Raha Seyed Ali

Raha is an experienced Senior Associate in the Family and Immigration groups at Watson Goepel. Prior to joining Watson Goepel, she worked at other reputable law firms in downtown Vancouver and the North Shore for more than seven years, specializing in Family and Immigration law.

With years of dedicated practice, Raha has gained considerable expertise in assisting families and individuals with significant wealth and international assets in various family-related matters. She distinguishes herself through her unique approach to legal strategies, positioning her as a skilled negotiator and a formidable litigator. As a result, she frequently achieves fair settlements for her clients and helps them avoid costly and complex court procedures.

Raha has appeared at both the Provincial and Supreme Court of British Columbia and represented clients at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) and the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD).

Raha is one of the few family lawyers in Vancouver who is also experienced in immigration law, enabling her to effectively address issues that frequently intersect between these two legal domains. She possesses in-depth knowledge in handling cases involving international marriages, the impact of immigration status on family law matters, and complex cross-border financial considerations.

In 2023, Raha was retained as an expert to provide an opinion for the court in the United Kingdom on a matter concerning both Canadian immigration and family law.

Raha strongly encourages her clients to explore their priorities and actively engage in the legal process to establish a new normal. Her clients value her personalized approach, dedication, and unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible results for them.

Outside of work, Raha enjoys engaging in various activities such as snowboarding, playing tennis, and exploring different parts of the world through travel.

Raha is fluent in Persian/Farsi.

Education

• LL.M., University of British Columbia, B.C., 2012
• LL.B., Shahid Beheshti University, Iran, 2010

Bar

• British Columbia, 2017

Publications and Presentations

• Presenter, “Pathways to Permanent Residency for International Students,” Mosaic Organization, 2020 & 2021.

Representation

• Antoniuk v. Beveridge, 2024 BCSC 2034 – 2024/11/07
  During a 10-day trial, Raha successfully argued that the parties’ relationship did not meet the legal criteria required to establish a marriage-like relationship. The Court accepted these submissions, dismissed the claimant’s action in its entirety, and awarded costs in favor of the client.

  In recognition of the claimant’s conduct and the outcome achieved, Raha also successfully obtained an award of double costs for the trial, providing significant financial benefit to the client in addition to the complete dismissal of the claim.

• S.Y. v. D.S., 2026 BCSC 1403 

  Raha acted for the successful claimant in this case. The decision addressed several significant issues in international family law, including jurisdiction, interim parenting arrangements, s. 211 assessments, and travel restrictions. The Court concluded that British Columbia should assume jurisdiction over the parenting dispute notwithstanding prior proceedings in Iran and Turkey. It also ordered a s. 211 assessment and directed the respondent to pay the full retainer and the majority of the assessment costs on an interim basis to ensure the process could proceed without delay.The Court further dismissed the respondent’s application to travel with the child to Turkey, finding there were legitimate concerns regarding the child’s return to British Columbia and the potential impact on the child’s relationship with her mother and sibling. The claimant was also awarded costs.

Professional and Community Affiliations

• Member, West Van Chamber of Commerce
• Member, North Van Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Trial Lawyers Association of B.C.
• Member, Vancouver Bar Association
• Volunteer lawyer, Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society
• Former volunteer, West Coast Leaf
• Former volunteer, Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia