Nafisa Nazarali graduated with the highest distinction, Summa Cum Laude with an Honours Bachelor of Arts from York University and completed her Juris Doctor Program at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2009. She has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law since her call to the bar in 2010.
Nafisa began her career as a family law lawyer at a small firm in Brampton in 2010. After starting a family, she wanted to be closer to home and accepted a position as a junior associate with a prominent law firm in Brooklin in January 2014. Nafisa worked her way up to the role of senior managing associate lawyer at the firm. In her role, Nafisa had a full family law practice but also mentored other lawyers in the firm on various issues arising in out and of their practice. She motivated team members to look for ways to stretch and develop their skills in navigating the challenging issues arising in family law practice.
Missing the intimate nature of a smaller firm environment and yearning to pursue her dream of owning her own practice, in December 2022, Nafisa along with her partners, Jason Isenberg and Adam Borer, formed INB Family Law LLP.
From her first day on the job as a family lawyer, Nafisa knew that she had found her true calling. She is passionate about her work and finds it satisfying to be able to help her clients navigate the difficult journey of separation and divorce. Nafisa is a child focused lawyer who keeps the best interest of the children in mind whenever working with her clients. She believes that the best way to resolve family law issues is through amicable discussions and negotiations. Nafisa is a strong believer that the collaborative process is the best process out there for separating couples however she is not afraid to litigate when necessary.
Nafisa is actively involved in her community. She is the current chair of the Malvern Family Resource Centre, Secretary and Chair of the Family Law Committee at the Durham Regional Law Association, Board Member of Collaborative Practice Durham Region and Board Member of the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals. She sat on the Board of Directors of Luke’s Place from March 2015 – May 2023.
Nafisa has participated in various speaking engagements and workshops, including at the Institute of Law Clerks, Durham College, Luke’s Place and the Law Society of Ontario, showcasing her thought leadership and expertise. She was honoured to organize, lead, and chair the family law section of the Durham Law Association’s first conference in the fall of 2022.
As a role model for gender equality, Nafisa champions diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. Nafisa has faced many challenges in her journey as a woman of color practicing law and she aims to assist the next generation of young women with her involvement in various initiatives that showcase women in the law.
Nafisa’s passion for gender equality and human rights started long before she became a lawyer. While in law school, she was emboldened to travel to a remote part of India to work with an organization (MASUM) for the empowerment of women’s rights. She wrote a report on honour killings that was published in India in June 2008.
At law school, she was honoured with the John Yaremko Q.C. Scholarship which is awarded to the student who has exhibited the highest degree of interest and academic excellence in the study of human rights, civil liberties and the rule of law.
When not practicing family law, Nafisa enjoys spending time with her family, friends and exploring the world.
