Katherine Klein Katherine Klein joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (‘DSF’) as an associate lawyer in our wills and estates group in Barrie after completing her articling position in 2021. Katherine studied at the University of Toronto, where she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts and thereafter obtained her LL.B. from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2021. Prior to joining DSF and while completing her law degree, Katherine worked as a legal assistant in various legal practice areas, including wills and estates, corporate law, real estate, and family law. This breadth of experience informs Katherine’s holistic approach to the practice of law, which is now focused on estate planning and administration. Katherine is a member of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario and the Ontario Bar Association. By Justin DominicJuly 6, 2021July 7, 2021
Michael E. Reed Michael Reed has practiced in Barrie since 1972, building a large clientele base consisting of second and third-generation individuals. An extensive portion of his practice involves residential real estate covering new homes, condominiums, re-sales and refinancing, as well as commercial real estate and leasing. Michael also practices in the area of wills, powers of attorney, estate planning for disabled individuals (Henson Trusts), and the utilization of trusts, estate planning, and administration of estates. The corporate portion of Michael’s practice consists of some 400 companies, including some of Simcoe County’s largest private corporations and farming enterprises. Included in this area of law are acquisitions, mergers, re-organizations, amalgamations of businesses, purchase and sale of businesses by way of asset transactions and/or sale share transactions, and partnership agreements. Other projects include subdivision development and severances for corporate and individual clients. Having obtained his Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School, Michael has conducted several mediation sessions to resolve commercial disputes. Michael has been a highly active member of the community through his involvement with Simcoe Community Services, Junior Achievement, masons, Shriners, Minor Baseball Association, and Barrie Integrated Baseball Association. By Justin DominicMay 28, 2020June 30, 2021 No comments yet
Cayley A. Rodd Cayley is a trusted legal advisor to business owners and their families and she values the opportunities she’s had to work with multiple generations of business owners, assisting in the ongoing success of their ventures. Cayley’s clients trust her legal and business insights and are confident in the quality of her legal services. They value her responsive attention to their ongoing needs. Cayley works with all types of business owners including doctors, dentists, veterinarians, farmers, car dealerships, and manufacturers. She assists in all aspects of their businesses, including buying and selling assets or companies, commercial financing, commercial leasing and maintaining corporate records. She also helps business owners with their commercial real estate needs and their wills and estate planning, including succession planning for their businesses. Cayley is an experienced commercial lending lawyer with expertise in commercial lending, real estate financing and construction financing. Cayley also represents public institutions in a general advisory capacity and helps not for profit and charitable organizations with incorporations, applications for charitable status, and on-going corporate maintenance. Since moving to Simcoe County in January 2018, Cayley has enjoyed the opportunity of working alongside senior Barrie business lawyers, Eric Taves and Michael Reed. Prior to joining the firm Cayley practiced with Pavey Law LLP in Cambridge and with Torys LLP in Toronto. Cayley has presented at seminars hosted by local Real Estate Boards and Chambers of Commerce as well as to smaller groups organized by local banking institutions, other organizations, and stroke survivor organizations and welcomes the opportunity to speak to other groups. Cayley is currently a director of the Rotary Club of Barrie, having previously been the president and treasurer of the Rotary Club of Cambridge (Preston-Hespeler). Cayley is past-Chair of the Board of Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. Outside of the office, she enjoys reading all varieties of books, has very eclectic tastes in music and stays active by curling, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and exploring the County’s highways by bicycle. By Justin DominicMay 28, 2020April 30, 2021 No comments yet
Laura Rosati Laura Rosati joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) in 2019 as an associate in our Barrie real estate group. Laura graduated with merit from York University, majoring in Psychology and earned her Law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. Laura’s practice focuses on all aspects of real estate law, including residential and commercial transactions, mortgages, refinances and transfers. Laura is a board member of both the Barrie Real Estate Lawyers Association (BRELA) and the Child Advocacy Centre Simcoe/Muskoka. She is also a member of the Business & Professional Women (BPW) of Barrie and Women’s Art Council, McMichael Canadian Art Collection and is a passionate supporter of The Olive Branch for Children, which is a charity based in Tanzania, Africa, supporting children living with HIV/Aids. In her spare time, Laura spends time with her two daughters, Sophia and Elise, and their dog Bella. TESTIMONIALS “Worked with my solicitor Laura Rosati to close a real estate transaction. My closing was organized and seamless. She took care of all the details and all I had to do was sign, sign, sign and DONE. I definitely would recommend her when buying or selling any real estate transaction!”. – Sat Singh “Our experience with Laura Rosati was very positive, her attention to detail and explaining the real estate process was very helpful for us to understand. We would most definitely use her again. Thanks, Laura!”. – Valerie Bitten By Justin DominicMay 28, 2020July 20, 2021 No comments yet
