Laiba Sikandar

Legal Assistant

I was born and raised in Pakistan, where becoming a doctor is often seen as the only respectable career path for women. My parents hoped I would follow that route — but law was where my heart truly was. After a lot of conversations (and some convincing), they eventually supported my decision to pursue an LLB from the University of London.

Practicing law back home wasn’t easy, especially as a woman in a field where we’re still underrepresented. But I was proud to become the first female lawyer in my family — and even prouder to be the first woman in my family to work at all.

A year ago, I moved to Canada after getting married, and I’ve been on a journey to figure out my legal pathway here. Just six months into that transition, I was offered a role at Panko Collaborative Law and Mediation. It’s a job that means a lot to me — I’m the first person you see when you walk into our office, and probably the first voice you’ll hear if you give us a call.

Coming from a big family myself, I understand how overwhelming legal processes can be — especially when they involve family matters. I hope I can offer a bit of calm, kindness, or just a listening ear to people who are going through challenging times.

I speak three languages — English, Urdu, and Pashto (my mother tongue) — and I love being able to connect with clients in the language they’re most comfortable with.

As I continue to grow with the firm, I’m also taking mediation classes and learning more about Collaborative Law. I’m excited to keep building my future in Canada, and to be part of a team that values empathy, connection, and helping families move forward.