Martin Prost Martin Prost joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (“DSF”) in 2022 as a result of the merger of our firms. Martin Prost was born on a farm in what is now the east end of Hamilton, Ontario, where hard work and common sense were the key ingredients of everyday life. After finishing High School in Stoney Creek, he obtained his first university degree in an honours bachelor of arts (Classics) program, not surprisingly at McMaster University. He then proceeded to London for his law degree at the University of Western Ontario. Upon being called to the bar in 1974, he began his practice of law in the Town of Midland. Although he remained in general practice his interest gravitated to family law and other areas of law involving personal conflict. From there he developed an interest and aptitude in conflict resolution skills, beginning with a relational mediation course in California in 1981. Thereafter, he added to those skills by gaining experience along the way and by further courses in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the University of Windsor and a course in Divorce and Child Custody Mediation with CDR Associates in Boulder, Colorado. This led to an interest in family group conferencing and restorative justice circles both of which are based on similar principles. In 1998 he brought together the local Youth Court Judge, the Chief of Police, the school Attendance Officer, and other interested community members to establish the FACE Program, being a restorative justice project to divert young offenders from Youth Court to restorative circles designed to heal relationships between victims, offender and others affected by their behaviour. From there he has arrived at a personal belief that conflict is a valuable resource that should never be taken away from those directly involved except as a last resort, and then only as a temporary measure. Situations that involve conflict should be welcomed as opportunities for growth and renewal for partners, families and communities alike. By Lancelot BucknorSeptember 27, 2022December 5, 2022
Stephen Sforza Stephen joined Woitzik Polsinelli LLP in 2019 and is now a part of Devry Smith Frank LLP post the merger of our firms in Whitby. He is an associate in our Corporate/Commercial and Real Estate Groups. Stephen holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and an undergraduate degree with honours from Queen’s University, graduating from magna cum laude. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate at another established Durham Region law firm, where he assisted a variety of clients with their business, real estate and wills & estates law matters. Stephen’s previous experience also includes working in downtown Toronto in the securities regulation industry and in the legal department of a public oil & gas company. Stephen’s clients include entrepreneurs, real estate investors, professionals, small to medium-sized businesses, commercial lenders and borrowers, credit unions, and commercial landlords and tenants. His client-focused approach, combined with his developed legal knowledge and expertise, enables him to provide individual and corporate clients with strategic, practical and tailored legal advice and cost-effective legal solutions. His broad corporate & commercial practice includes business formation, corporate reorganizations, purchasing and selling businesses, secured lending, commercial financing, tax rollovers, commercial leasing and general contract review and drafting. Stephen is also an integral part of the firm’s Real Estate Group, where he assists clients with residential and commercial purchases, sales, assignments, and mortgage transactions. When out of the office, Stephen enjoys maintaining a highly active and healthy lifestyle. He played competitive-level soccer most of his life and continues playing to this day. He is also an avid Toronto sports fan, actively following Toronto FC and the Toronto Maple Leafs. By Justin DominicOctober 19, 2021December 7, 2021
Esther Abecassis Esther Abecassis joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) in 2021 as an associate lawyer in our wills and estates and corporate groups. She is a graduate of Western University where she earned both her B.A. and J.D and was soon called to the bar in 2019. Esther began her legal career at a mid-sized downtown firm as a member of the corporate and tax law groups. She then joined a boutique corporate law firm where she developed her skills in business law, estate planning, and real estate. Esther specializes in private wealth management and business law with extensive experience in dealing with large and complex estate matters. She has worked closely with businesses and organizations to provide effective strategies at all stages of development from incorporation to sale. Her clients value her understanding of complex legal issues and her ability to provide individual client-focused solutions. Esther is fluent in Spanish and her interests include camping, travelling, cooking different cuisines and swimming. She is also a Broadway enthusiast having attended over 50 different plays. By Justin DominicFebruary 16, 2021March 7, 2022
