Scholarship and of a Queen’s University Faculty of Law Entrance Scholarship.

She has worked as a Korean-English interpreter in Vancouver, and as an ESL teacher in both Canada and South Korea. She has also interned with the Human Resource Department of Samsung Electronics in South Korea.

At Queen’s University, she participated in various organizations including the Law Student Society, the Pro Bono Students Canada – Family Law Project, the Society of Asians in Law, and Kingston District Immigration Services.

Sharon is fluent in Korean and English.

Sharon’s practice areas include civil litigation, family law, criminal law, immigration and refugee law, employment law, personal injury, and residential tenancy law. Sharon has represented clients in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Federal Court, Provincial Court, and administrative tribunals including Residential Tenancy Branch, Employment Standard Branch, and Immigration and Refugee Board.

Sharon has been involved with the People’s Law School in the Violence Against Minority Women Project to assist minority women increase their knowledge about domestic violence in Canada. Sharon has also participated in the Immigration Public Legal Education & Information Consortium Project to speak at public seminars for the Korean community.

Outside of office hours Sharon enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, and snowboarding.

Gurpreet Badh

Gurpreet Badh was born in India. Gurpreet was a lawyer in India before immigrating to Canada. After moving to Vancouver, he worked for the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, first as a correctional officer and then as a probation officer. While working for the Ministry of Public Safety, Gurpreet continued his studies at the University of Victoria.

Before arriving in Canada, Gurpreet worked in New Delhi, India, as an associate lawyer with Agarwal Jetley and Co. Advocates, practicing in the areas of corporate law, constitutional law, real estate arbitrations, contracts, family law, and in cases relating to Fundamental Rights.

Gurpreet was part of the team that successfully defended the fundamental right to freedom of religion in the Supreme Court of India of a small Buddhist sect in the remote region of Sikkim.

Gurpreet was also part of the team that successfully defended in the Supreme Court of India the high profile property dispute involving Rumtek Monastery, one of the holiest shrines of Tibetans in India.

Gurpreet’s practice areas include immigration and refugee protection law, family law, civil litigation, criminal law, personal injury, human rights, and intellectual property law. Gurpreet has appeared in the Federal Court and courts in the province of British Columbia. Gurpreet appears regularly before the Immigration Division and the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

A self proclaimed Scotch aficionado, Gurpreet is a keen traveler and loves reading books on history and geo-politics, and cherishes classic literature, especially from Russia and India.

Gurpreet is fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, and English.

Agbayani Bulosan

Agbayani Bulosan was born in the Philippines. He completed his Bachelor of Laws degree at the College of Law of Saint Louis University in Baguio City, Philippines. Agabayni was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2002.

Agbayani commenced articling with Smeets Law Corporation in May 2010, and will be joinning the firm as an associate after his call to the Bar of British Columbia, Canada in June 2011. Agbayani has worked on cases involving civil and criminal litigation, ICBC, and immigration matters such as refugee claims in Canada, permanent and temporary residence applications, spouse and family sponsorship applications, and work permit applications involving live-in caregivers.

Prior to Agbayani’s emigration from the Philippines, Agbayani had also worked as Court Attorney V at the Court of Appeals, Manila, Philippines. When he immigrated to Canada in 2003, Agbayani continued his studies at the Faculty of Law, University of Victoria.

Agbayani finished his pre-law studies at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree major in Philosophy (cum laude). Agbayani also attended Graduate Studies in Philosophy. Agbayani hopes to finish his Master of Arts thesis entitled: The Morality of Human Cloning. Agbayani was a recipient of the University of the Philippines Presidential Scholarship award.

Agbayani is also a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences.

Agbayani is fluent in English, Tagalog, and Ilocano.

Ludmila Marenco

Ludmila Marenco was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ludmila came to Canada at the age of 20.

