Lianna Sanelli is a senior associate lawyer at Sanelli Law Group. She brings more than a decade of diverse legal experience to the firm, with a strong foundation in immigration and refugee law, family law, and criminal law.

Lianna represents clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board and Federal Court, including complex claims involving gender-based violence, criminality, and intersecting legal vulnerabilities. Her immigration practice includes refugee claims, appeals, judicial reviews, sponsorships, humanitarian and compassionate, and permanent residence for protected persons applications.

Prior to joining Sanelli Law Group, Lianna served as a lawyer at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, where she led the Criminalization of Women Project and provided trauma-informed legal advice to survivors of gender-based violence. She also has extensive experience in family law, fertility and surrogacy law, and has held roles in public legal education and legislative reform, including her tenure at Egale Canada where she co-authored national policy on 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion.

Lianna is particularly committed to client advocacy and empowerment. She brings a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach to every case and has a passion for ensuring marginalized communities have meaningful access to justice.

Lianna holds a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School (2017) and earned her LL.B. with honours from the University of Exeter (2014). Lianna is a panel member for Legal Aid Ontario. She is also on the Board of Directors of SHORE Centre, a sexual and reproductive health organization, and is currently serving as the President of the Board.

Outside of work, Lianna is a skilled baker and gardener, and enjoys keeping up with the latest in pop culture.