Cemone Morlese is a Senior Associate specializing in immigration litigation, with a focus on refugee protection, family sponsorships, and removal proceedings. Fluent in French, she brings a bilingual and culturally informed approach to her practice, regularly appearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and the Federal Court.
Cemone holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University’s Glendon College, where she also studied abroad in Bordeaux, France. She earned her law degree from the French Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa in 2015. During her articling with Legal Aid Ontario, she gained experience in family, landlord and tenant, criminal, and refugee law—building a strong foundation for her immigration practice.
With years of experience at a boutique immigration and refugee law firm, Cemone has developed deep expertise in Canadian immigration law. Her work includes preparing Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications, Pre-Removal Risk Assessments (PRRAs), and other complex written submissions. Known for her professionalism, empathy, and attention to detail, she is deeply committed to advocating for her clients at every stage of the immigration process.
Called to the bar of Ontario 2016
BA York University 2012
JD University of Ottawa 2015
French
The Court set aside the refusal of a humanitarian application because immigration officials failed to properly consider the best interests of a Canadian-born child. Instead of asking what was truly best for the child, the officer focused on whether leaving Canada would cause hardship, which was the wrong approach. The refusal was set aside and the case was sent back for redetermination.
Eluwole v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2023 FC 1165
The Court found that it was unreasonable for immigration the Tribunal to refuse a refugee claim while ignoring the existence of a genuine Nigerian passport. Officials relied on speculation about document fraud instead of evidence specific to the applicant. The decision was quashed.
Izekor v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1488
The Refugee Appeal Division overturned the refusal of a refugee claim and recognized the claimant as a Convention refugee after finding that the initial decision unfairly dismissed identity and credibility evidence. The panel accepted that mistakes and confusion in testimony did not mean the story was untrue. The claimant was found to face real danger from extremist violence if returned.
X (Re), 2020 CanLII 123258 (CA IRB)
On reconsideration after court intervention, the Refugee Appeal Division overturned a refusal and allowed the refugee claim after finding that lower tribunal erred in its treatment of identity evidence that was outside the claimant’s control. The panel ruled that decision-makers should have sought better copies of official documents rather than penalizing the claimant. The refugee claim was ultimately accepted.
X (Re), 2021 CanLII 153985 (CA IRB)
Cemone Morlese is a Senior Associate specializing in immigration litigation, with a focus on refugee protection, family sponsorships, and removal proceedings. Fluent in French, she brings a bilingual and culturally informed approach to her practice, regularly appearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and the Federal Court.
Cemone holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University’s Glendon College, where she also studied abroad in Bordeaux, France. She earned her law degree from the French Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa in 2015. During her articling with Legal Aid Ontario, she gained experience in family, landlord and tenant, criminal, and refugee law—building a strong foundation for her immigration practice.
With years of experience at a boutique immigration and refugee law firm, Cemone has developed deep expertise in Canadian immigration law. Her work includes preparing Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications, Pre-Removal Risk Assessments (PRRAs), and other complex written submissions. Known for her professionalism, empathy, and attention to detail, she is deeply committed to advocating for her clients at every stage of the immigration process.
Called to the bar of Ontario 2016
BA York University 2012
JD University of Ottawa 2015
French
The Court set aside the refusal of a humanitarian application because immigration officials failed to properly consider the best interests of a Canadian-born child. Instead of asking what was truly best for the child, the officer focused on whether leaving Canada would cause hardship, which was the wrong approach. The refusal was set aside and the case was sent back for redetermination.
Eluwole v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2023 FC 1165
The Court found that it was unreasonable for immigration the Tribunal to refuse a refugee claim while ignoring the existence of a genuine Nigerian passport. Officials relied on speculation about document fraud instead of evidence specific to the applicant. The decision was quashed.
Izekor v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1488
The Refugee Appeal Division overturned the refusal of a refugee claim and recognized the claimant as a Convention refugee after finding that the initial decision unfairly dismissed identity and credibility evidence. The panel accepted that mistakes and confusion in testimony did not mean the story was untrue. The claimant was found to face real danger from extremist violence if returned.
X (Re), 2020 CanLII 123258 (CA IRB)
On reconsideration after court intervention, the Refugee Appeal Division overturned a refusal and allowed the refugee claim after finding that lower tribunal erred in its treatment of identity evidence that was outside the claimant’s control. The panel ruled that decision-makers should have sought better copies of official documents rather than penalizing the claimant. The refugee claim was ultimately accepted.
X (Re), 2021 CanLII 153985 (CA IRB)