Senior Counsel
David Crawford
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Languages
- English
Contact information
David has extensive experience in providing immigration advice and assistance to businesses from a wide range of industries. He works with general counsel, human resources professionals and internal mobility teams on policies and procedures related to recruitment, retention and related immigration obligations. David leads the firm’s Canadian private client practice.
David also leads Fragomen’s important partnership with Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), championing the firm's collaborative, ongoing work to assist displaced talent. He currently serves as TBB’s Canada Ambassador and represents the firm on the Global Task Force for Refugee Labour Mobility, which was set up in 2022 under the auspices of the UNHCR and includes the Government of Canada, Australia, the UNHCR, the International Chamber of Commerce, RefugePoint, TBB and Fragomen.
David provides pro bono services in Canada, including support for refugee resettlement from a variety of countries.
Education
- University of New England (Australia), Master of Letters, 1994
- University of Sydney, D.Phil., 1987
- University of Sydney, B.A., 1982
More from David
Admissions
Bar Admissions: Upper Canada (Ontario)
Awards
Named to Uglobal Immigration Magazine’s Top 25 Global Migration Attorneys, 2023
Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada Corporate Immigration, 2023
ACQ Global Award, 2014-2015
Professional accomplishments
Member, Canadian Bar Association, 2016 to present
Member, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, 2016 to present
Representative Member, Canadian Services Coalition, 2017 to present
Canada Member, Human Resources Professionals Association, 2012 to present
Member, International Bar Association, 2016 to present
Member, Migration Institute of Australia, 2003 to present
Member, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, 2015 to present
Member, Toronto Region Board of Trade, 2012 to present
Former Faculty Member in charge of Immigration of the International Human Resources Management Academy, King’s College, London, 2009 to 2012
Former Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), UK, 2009 to 2012
Former Member, British American Business, England, 2009 to 2012
Former Member, British-Australian Chamber of Commerce, 2009 to 2012
Former Member, French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2003 to 2009
Former Member, American Chamber of Commerce, 2003 to 2009
Former Convener and Member, Australian Human Resource Institute Special Area Committee on International Human Resources, 2003 to 2009
Experience
In addition to overseeing major account operations, in the recent past David has:
Drafted submissions to the Government of Canada on policy issues in 2016 and 2013.
Participated as a member of an IT Industry Association in Canada that liaises with the Government of Canada on immigration policy and procedural issues.
Arranged and led meetings of corporate clients with the UK Border Agency on proposed changes to UK immigration requirements.
Made representations to the UK government on key policy areas of interest to corporate clients moving staff into the UK.
Drafted submissions to government on areas of proposed policy change.
Given evidence before parliamentary enquiries.
Publications and lectures
Speaker, “Canadian Immigration Update: Unpacking the New Immigration Levels and Beyond.” Fragomen, Webinar, 18 November 2025.
Speaker, “Global Citizenship and Residency Programs.” Fragomen, Istanbul, Türkiye, 30 September 2025.
Quoted, “Liberals' return in Canada a win-lose for Indian workers, students: Decoded.” Business Standard, 1 May 2025.
Speaker, “Alternative Hiring Solutions: Connecting Businesses and Displaced Talent (Canada Session).” Fragomen and Talent Beyond Boundaries, Webinar, 20 March 2025.
Speaker, “Policy Shifts in the U.S.: What Immigration, Tariffs, and Trade Mean for Global Business.” Fragomen, Webinar, 19 November 2024.
Quoted, “What do updates to ICTs mean for Canadian employers?” Canadian HR Reporter, 17 October 2024.
Speaker, “Fragomen Canada and Talent Beyond Boundaries: World Refugee Day.” Fragomen, 23 June 2021
Panelist, “Regionalization and the 2021-2023 Levels Plan.” Canadian Immigration Virtual Summit 2021, 26 May 2021.
Speaker, “Canada’s Push for Permanent Residents in 2021: What Has Been Done and What to Expect.” Fragomen, 25 February 2021.
