Gabriella Schneider Gabriella is a graduate of Western University and the University of Southampton. She was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2022. Since then, she has gained broad experience in litigation, primarily in the areas of collections, mortgage recovery, commercial litigation, and insurance defence.In recovery, collections, and mortgage enforcement, Gabriella represents major financial institutions, and businesses. She obtains and enforces judgments for breaches of loan agreements, security agreements, and mortgages.Gabriella also boasts experience across multiple litigation domains, encompassing general contract disputes, insurance defense, motor vehicle accidents, condominium concerns, rectifying land title discrepancies, representing commercial landlords, businesses, and individuals.Gabriella has appeared in various courts and tribunals including the Superior Court of Justice, Small Claims Court, and the Landlord Tenant Board. Gabriella’s diverse practice has enabled her to develop an effective, efficient, and cost-effective approach to resolving legal issues. In her free time, Gabriella enjoys pilates, baking, and spin class. By Fauzan SiddiquiApril 25, 2023April 26, 2024
Hyland Muirhead Hyland Muirhead joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (‘DSF’) as an associate lawyer in our commercial litigation, collections and mortgage recovery, as well as bankruptcy and insolvency departments. She graduated with an LLB from the University of Leicester and received her LLM from the University of Miami. She was called to the Bar in 2022. Prior to DSF, Hyland acquired a work placement for a boutique law firm in Toronto practicing in the areas of commercial and civil litigation. She also gained international experience interning in law firms in the USA and Uk conducting legal research and proceedings for all areas of litigation. Outside the courtroom, Hyland is a pianist and a member of the Royal Conservatory of Music finishing second at the Grand Prize Virtuoso, Salzburg, Austria as well as the Golden Classical Music Competition, New York. She is a member of the Advocates’ Society, the Law Society of Ontario and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. By Fauzan SiddiquiJune 14, 2022September 21, 2023
Graeme R. Oddy Graeme Oddy joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (‘DSF’) as an associate lawyer in 2022 in our commercial litigation and tax law department. He holds a B.A. (Hons) and a J.D. from the University of Toronto. He was called to the Bar in 2018. Prior to joining DSF, he articled for a boutique multi-national law firm in Toronto and then became a sole practitioner offering a broad range of services to both individuals and businesses in litigation, corporate/commercial law, tax planning, real estate and more. Graeme has been involved in a broad range of commercial litigation matters, including contract disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence claims and disciplinary proceedings, mortgage enforcement litigation, fraudulent conveyances, injunctions, claims against directors and officers, appeals, and commercial arbitrations. Graeme also has experience in tax litigation and dispute resolution, particularly related to capital gains on dispositions of real property, virtual currencies, and other commodities. His work includes preparation for CRA audits, objections to reassessments, and administrative appeals. Outside work, he is an avid sportsman with interests in basketball, tennis, skiing and hiking. He also founded the University of Toronto Rubik’s Cube club in 2013. By Fauzan SiddiquiMarch 29, 2022March 25, 2024
David Heppenstall David is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School (Juris Doctor, 2021) and the University of Guelph (Bachelor of Computing, 2008). David joined the commercial litigation and insurance defence groups at Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) following his call to the bar in 2022. David previously worked at DSF as both a summer student and as a student-at-law. As a litigation specialist, David has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court, Ontario Court, as well as various federal, provincial, and municipal agencies, boards, and commissions. Law is David’s second career, his previous being in computer science. For most of his technical career, David developed solutions for complex customer issues at Dell EMC. On multiple occasions, he received excellence awards for his focus on customer satisfaction, dedication, passion, and initiative. David’s broad experience with enterprise computing informs his legal practice. David is a national mooting champion. At the 2021 Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot, David and his team won overall Best Faculty. Additionally, he also won Best Factum and Best Oralist awards—demonstrating command over both written and verbal advocacy. David was deeply involved with his law school and became highly decorated during his studies. Osgoode awarded David with multiple graduation prizes and other awards for excellence beyond academic achievement; including the Honourable Paul Bentley ’77 Prize for Professionalism, the Osgoode Hall Law Journal Prize, and