About us

Rachel Sachs is a lawyer in Toronto, practicing elder law, wills and estates, litigation and mediation, with a focus on older adult clients and incorporating collaborative elements into her practice. Rachel runs her own firm, Sachs Law, in North York, Ontario and serves clients all over Ontario and beyond. She acts occasionally as Of Counsel to Marshall Law Group, a litigation firm in Caledonia, and is working toward a not-for-profit serving low-income seniors with their legal needs. Rachel represents FCLN-RAPC on the Roundtable of Legal Diversity Associations and ITLNCA NetworkS. Rachel has been a board member with the Filipino Canadian Lawyers Network – Réseau des avocats philippino-canadiens since its inception in 2021.

Jerico Espinas is General Counsel and Chief of Staff for a real estate development firm in Toronto, Canada. He works toward a just future where everyone has access to affordable housing, excellent healthcare, and fulfilling work. Jerico is FCLN-RAPC’s Secretary.

Christopher Rio Mortel is an associate at Creighton Law LLP where he practices primarily family law. Christopher was one of our first guests on NCA Office Hours and he plays a fundamental role as a mentor for internationally trained lawyers.

Alona C. Mercado is a lawyer in Winnipeg practicing primarily in estate planning and estate administration, real estate law, corporate and commercial transactions, and immigration law. She was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1999 and opened her own law firm – Mercado Trinh Law LLP – in November 2015 with a colleague. Mercado Trinh Law LLP is the first Filipina owned and operated law firm in Manitoba.

Jerica is a lawyer practicing family law in Vancouver, British Columbia. Jerica is a compassionate advocate and focuses on achieving positive and cost-effective solutions for her clients.

Jessette Apao is lawyer practicing in Edmonton, Alberta. Jessette is passionate about helping NCA students get their legal accreditation. 

Eunize Lao is a corporate commercial lawyer at Bennett Jones in Vancouver, British Columbia. Eunize’s practice focuses on commercial lending, securities, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and corporate governance.

Katherine Ann Fermo is a Barrister and Solicitor based between Toronto, Canada London, United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor of Arts & Science from McGill University and pursued her LLB and LLM International Commercial Law at the University of Sussex. With a specialization in UK Immigration Law since August 2017, she meticulously prepares and manages a wide array of immigration applications, maintaining seamless communication with clients to address their inquiries and apprehensions promptly.

Known for consistently going above and beyond for her clients, Katherine tailors her approach to meeting individual needs, ensuring utmost satisfaction and exemplary representation. Her dedication is evident in the numerous accolades and positive reviews she has garnered throughout her career, with approximately 700+ approvals and over 200 reviews spanning various immigration applications, both private and PBS visas and counting.

She is currently expanding her legal immigration knowledege to include providing Canadian immigration advice.

Beyond immigration law, Katherine Ann’s legal expertise extends across diverse fields including criminal law, property law, commercial law, intellectual property law, litigation, family law, clinical negligence, and personal injury. Her professional journey has honed her skills in commercial awareness, attention to detail, effective communication, analytical prowess, research acumen, organizational efficiency, and innovative problem-solving.

Driven by a profound passion for the law, Katherine Ann continuously elevates her skill set to deliver legal services of the highest caliber. Committed to ongoing growth through practical experience and educational pursuits, she eagerly anticipates the opportunity to collaborate and serve her clients diligently.

During her free time, Katherine Ann enjoys singing, acting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.