Ludmila received her Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies at Dalhousie University. As part of Ludmila’s undergraduate degree, Ludmila spent a winter semester conducting research in Argentina and a fall semester at the University of Havana, Cuba. Ludmila received her law degree from the University of Victoria. Ludmila is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Ludmila commenced articling with Smeets Law Corporation in September, 2010, and will be joining the firm as an associate after her call to the Bar of British Columbia, Canada in September, 2011. She has worked on cases involving civil and criminal litigation, immigration matters such as refugee claims in Canada, pre-removal risk assessment applications, admissibility hearings, spousal sponsorship applications, and permanent residence applications. Ludmila has also worked on cases involving administrative tribunals such as the Real Estate Council of British Columbia.

Prior to beginning her university career, Ludmila decided to explore her hobby of baking by completing the Baking and Pastry Arts program at the Vancouver Community College. Ludmila continues to enjoy baking and cooking, as well as traveling, swimming, and running.

Ludmila is fluent in Spanish and English.

 

Katrina Sriranpong

Katrina begun articling with Smeets Law Corporation on June 1, 2011. Katrina has obtained a Bachelor Degree in Criminology from Simon Fraser University and has completed a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Leicester, England. Katrina had also completed an International Business Law Program from the University of Oxford, England.

Katrina has served as an intern at the United Nations International Center for Criminal Law Reform in which she assisted in organizing a symposium in Beijing, China to combat corruption in the Chinese criminal justice system and focused on the implementation of the UN norms and standards in criminal justice. Katrina also aided in writing a proposal to the Canadian International Development Agency for funding to promote the International Criminal Court in China. The objective was to assist China in addressing concerns that the Government has identified with the Rome Statue.

Katrina also has experience working as an Immigration Officer with Citizenship and Immigration Canada in the Inland Processing Unit, which allowed her to develop knowledge in regards to the New Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Katrina specifically handled spousal and common-law applications, conducted interviews, and made final decisions regarding their status in Canada. Katrina has also worked at several other government agencies such as the Canada Revenue Agency, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

During her legal studies in England, Katrina was involved with Amnesty International and participated in corporate negotiations competitions. Katrina has also remained actively engaged in muay Thai kickboxing for the past 12 years and enjoys traveling and immersing herself in different cultures to attain new perspectives.

Kartina is fluent in Thai and English.

Sebastian Smeets

Sebastian Smeets was born and raised in Canada. He has run Smeets Law’s accounting department since 2004 and is its Chief Financial Officer. Sebastian has held numerous service-oriented positions, the most notable being the exportation of Canadian-produced food products to various prisons, distributors, and retail outlets located throughout Washington State.

In his current position as head of Smeets Law’s accounting department, Sebastian’s primary objective is to ensure the firm’s adherence to the various rules and requirements set by the Law Society of British Columbia, as well as by provincial and federal governments, with respect to the management of both the firm’s general account and trust account. This responsibility is of course in addition to the various other tasks and responsibilities expected of all accounting departments. Clients with questions concerning their funds held in trust, or other financial-related queries, are encouraged to phone Sebastian.

In addition to his employment with Smeets Law, Sebastian has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics at Simon Fraser University. Having always been interested in people from all corners of the globe, Sebastian has, at some point in his life, spent time learning French, Mandarin, German, Dutch/Flemish, and Polish. At present, he is able to communicate in English and French. His interest in various cultures has also led him to visit 27 countries and city-states, leaving only another 168.

Although having lived in Canada his entire life, Sebastian has had the privilege of having acquired two additional citizenships. But the affection he has for his native land has never wavered, as is evident by the common (and sometimes too vocal) admiration, respect, and hope he shares for Canada with two of his Canadian heroes: Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Sir John A. Macdonald.

Anh Tommy Tran

Tommy Tran has completed his Bachelor Degree in entrepreneurial leadership at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Tommy started with Smeets Law on August 1, 2006. Tommy has worked for Smeets Law since then in all of its departments. In 2008 Tommy became the company’s office manager.

Tommy is fluent in English and Vietnamese.

 

Julian Smeets