His passion for understanding different legal systems led him to pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Hungary, followed by postings at the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna and the International Criminal Court in The Hague—experiences that anchored his commitment to international law and the rule-based global order.
When he immigrated to Canada in 2005, Rakhmad faced a pivotal choice: to pursue Canadian legal education in the common law system and become a Canadian-licensed lawyer, or step away from the law altogether. He chose to return to law school for a full JD program at the Faculty, a decision driven by the school's distinctive curriculum bridging civil law and common law traditions alongside its rigorous international law programs.
That experience became a true turning point—not only in his professional life, but in his journey as an immigrant and as a new Canadian.
"uOttawa will always hold a special place in my life. It was where I found the courage to start again—and to build something entirely new," Rakhmad reflects.
After graduating, Rakhmad joined Bombardier Aerospace and then a city-based international law firm in London, U.K. as an aviation and aerospace lawyer, before co-founding Toronto-based Sobirovs Law. The firm is recognized by Legal500 and Chambers & Partners.
Today, Rakhmad is channelling that transformative uOttawa experience into building the next generation of international lawyers.
He and Sobirovs Law Firm have established an entrance scholarship providing $5,000 annually to two incoming LLM students from Central Asia, ensuring they can study in Canada and return home equipped to strengthen the rule of law in their regions.
"Educating the next generation of lawyers specializing in international law is more important than ever, as we witness challenges to the rule-based international order. Canada must play a significant role in shaping the new world order, and uOttawa-educated lawyers are essential to that mission."
