When Steven Lawson, Founder of Lawsorio Consulting, a Toronto-based firm specializing in E1 and E2 treaty visas, reflects on his career path, he describes it as a series of pauses and pivots that ultimately led him to where he is today. "I practiced law for a while, then transitioned into teaching," Lawson says. "Neither felt quite right, but those experiences shaped the way I approach what I do now."
The turning point came when his wife was offered a promotion in Toronto. Lawson moved with her in 2014 and, the following year, accepted a position at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. The job immersed him in the world of U.S. visas, and it didn't take long for him to discover his niche. "Because of my legal background, I was pushed into a highly specialized category of visas, Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor Visas, known as E1 and E2," he says.
The complexity of those applications attracted him. "They are 70 pages long, with layers of qualifications," Lawson explains. "I studied the regulations, the advisory opinions that are not publicly available, and over time, I could predict how they had been decided." Toronto, regarded as a gold-standard post for these cases, gave him exposure to thousands of applications and positioned him as one of the leading experts.
But while Lawson loved the subject matter, government work eventually left him unfulfilled. "There was not much upward mobility, and when COVID hit, I was working from home. By 2021, I knew it was time to move on," he says. That year, he opened Lawsorio Consulting, though it was not fully operational until 2023. Since then, he's guided many entrepreneurs and investors through the complex visa process.
What empowers Lawson is his educational approach. "I have always treated this more like teaching than just processing paperwork," he says. "When you hire me, you are dealing with me directly. I take the time to learn a client's background, their current business, and their future goals. That's what allows me to tailor each application properly."
Most of his clients are Canadian business owners seeking to expand into the United States, though his reach extends internationally. They range from tech professionals and accountants to restaurateurs and manufacturers. Recent cases include a German-UK team opening a distillery and a Canadian company specializing in fireplaces and fire pits. "It doesn't really matter what the business is," Lawson explains. "What matters is that it's lawful, real, operating, and making an impact."
That breadth of work reflects not just his expertise, but his ability to adapt. "Every case is different. The challenge is fully understanding what the client expects, whether they want to grow a business, buy a franchise, or eventually pursue permanent residency. My job is to navigate the rules while respecting their vision."
Looking ahead, Lawson plans to stay focused on E1 and E2 visas while gradually expanding his expertise into other categories, such as EB2-NIW and EB1 visas for highly qualified professionals. "I'm working with someone experienced in those areas to identify clients who might also qualify for green cards," he says.
But for now, his focus remains on the personalized service that built his firm. "Lawsorio is essentially me and my wife, who co-owns the company," Lawson says. "We are not a big firm. And I like it that way, because when someone hires me, they get me."
He also hopes to share his expertise more publicly. "I would love to eventually serve as a voice in the field, whether through media, interviews, or speaking at conferences," he says. "There are so many entrepreneurs who don't know these opportunities exist, and I want to help them see the possibilities."
For Lawson, each case is not just a file; it's a story of ambition, risk, and new beginnings. "It's incredibly rewarding," he says. "Helping people achieve their vision for a business in the United States feels like the right place for me to be."
