David Comtois | Green and Spiegel

Bio

David Comtois is a Senior Associate at Green and Spiegel LLP in Toronto with more than 10 years of Canadian immigration experience. He assists clients on complex Canadian temporary and permanent residence immigration matters across the private client spectrum. David works with high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and third-party collaborators in the private wealth and Canadian start-up space. Having advised and assisted on hundreds of Start-Up Visa applications since the early years of the program in 2015, David has developed broad and in-depth expertise regarding SUV, becoming one of the program’s premier lawyers.

David has experience in helping multinational clients with high-volume corporate immigration matters, including work authorizations and employer compliance inspections. He also has experience with Quebec-specific immigration, business visitors, NAFTA/CUSMA professionals, intra-company transfers and Labour Market Impact Assessment-based processes. David has supported clients in a variety of industries, including information technology, manufacturing and food processing.

Prior to joining Green and Spiegel LLP, David worked in the Hong Kong office of an international immigration firm, where he advised clients across Asia on investment immigration solutions, providing tailored strategies for global citizenship and residency by investment programs. More recently, David acted as Senior Associate for another international immigration firm in Toronto, where he helped develop its Canadian office’s private client practice and supported its Quebec-based corporate clients with their immigration needs.

Education

Called to the Ontario Bar, 2021
Master in Life Sciences and Law (M.S.V.D.), Université de Sherbrooke, 2014
Called to the Barreau du Québec, 2013
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Université de Sherbrooke, 2012

Languages

French

Affiliations

Investment Migration Council, Member
Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association, Founding Member
Canadian Bar Association, Member
Avocats Hors Québec, Member

Blog Posts

Media and Presentations

Moderator, ”Insights on Challenges of Growing a Business in Canada”, Global Startups Accelerator’s Lessons Learned, 5 September 2024.
Speaker, ”Transitioning from US International Student to Canadian Permanent Resident”, Fragomen and Interstride Webinar Series, 26 October 2023.
Speaker, ”Canadian Start-Up Visa Program for Innovative Brazilian Businesses and Individuals”, Discover the Pathway to Canada through Entrepreneurship Webinar, 24 October 2023.
Moderator, “Tax planning & asset protection: the Common Reporting Standard and its impact on the investment immigration industry”, Investment Immigration Summit – East Asia, Hong Kong, 6 November 2017.
Moderator, “Residency and citizenship programmes as means of tax and wealth planning”, Global Mobility & Tax Strategies conferences – Southeast Asia, Singapore, 29 June 2017.
Moderator, “Getting to Canada: Discussing new routes to citizenship”, Investment Immigration Summit – Asia Series, Bangkok, 10 November 2016.
Speaker, “Overview of immigration opportunities in the Pacific Islands”, Investment Immigration Summit – Asia Series, Hong Kong, 8 November 2016.
Speaker, “Launching the St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme”, Investment Immigration Summit – Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 9 November 2015.
Moderator, “Agents Panel: What are the top challenges migration agents face in 2015/16”, Investment Immigration Summit – Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 9 November 2015.
Moderator, “Fireside Chat: Changes to the UK Investment Programme and the opportunities for MENA’s Wealthy”, Investment Immigration Summit – MENA, Dubai, 11 May 2015.
Speaker, “Migrating to Latin America: Opportunities for China’s Wealthy”, Investment Immigration Summit – Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 12 November 2014.

Team

Toronto

DavidC@gands.com

(416) 863-5467

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Bio