Cristina Guida B.A. (Hons.), J.D.
Partner and Corporate Immigration Practice Director
Toronto
150 York Street, 5th Floor Toronto ON M5H 3S5 CA
cristinag@gands.com
(416) 866-2187
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Bio
Cristina Guida is a Partner and the Corporate Immigration Practice Director with Green and Spiegel LLP in Toronto. Cristina advises clients in all aspects of Canadian immigration and citizenship matters. Her practice focuses primarily on facilitating the entry of personnel into Canada for a variety of multi-national corporations and small businesses. Cristina offers clients her expertise in preparing tourist and business visitor applications, study permits, and all types of work permit applications, such as Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications, intra-company transferees and work permits under various International Free Trade Agreements, such as USMCA and CETA. Cristina also assists with citizenship applications and a wide range of permanent residence applications including, family class sponsorships and economic class applications such as provincial nominations and Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades and Federal Skilled Worker applications under the Express Entry System.
Prior to joining Green and Spiegel LLP, Cristina worked for the immigration enforcement branch of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for five years. Among her various roles at the CBSA, Cristina represented the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (MPSEP) at tribunal hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board. The unique experience of working as a MPSEP representative has allowed Cristina, in her current role as opposing counsel, to successfully advocate for her clients in various enforcement, and litigation matters, such as temporary resident permit (TRP) and criminal rehabilitation applications, inadmissibility and detention review hearings, appeals before the Immigration Appeal Division and litigation matters before the Federal Court of Canada.
Cristina is able to assist clients in Italian.
Education
- Called to the Ontario Bar, 2014
- Juris Doctor, University of Ottawa 2013
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, York University, 2009
Languages
- Italian
Affiliations
- Ontario Bar Association, Citizenship and Immigration Law Section, 2014 – present
- Canadian Bar Association, Citizenship and Immigration Law Section, 2014 – present
- Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO)
- Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association (CIBPA)
- Member of the Elizabeth Fry Society, Toronto
- IR Global Member 2020
Awards
- Recognized in Chambers and Partners Canada Guide as an Up and Coming Lawyer, 2024, 2025
- Toronto’s Top Lawyers, 2024
“Her intellectual curiosity about geopolitical affairs enables her to foresee immigration trends, provide opinions on future shifts and furnish very precise and comprehensive advice.” – Chambers Canada 2025 Guide
Involvement
Cristina is involved in numerous community outreach initiatives such as speaking at various ESL classes in the GTA and working with the Toronto Public library to facilitate immigration information sessions at various branches across the city.
While at the University of Ottawa, Cristina volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada at REACH Canada, a lawyer referral program that assists persons with disabilities with their legal matters. During this time she also interned with a renowned criminal law firm in Toronto where she assisted Counsel for the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC) in a wrongful conviction appeal.
Blog Posts
- 10 Advantages of Doing Business in Canada
- Unlocking Growth: Indian Business Expansion into Canada through Immigration Programs
- CANADA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR IRANIAN TEMPORARY RESIDENTS
- TEMPORARY ENTRY INTO THE CANADIAN LABOUR MARKET – IMMIGRATION LAW SERIES – NEW BOOK RELEASED
- CETA: CANADA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION OCEANS APART BUT CLOSER THAN EVER
- BILL C-6: CHANGES TO THE CITIZENSHIP ACT
Media
Co-author of Temporary Entry Into The Canadian Labour Market
Temporary Entry into the Canadian Labour Market, provides a well-rounded explanation of the avenues and implications of a foreign national’s temporary entry into the Canadian labour market. Readers will gain a cohesive understanding of work permit categories and requirements, from applications for work authorization to employer compliance and inspections. Practical and key considerations are addressed, answering fundamental questions such as whether someone needs a work permit, how they get it, and what the employer and recipient’s responsibilities are.