About us
Kes Posgate
Principal Lawyer
kes@kesposgatelaw.com
647-946-1814
He/Him
Kes specializes in immigration and refugee law. Through this work, Kes has appeared before the Federal Court and all divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Kes also frequently prepares written applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Canada Border Services Agency.
Prior to founding Kes Posgate Law, Kes articled at the Federal Court as a judicial law clerk and then worked as an associate lawyer at an immigration and refugee law firm.
In addition to private practice, Kes is employed as an adjunct instructor at Queen’s University, Faculty of Law in the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law.
Kes holds a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Equity Studies from the University of Toronto.
Kes is a member of the Refugee Lawyers Association of Ontario and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, the latter of which Kes has represented as counsel in strategic litigation before the Federal Court and Supreme Court of Canada.
Maria Diaz
Law Clerk, Paralegal
clerk@kesposgatelaw.com
416-824-6226
She/Her
Maria brings over a decade of experience advocating for fairness, equity, and representation. She has been a licensed paralegal since 2013. Her career began at a criminal law firm in Toronto, where she developed a strong foundation in navigating complex legal issues. In 2016, she expanded her expertise while working with Legal Aid Ontario, gaining valuable experience in human rights law. By 2019, Maria further honed her skills in refugee and immigration law, assisting clients with a wide range of immigration-related processes and challenges.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Maria is dedicated to breaking down language barriers and ensuring that clients feel understood and empowered throughout their legal journey. Her mission is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where clients feel heard, supported, and confident.
Maria is also the founder of Open Doors Legal Services, where she provides legal services in her capacity as a paralegal, including for residential tenancy, criminal, and immigration matters.
Salina Samem
Articling student
student@kesposgatelaw.com
647-946-1865
She/Her
Salina earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law in 2025 and holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from York University, where she graduated on the Dean’s List.
During law school, Salina served as the Vice President of Communications for the Women and the Law Association and worked as a Student Caseworker with the University of Ottawa Prison Law Clinic. She gained diverse legal experience in both Toronto and Ottawa, including at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic and at a full-service immigration law firm in downtown Ottawa. In these roles, she contributed to public legal education initiatives, conducted complex legal research, and assisted with submissions for immigration proceedings.
As a former refugee, Salina brings a deep personal understanding of the immigration process. She is fluent in Farsi, Dari and English, and is committed to guiding clients through their immigration journeys with diligence, compassion, and care.
Outside of her legal work, Salina enjoys spending quality time with family, playing volleyball and pickleball, traveling to new destinations, and watching the latest blockbusters in theatres.
