ABOUT THE FIRM
Atty. George M. Garvida
BA (Humanities), Ll.B.
Atty. Garvida started his career as a Counsel and Hearing Officer with the Videogram Regulatory Board (now the Optical Media Board) of the Office of the President of the Philippines and later as a Government Corporate Attorney of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Department of Justice where he gained significant litigation expertise in the areas of corporate, administrative and criminal law. In between, he was in private practice as well, and has conducted numerous trials, both on behalf of the plaintiff litigants, and as defence counsel.
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Atty. Garvida's practice under Canadian and Philippine jurisdictions also includes Family Law, Commercial and Corporate Law.
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Mr. Garvida has provided his services to the following agencies*:
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Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
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Statistics Canada
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Elections Canada
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Crown Attorney’s Office, Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario)
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Ottawa Court House, Milton and Orangeville Courthouse
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Barrie and Hamilton Courthouse
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Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario)
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Toronto Catholic Children’s Aid Society (CAS)
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He is an Election Law Practitioner (Local and National Elections in the Philippines) and was a former Government Corporate Attorney, Prosecutor and/or Hearing Officer, OGCC (Department of Justice, Philippines) for the following corporations*:
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Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO, Philippine Lotto)
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Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PagCor)
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Philippine National Construction Company (PNCC)
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Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage Systems (MWSS)
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National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
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GSIS Family Savings Bank (ComSavings Bank)
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Philippine Coconut Authority
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Atty. Garvida is available to assist clients in their legal concerns in Canada and in the Philippines, through Legalnett Consultants International. He is committed to helping those from the Filipino community that have not traditionally been represented. Atty. Garvida is also available to meet clients in the evenings upon appointment.
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*DISCLAIMER: The Garvida Law office is not associated with the organisations listed.​​​
Personal History
In addition to his legal experience, Atty. Garvida had humble beginnings in his pursuit of his legal career in the Philippines and Canada. From working as a free-lance DJ to a server at Dunkin’ Donuts® and a kitchen manager at Jollibee® in Manila, he opened three resto-bars in Toronto (Kalesa, Kalan Chow, and Katipunan). He also worked as a cook at the IKEA® Restaurant in North York and as a crew member of Tim Horton’s® in Pickering.
On weekends and special occasions, he offers sound engineering and DJ services through KMR Muzik for the Filipino-Canadian community.
Atty. Garvida is happily married to his wife, Sheila, and is father to three children.
Credentials
2014
Certificate of Qualification (QC)
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
Recognized by provincial and territorial law societies, Atty. Garvida received the CQ upon his successful completion of the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) assessment, ensuring internationally trained lawyers and graduates align with Canadian legal principles and competencies.
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2008
Law Clerk Diploma (Hon.)
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology
Toronto, ON
Atty. Garvida focused his studies on key areas such as litigation, real estate, corporate law, and legal research, combining theoretical learning with hands-on training.
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Accredited by the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO), it prepares graduates for dynamic roles in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. With an emphasis on professionalism and real-world applications, this diploma sets a strong foundation for a successful career in the legal field.
1993
BA (Humanities), Ll.B.
College of Arts and Letters
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Alongside his studies in law, he served as a UP Student Council leader. Atty. Garvida finished his legal studies in the same class as Senators Francis (Chiz) Escudero and Francis (Kiko) Pangilinan.