Dayna Devonish-Montique Dayna joined the firm in 2022 as an articling student in the Midland office, after the merger of Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) and Prost & Lediard Law. She completed her LL.B (Hons) from the University of the West Indies, Barbados, and has received her Certificate of Competence from the National Committee on Accreditation as an internationally trained lawyer. Prior to joining DSF Dayna articled at Prost & Lediard Law where she gained extensive experience in an array of wills and estates, civil and small claims matters. Before Prost and Lediard Dayna worked with several government Ministries including the Ministry of the Attorney General as a Family Court Registrar at the Superior Court of Justice in Barrie. Dayna’s practice areas span from wills, estate planning and estate administration to immigration, corporate law, and civil litigation. Dayna enjoys both a solicitor-based practice and being in the courtroom intermittently. She is energetic and enthusiastic and enjoys meeting clients on a one-on-one basis, she welcomes the opportunity to meet new clients and assist them in navigating their estate planning needs. Dayna is a new member of the Young Women in Law Association and Uplift Black in Simcoe County (and the Law Society of Ontario). In her spare time, she enjoys going to the gym and spending time with family. By Lancelot BucknorSeptember 27, 2022March 15, 2023
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