Tracey Rynard Tracey joined Devry Smith Frank’s Barrie office on October 16th, 2017. Prior to joining DSF, Tracey achieved her B.A. in Psychology from McMaster University, B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto and J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Bar in 2004 and practised law at a Bay Street law firm prior to moving to a large regional firm in Barrie where she worked for 7 years before opening a boutique law firm where she has worked for the last 4 years. Tracey brings exceptional wills, trusts and estate planning, estate litigation, consent and capacity law, not-for-profit and charity law, and general corporate law expertise to DSF. Tracey spends her limited free time outside of the office being both a hockey mom and a swim mom for her two daughters. Occasionally, she has interests of her own such as reading, running and hockey. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the North Simcoe Girls Hockey Association and participates in pro bono work in the area of elder abuse. By Justin DominicMay 27, 2020February 26, 2021 No comments yet
George Messih George Messih joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) in 2019 as an associate in our real estate, corporate, and estates groups. Prior to joining DSF, George worked at a boutique law firm in Toronto, and his practice focused on commercial and residential real estate, business acquisitions, and estate planning and administration. With a client-centred approach and the ability to anticipate issues before they arise, George is a reference point to clients who rely on him for timely advice and the smooth carriage of their files. George obtained his Bachelor`s degree in economics from McMaster University. He later travelled to the UK to study law at the University of South Wales, where he received his LL.B. During this time, he volunteered at the student legal aid clinic where he worked closely with lawyers from leading UK law firms in assisting members of the community with contract, tenancy, and various advisory matters. A firm believer in life-long learning, George continued his professional development at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he completed the Intensive Program in Wills & Estates in April, 2018. George will also be completing the Osgoode Certificate in Health Law in April, 2020 in order to better assist his corporate clients in the health care industry. TESTIMONIALS “George Messih was very helpful and showed great dedication to every detail regarding our recent legal issues. He listened to our needs and walked us through each step of the process”. – Freida Linke “George is knowledgeable and professional. His availability and flexibility made for a great buying experience”. – Ian Loney “George Messih was very helpful to us for our legal needs. I highly recommend him and this law firm because he was very knowledgeable, responsive, accommodating to our needs, and was really on the ball for all the deadlines and requirements we needed to meet. He really didn’t miss a beat! In addition to his reasonable fees, level of professionalism, hard work and expertise, we were extremely happy with our decision to work with George and Devry Smith Frank LLP”. – Martina Bekhit By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020July 20, 2021 No comments yet
Eric C. Taves Eric Taves graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and has practiced law in the City of Barrie since 1976. He moved his practice to Devry Smith Frank LLP (“DSF”) in September of 2016 where he continues to provide legal services to his clients. His practice focus is corporate/commercial, commercial and residential real estate and estate planning. Eric’s corporate law concentration includes legal support for numerous professional practices including legal, medical, dental and veterinary practices, the educational sector and numerous manufacturing, service and construction industries. Eric utilizes a team-centred approach to his law practice that includes longstanding relationships with the banking and accounting communities in Barrie. Eric is a committed volunteer supporting many charitable organizations in Barrie and has served as board chair of both the Simcoe-Muskoka YMCA and the MacLaren Art Centre. By Justin DominicMay 26, 2020November 11, 2020 No comments yet
Lawrence Hansen Acting for individuals, corporations and institutions, Lawrence Hansen has a highly varied commercial litigation practice which includes dealing with commercial disputes, business and employee fraud, the enforcement of judgments, debt recovery, contract disputes as well as litigation arising from commercial leases. Lawrence also has over ten years of experience with insurance-related matters, mostly but not exclusively for insurers, focusing on complex litigation matters, particularly those involving insurance fraud, coverage, title insurance, and allegations of bad faith. He has advised clients on difficult questions surrounding suspicious and potentially fraudulent claims, their investigation, the remedies available to clients, and high-risk arson claims. In addition, Lawrence has been retained to represent defendants in personal injury and product liability claims. From Canada’s Atlantic coast, Lawrence spent a year studying Spanish and living in South America and Mexico. He is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick (History), McGill University’s Faculty of Law, and has earned a Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor (Stitt Feld Handy). Lawrence has studied Spanish at the University of Toronto, in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 20, 2020November 26, 2020 No comments yet
