Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

I started Northam Law in 2019 to address the underserved immigrant market here in Vancouver, but this is not where my journey began. 20 years ago, my family left the Philippines to start a new life in San Diego, California, leaving me and my brother behind. The day they left, my ultimate goal was to reunite with them in North America. After completing my law degree and acquiring several years of experience as in-house counsel for the largest broadcasting company in the Philippines, I moved to Vancouver, BC in December, 2011 to start a new life with my own family and bring more opportunities for my children. Excited to be back on the same continent as my family, I began applying to jobs and try to find my bearings here in Canada. However, no law firm would hire a lawyer who had studied and trained in the Philippines as I needed to have my credentials in place. I went back to school to get an associate degree in Human Resource Management. With a Canadian degree under my belt, I was hired as a Legal Officer and Human Resources Manager for Organika Health Products in 2014. My work ethic and demeanor brought me success and my then-boss and mentor took me under his wing. With his business advice, I started Northam Law.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

In 2019, when I incorporated Northam Law, my next challenge would be acquiring clients so I turned to my network. Over the past 8 years, I involved myself in the immigrant community, which opened my eyes to the legal challenges of my fellow Filipinos and other immigrants. From 2012-2014, I was the Editor in Chief at the Philippine Canadian Inquirer, where I attended Filipino events, taking photos, writing articles, while managing a team of 5-7 women. Furthermore, I became a legal advisor to the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society and the Director/Secretary of the Philippines Canada Trade Council. I also represented the Filipino community in the RCMP Cultural Advisory Committee. This network and opportunity to help my fellow Filipinos proved fruitful. By September 2020, I already had close to 500 clients.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

Northam Law deserves to win the Business Impact Award because of its significant and positive impact on its community, the legal industry, and the lives of its clients. Northam Law has actively engaged with the local community through various initiatives, that fostered and fosters a vibrant and inclusive environment. From Northam's founder, Melissa Briones' tenure as editor-in-chief of the Philippine Canadian Inquirer, which showcased her commitment to journalistic integrity and community engagement by amplifying diverse voices within the Filipino-Canadian community and promoting meaningful discourse and cultural exchange - to Northam Law's support of the arts by producing the groundbreaking fashion show Ilustrado, featuring Philippine designer Jaki Penalosa's work and Pagtitipon, a yearly celebration of Filipino-Canadian art. Rallying with her is the Filipino community because the goal of celebrating Filipino talent and heritage, and contributing to the enrichment of the cultural landscape of Vancouver, is important and brings the community together. Northam' Briones has served in various roles in community organizations, such as Club Secretary for the Rotary Club of Vancouver Mountainview, and legal advisor for VAHMS and Canadian-Filipino.net. She has conducted numerous seminars on wills and estates for non-profit organizations like MHHS, real estate and insurance companies, and end of life companies. Melissa's dedication to community service is further evidenced by her receipt of recognitions from the Philippine Consulate Vancouver, UPAABC, Rotary Club, the Soroptimist Vancouver, Ashton College, and other organizations which recognized her abilities and her leadership and impactful contributions to the community. Northam's Briones is also licensed to practice law not only in British Columbia but also the Philippines. She is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and brings over a decade of experience in commercial, business, and contract law. Her expertise spans manufacturing, health, real estate, and broadcast communication industries. She is in-house counsel for prominent organizations and this showcases the firm's ability to develop strategies that minimize legal risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive business efficiencies. Northam Law is proud of its accomplishments and remain committed to making a meaningful, lasting impact on its community.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

At Northam Law, our culture is a vibrant tapestry woven with core values like collaboration, respect, and a growth mindset. We believe in the power of teamwork and we have meetings with our diverse and talented all-women team every Monday, and we encourage each and every member of our team to communicate openly and share their ideas, their wins, their progress, their challenges. This collaborative spirit extends beyond our internal team, as we prioritize building strong, long-term relationships with our clients and industry partners through our fast response rate, answering their question with careful consideration building a relationship that is based on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone - including our clients and industry partners - feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. We are also passionate about giving back to our community through free seminars on wills and estates, real estate and family law. We encourage our employees to volunteer and participate in their own immigrant communities, as we believe in leaving a positive impact on the world around us.