Sergio R. Karas, B.A., J.D.., is a Canadian lawyer (Barrister and Solicitor) Certified Specialist in Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Law by the Law Society of Ontario, and an internationally recognized expert in Canadian immigration law.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mr. Karas has helped hundreds of people successfully establish themselves in Canada. He has been involved with many widely reported, high-profile cases. He represents individuals and multinational corporations to achieve their immigration objectives and implement successful relocation strategies.
Mr. Karas contributes to the press providing current information about Canadian immigration law and policy. His articles are published in several languages in national and international journals, and he provides immigration insight and commentary to Canada's national press. He is a regular guest on local, national, and international radio and television programs. He is a contributing writer on immigration issues for Canadian HR Reporter, and Employment Law Today, and an opinion writer for Law360 Canada. He was an instructor in immigration law at Sheridan College in Toronto.
Mr. Karas is an honors graduate in Political Science from York University and obtained his Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He speaks fluent English, French, and Spanish and has a working knowledge of Italian, Portuguese, and German. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), Past Chair of the Citizenship and Immigration Section of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Past Chair of the Immigration and Nationality Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) Past Chair of the Canada Committee and the International Ethics Committee, and current co-Chair of the Immigration and naturalization Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Law. He is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has been invited on numerous occasions to address lawyers and human resources managers at major international professional gatherings. He is recognized in "Who is Who in Corporate Immigration Law", "Who is Who Thought Leaders", and "Best Lawyers". He has received the "Platinum Client Champion Award" from Martindale Hubbell for several consecutive years. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a distinction awarded to fewer than one percent of lawyers.
Mr. Karas has been instrumental in effecting changes to Canadian immigration visa policies through his involvement in US-Canada relations and border security issues. Multinational corporations and community organizations alike engage him in an advisory capacity, conducting staff seminars, and providing guidance. He was a member of the Board of Directors of JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) in Toronto for ten years.
In addition to his primary role as an immigration lawyer, Mr. Karas' involvement in the international scene goes far beyond the provision of routine legal services. He was catapulted to the world spotlight for his work on behalf of Holocaust survivors and their heirs claiming dormant Swiss bank accounts and gold stolen by the Nazis during WWII. He was profiled in the book "Hitler's Silent Partners: Swiss Banks, Nazi Gold and the Pursuit of Justice" by award-winning journalist Isabel Vincent. Adam LeBron, a foreign correspondent for the Times of London, has also quoted him extensively in his book "Hitler's Secret Bankers". His work has earned him international praise and has been the subject of several television documentaries.