Andrea Baldwin and Nancy F. Barteaux, K.C. have joined their respective immigration and employment law practices because of the synergies between their areas of specialization that will benefit the clients they both serve. “Andrea and I both represent employers, and we share the same approach to client service,” says Nancy F. Barteaux K.C., Founder and Principal of Barteaux Labour and Employment Lawyers Inc. “We both focus on providing strategic and timely advice to our clients and offer effective solutions to their labour and employment and immigration issues so that they can focus on running their businesses rather than their workplace legal needs.”
Immigration law is now a core practice area at Barteaux Lawyers and Baldwin could not be happier. “Employment-based immigration law fits naturally with employment law,” says Baldwin who represents employers across Atlantic Canada and beyond. “My move to Barteaux Lawyers is benefiting our respective clients. Many of my clients have employment law questions related to the hiring of foreign nationals and many of Nancy’s clients rely on international talent to meet their human resourcing requirements. We can now effectively cross-refer clients to each other and co-develop strategies where it makes sense to do so.
“Nancy’s approach to the practice of law and her leadership style also really resonated with me. She works hard, is driven to do the right thing for her clients and is generous with her mentorship of young lawyers. For all these reasons, joining the Barteaux team was the right decision for me.”
Since teaming up with Baldwin earlier this year, Barteaux has observed how critical immigration can be for filing persistent skill shortages, and important infrastructure projects. “Even while Canada’s borders are still more or less closed to international travelers due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, I have seen that immigration is as important a tool as ever for employers, especially those in Atlantic Canada who struggle to find qualified and available talent in the face of demographic and labour market challenges,” says Barteaux.
Both Barteaux and Baldwin are reputed leaders in their respective areas and are listed by lawyer ranking services such as Who’s Who Legal (as National and Global Leaders) and in Best Lawyers. Barteaux has practiced almost exclusively in labour and employment law since she was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1995. After becoming a lawyer in Nova Scotia in 2003, Baldwin established and grew a business immigration practice at a large regional law firm where she was a partner before moving to a law firm affiliated with one of the “Big Four” accounting firms in 2016 to launch their immigration practice in Atlantic Canada.
Hanaa Al Sharief has joined Andrea in the practice of immigration law. She says it felt like she has “come home” since returning to Barteaux Lawyers. “After articling and being admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2009, I practiced labour and employment law with Nancy for approximately five years prior to leaving Canada to do my LLM in 2015.” Al Sharief then moved to the Sultanate of Oman in the Middle East where she practiced with the largest international law firm in the world, advising on a broad range of civil and commercial disputes.
Immigration law is a natural fit for Al Sharief who herself immigrated to Canada with her family when she was 13 years old. She also speaks and advises clients in Arabic. Al Sharief’s practice will focus on helping individuals and companies with their Canadian immigration needs, including serving her Middle Eastern community. “I am excited to be working with Nancy and her team again and to have the opportunity to practice with and learn from one of the very best in immigration law.”
Baldwin is pleased to be working with Al Sharief: “Hanaa and I are a great team. She works very hard for our clients and they really like her. Being an immigrant herself, she has a unique understanding and empathic perspective that enriches her connection with and representation of our clients.”