Speaker, “Displaced Talent Mobility: A Skills-based Approach to Transform Refugees’ Lives.” Fragomen, 19 November 2020.
Speaker, “The Changing Immigration Landscape in a Post-COVID World.” Mobility Reimagined: CERC 2020 Conference, Webinar, 22 September 2020.
Speaker, “Navigating U.S. Immigration and Cross-border Options.” Fragomen, Webinar, 8 July 2020.
Speaker, “Navigating Immigration in a Pandemic – What’s Next?” Fragomen, 11 June 2020.
Speaker, “Tech Solutions to Immigration Problems’.” Global Forum on Migration & Development Ecuador 2019 – Common Space of the XII GFMD, Quito, Ecuador, 23 January 2020.
Quoted, “Foreign tech workers are looking north for more opportunities.” The San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 November 2019.
Quoted, “In Trump Era, Tech May Look To Canada As Recruitment Hub.” Law360, 26 August 2019.
Quoted, “Canada holds doors wide open for Indians.” Times of India, 10 April 2019.
Canadian Representative, Global Services Coalition, WTO Public Forums, Geneva, Switzerland, October 2018.
Panelist, “Breakout Regroup.” The Ontario Economics Summit 2018: The Workforce of Tomorrow, Ontario, Canada, October 24, 2018.
Speaker, “Canada and U.S. Cross-Border Immigration: What You Need to Know.” Fragomen Canada Breakfast Briefing, Toronto, Canada, September 24, 2018.
Speaker, Council for Global Immigration 2018 Symposium, Arlington, Virginia, June 2018.
Speaker, “Going for the Gold.” Canadian Immigration Summit 2018: Strengthening Our Economy & Settlement Program, Ottawa, Canada, May 31, 2018.
Speaker, “Future of Immigration - Forces to Reckon With.” Fragomen India Symposium 2018, Bengaluru, India, May 17, 2018.
Speaker, Trade Accelerator Program, February 21, 2018.
Presenter, “Workshop - Talent Management.” iVentures 2017, Toronto, Canada, October 26, 2017.
Speaker, “Global Mobility in the Digital Age.” Canadian Immigration Summit 2017: Innovating at 150 and Beyond, Ottawa, Canada, May 9, 2017.
Panelist, “Diversity and Inclusion in the Global Mobility Space.” Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) Central Region Event, Toronto, Canada, April 19, 2017.
Speaker, Fragomen Canada Client Call, teleconference, March 2, 2017.
Panelist, “Building Talent.” Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Transportation Summit, Toronto, Canada, October 19, 2016.
Panelist, “Managing Risk: International Trends in Immigration Compliance and What This Means for Canada?” Global Talent Canada Summit, Toronto, Canada, March 30, 2016.
Interviewee, “Immigration Essentials: With each case there is a very human story to consider.” Metropolitan Corporate Counsel: Vol. 24., No. 1 (January 5, 2016): 14-15.
Speaker, “Immigration - Now and Tomorrow.” Worldwide ERC Conference, Washington, DC, September 2012.
“For immigration policy a rest is as good as a change.” Parliamentary Yearbook, April 2012.
“All Change for Global Immigration.” Re:locate Magazine, March 2012.
“The British Character.” Re:locate Magazine, March 2012.
Speaker, ECA Tax Conference, March 2012.
Speaker, Global Mobility Summit, Lloyds, March 2012.
Presenter, Totally Expat: Forum for Expatriate Management, 2009.
Presenter, Global HR Conference, 2009 (London and Germany).
Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education, University of New South Wales, 2000-2006.
Presenter, Sydney HR Networking Group and the Relocation Network, 2000-2009.
Presenter, CPD sessions for migration advisors, Immigration Advice & Right Centre (IARC), 2005-2009.
David’s insights
November 18, 2025 | Webinar
November 6, 2025 | Awards
September 30, 2025 | Forum