a Student Honour Award. David also served as the Director of Production at the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, worked for three pro bono community legal clinics, and he volunteered with the Osgoode Mooting Society and the Osgoode Disability Collective. In his first year, his section awarded him the “MVP” Award. David is a high school law teacher, instructing extension program students who are interested in deepening their understanding of the law. David is a keen public speaker. He is a member and past president of both the Tuesday Literary Club and the Ruskin Literary and Debating Society. At the Tuesday Literary Club, he is a recipient of the Harry Fairhead Award of Merit. At Ruskin, he is a recipient of the George Sunderland Prize and the Ian Galt Award. David is an athlete, team leader, and adventurer. He participates in triathlons, captained two-floor hockey teams, portaged the backcountry in northern Ontario, bicycled solo 600 kilometres across southern Ontario, hiked Mount Kilimanjaro, and is a hang glider pilot. David is a notary public for the Province of Ontario. By Fauzan SiddiquiSeptember 29, 2020April 24, 2024
J. Matthew Sack Matthew is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he obtained his Honours B.A. in Political Science and English Literature. While at the University of Toronto, he was a Dean’s List scholar and graduated with Distinction. Matthew received his LL.B from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, and was the recipient of the Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP Millenium Scholarship in Constitutional Law. While at the University of Windsor he worked at the university’s Community Legal Aid program for three years and participated in the Zuber Moot competition. Matthew articled with Devry Smith Frank LLP where he received a broad exposure to a variety of areas of litigation with an emphasis on mortgage enforcement and insurance defence. He was called to the Bar in 2003 following the successful completion of the Bar Admission Course in Toronto. Matthew’s practice focuses primarily in the areas of secured and unsecured debt recovery, with an emphasis on mortgage remedies, as well as bankruptcy and insolvency. He has acted as counsel for many Canadian chartered banks and other financial institutions on hundreds of recovery matters. Matthew is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Ontario Bar Association. He is also a Notary Public. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020September 6, 2023 No comments yet
James M. Satin James is the co-managing partner of the firm and also heads our creditors rights group which includes debt recovery and bankruptcy and insolvency. Effective, efficient, results-oriented, cost-conscious and professional are adjectives used by James’ clients to describe him. Among his clients, James acts as counsel for Canadian chartered banks and other financial institutions on hundreds of recovery matters. James has expertise in the most effective, and cost-efficient methods for recovering debts, both prior to and following judgment. James works with trustees, receivers, property managers and other professionals to secure the timely realization of secured assets, and to maximize recovery on collection matters. James has had considerable success in resolving collection proceedings on an expedited basis, thereby reducing the expense to his clients and speeding up the recovery process. James also has expertise in commercial litigation. He has acted for clients in matters including contract disputes, real estate litigation, product liability, employment litigation and wrongful dismissal, estate litigation, defamation and fraud actions. He has acted for clients ranging from multinational corporations and global professional services organizations to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as for individuals. He has experience with all facets of the litigation process, including interim and permanent injunctions including Mareva injunctions and other motions for the preservation of property, interlocutory motions, Court ordered and private receiverships, motions for summary judgment, examinations in aid of execution, seizure and sale of assets, Sheriff’s sales of both real and personal property, contempt proceedings and mandatory and private mediations. James’ practical, no-nonsense approach to litigation has resulted in excellent results at trial and on appeal. He frequently appears before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and has appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Ontario Divisional Court. James has spoken at numerous seminars on topics relating to debt collection. James is a graduate of McGill University (B.A. in Psychology, 1996) and the University of Western Ontario (LL.B, 1999). He holds a Certificate in Mediation from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre at the University of Western Ontario. James was called to the Bar in 2001. For further information or assistance with debt recovery and bankruptcy, insolvency or commercial litigation please contact James M. Satin. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020September 5, 2023 No comments yet
