About Us
Stewart Sharma Harsanyi came together after a chance meeting at Peppino's, in Kensington. Charles Stewart was practicing on the third floor of the building next door, and Raj and Bjorn were on the second floor. The principals quickly understood the interplay between criminal law and immigration law after Charles referred perhaps the highest profile deportation case in Calgary (a former criminal client) to Raj. The subsequent media coverage combined with the principals' dedication to their clients and their craft led to a rapid growth of the firm, and the relocation to their current premises next to the Calgary Court Centre.
SSH Law caters to individuals and businesses that need legal solutions
in Immigration, Criminal & Family Law.
Charles Robert Stewart
Charles Robert Stewart Q.C is one of the most experienced Criminal Defence Lawyers in Alberta and indeed Canada. He has been practicing Criminal Law since 1974. Charlie is a graduate of the University of Calgary, having received his B.A. (Hons) in 1972 and the University of Alberta where he graduated Law School in 1974. He has a master’s degree in law from the University of London, City College which he received in 1975.
He was called to the bar in Alberta on 1975 and has been based in Calgary ever since. He has appeared in all levels of Court in B.C. Saskatchewan, Ontario in addition to every courthouse in the province of Alberta. Charles appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in 2010 on an important drug search case.
In 2008 Charlie was honoured by the Legal profession when he was awarded the prestigious Q.C. that appears behind his name. Q.C. stands for Queens Counsel and signifies his esteem and distinction as a trial lawyer. This honour is only awarded to lawyers who have made a significant contribution to the legal profession and shown a consistent level of excellence over many years of legal practice.
Also, in 2008 Charlie was elected as the first president of the newly re-formed Calgary Criminal Defence Lawyers Association by his peers.
Charlie is recognized as an expert on search and seizure law and has lectured at the national level on the subject of search warrant drafting and Wiretap authorization.
Charlie has been practicing Criminal Law for over 35 years and continues to defend his clients with vigour and intensity in the courtroom, but also brings to his clients a wealth of experience and network of relationships built over a lifetime in pursuit of the defence of criminal cases.
Raj Sharma J.D. LL.M
Raj Sharma graduated with his J.D. from the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta and his LL.M from Osgoode Hall, York University. Prior to private practice, Raj interned with the Alberta Court of Appeal and completed his articles with the Federal Department of Justice. His experience as a Refugee Protection Officer with the Immigration and Refugee Board (where he met Bjorn Harsanyi) provides him with a deep understanding of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
As an Officer, Raj made administrative decisions and recommendations under the Act. It also gave him great experience in cross and direct examination and questioning of the claimant and witnesses and providing submissions to the Presiding Member.
Sharma has experience in hundreds of hearings before every division of the Immigration and Refugee Board. Sharma is also called upon regularly by the media to provide his opinion on immigration matters and has appeared on CityTV, Global, Calgary Herald, the Globe and Mail, the Calgary Sun, and on the Rutherford radio show on CHQR770. He is a published author, including the Alberta Law Review, and numerous Op-Ed articles in the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun.
Bjorn Harsanyi
I graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1995 from the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta where I was on the Dean's List. I have been a member of the Alberta Law Society for over 10 years. My legal experience began with articles at one of the top criminal law firms in Alberta.
I have appeared before all levels of Alberta Courts, including Provincial Court, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and the Alberta Court of Appeal. I have gained extensive experience in the preparation and presentation of legal cases before the Courts of Alberta.
In August of 2002 I joined the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) as a Refugee Protection Officer working within Canada’s refugee determination system. I worked at the IRB for approximately 3 years during which time I gained in depth experience and knowledge in the areas of administrative law and refugee determination. As a representative of the IRB I appeared in hundreds of hearings before the IRB.
In February of 2005 I took a position as a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) Officer with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). As a PRRA officer I was a quasi-judicial administrative decision maker who is CIC's departmental expert on risk. While working at CIC I have made hundreds of decisions on both PRRA and Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds applications.
In the last 6 years I have gained substantial experience and knowledge of the Immigration Process in Canada including its relevant procedures, applications and legislation.
I pride myself on my ethical and intellectual dedication to the practice of law and my clients. I believe every client no matter what their situation is entitled to the highest quality of representation and respect. I truly understand the seriousness of the consequences both professional and personal that are involved in immigration related files. If there is a way to be successful I will find it. That is my commitment to all my clients.
Nico G.J. Breed
I was born in South Africa and attained my Master of Laws degree at the University of South Africa, after being awarded the LL B and B Juris degrees at the North West University (previously University of Potchefstroom), South Africa. I moved to Canada in 1995, spending time in Manitoba prior to settling in Calgary in 1999. I became a Canadian Citizen in 2000.
I have been admitted as a Lawyer in South Africa and to the Bar in Manitoba and Alberta. I am a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Immigration Section of the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the Calgary Bar Association.
I have practised Immigration Law since 1997 and have appeared before all three divisions of the Immigration Refugee Board, and have successfully argued judicial review applications in front of the Federal Court.
I believe in a personal approach to each file to provide the best possible solution for the client.
Alicia Backman-Beharry
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (First Class Honours) from the University of Calgary and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 2002. I worked at the Alberta Law Reform Institute, completed my Articles of Clerkship with a well respected law firm in Calgary, and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2003.
For the last eight years I have practiced primarily in the areas of immigration law and civil litigation. I have appeared before various Courts and Tribunals, including the Provincial Court, the Court of Queen’s Bench, Federal Court, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration and Refugee Board. I have written numerous Federal Court arguments and trial briefs.
While practicing law, I also taught law related courses at Bow Valley College. My volunteer history includes participating on the Calgary executive of the Immigration and Citizenship subsection for the Canadian Bar Association and providing legal clinics at the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. I have served on the Board of Directors of Immigrant Services Calgary since 2004 and was elected Vice-Chair in 2010.
Working with people from diverse backgrounds has been a privilege. I am committed to excellent quality legal representation and have many years of experience helping clients navigate their way through complex legal and administrative systems.
Ram Sankaran
I graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the Dalhousie University Faculty of Law in 2006 and I am a member of the Alberta Law Society. Prior to joining Stewart Sharma Harsanyi, I articled and practiced law for 3 years with a boutique immigration and refugee law firm in Calgary, Alberta. I am expanding my practice to include criminal law and am looking forward to providing high quality legal representation to my clients in this area as well.
I have appeared before all of the relevant immigration and refugee tribunals including the Immigration Division, Immigration Appeal Division and Refugee Protection Division and have also appeared and successfully argued judicial review applications before the Federal Court of Canada. I have also appeared before the Provincial Court of Alberta.
I pride myself on providing practical solutions and competent, ethical and high quality representation for all of our clients.