William J. Smith William (Bill) Smith was called to the bar in 1980 after receiving a Bachelor Of Arts degree from Glendon College, and his LL.B. from the University of Toronto Law School. Bill has practiced corporate and commercial law with the firm since then., Bill’s experience is varied and extensive. He has had a broad exposure to virtually every aspect of corporate and commercial practice including incorporations, partnerships, joint venture agreements, shareholders’ and creditors’ rights and remedies, as well as business mergers, acquisitions, financing and debt restructuring. Bill’s skills include structuring, negotiating, and the preparation of required documentation, as well as liaising among directors, shareholders, financial advisors and institutions. As an experienced corporate and commercial practitioner, Bill is often involved in litigation matters on behalf of his clients. His depth of experience enables him to combine expert legal advice with sensitivity to the firm’s clients’ business needs and environment and to meet client’s specific needs in the most expeditious and cost-efficient manner. Bill advises clients on employer and employee rights, termination and wrongful dismissal matters, fiduciary duties and non-competition issues. Bill works closely with other professional advisors including accountants and tax and financial advisors in assisting his clients to minimize their tax exposure and is familiar with vehicles such as tax-free rollovers, co-tenancies, trusts and estate freezes. Bill takes an active role in co-ordinating all aspects of his clients’ legal service needs by ensuring that, when necessary, appropriate specialized expertise is obtained, either from within the firm or through an established referral network, in areas such as securities law, intellectual property, labour law, income, commodity or other taxes, or international business transactions. Bill is a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020September 5, 2023 No comments yet
Carrie Kennedy Carrie is a graduate of Simon Fraser University (B.A. in Criminology) and Queen’s University (LL.B.). She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2003 and in Ontario in 2004. Since then, she has gained broad experience in litigation, primarily in the areas of commercial collections and mortgage recovery. In recovery, collections, and mortgage enforcement, Carrie represents major financial institutions, private lenders, businesses, and a securities commissions. She obtains and enforces judgments for breaches of loan agreements, security agreements, and mortgages. In bankruptcy and insolvency, Carrie appears in court for her commercial clients on various motions and hearings including lifting stays of proceedings, opposing discharge hearings, and appointing receivers. Carrie also has experience in many areas of general litigation including improvident sale actions, fraudulent conveyances actions, cheques kiting schemes, wrongful dismissals, general contract disputes, commercial leasing and tenancy issues, condominium issues, correcting land title errors, franchise disputes, injunctions, and estate disputes on behalf of lenders, mortgage insurance companies, title insurance companies, commercial landlords, commercial tenants, property managers, employers, employees, businesses, and individuals. Carrie has appeared in various courts and tribunals including the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court, the Superior Court of Justice, Commercial Court, Bankruptcy Court, the Human Rights Tribunal, Committee of Adjustment, Landlord and Tenant Board, and Small Claims Court. Carrie’s diverse practice has allowed her to develop an effective, efficient, and results-based approach to resolving legal issues. She strives to efficiently maximize the benefit to her clients while maintaining their good reputation. When Carrie is not in the office, she enjoys photography, baking, running, playing competitive sports, skiing, and learning karate. She has aspirations of earning her black belt in karate by 2022! By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020September 5, 2023 No comments yet
Diana L. Solomon Devry Smith Frank LLP partner Diana Solomon joined the firm in June of 2018 as a Toronto family law lawyer. Diana has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since her call to the Bar in 1999. She regularly deals with complex property and support matters, and custody and access disputes. Diana believes that settlement through negotiation and/or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods serve her clients and their family’s current and ongoing needs best. She has advanced ADR training and has been able to settle a significant number of her cases out of court. When a case is best served in court, however, Diana is also an effective advocate. She has had cases in all levels of the Ontario court system. Diana was an instructor at the Toronto Family Information Sessions. She has written and co-written for Matrimonial Affairs, and sessions at the Advocacy Society and the Family Law CLE sessions. Diana has her certificate in family mediation from York University and holds ADR and Advanced ADR certificates from Stitt Feld Handy. Diana received a B.A. from McGill University in 1993. She obtained her LL.B. from Queen’s University in 1997. While at Queen’s Law School, she was awarded the Cassels, Brock & Blackwell Centennial Award in Practice Skills. Diana also participated in Queen’s first French moot court competition in Brussels. Outside of the practice of law, Diana enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking, and tennis. TESTIMONIALS “In the years that I have known Diana Solomon, she has always been knowledgeable, professional and approachable. Seeking legal advice can often be a stressful experience, yet Diana quickly put me at my ease when we met and I always felt that I had her full attention. I was always impressed by her quick grasp of complex issues and in her remarkable ability to demystify them; I always left our appointments confident that I had the full and clear picture. Diana takes time to get to know her clients; she understands the importance of building a relationship with her clients. I will continue to enlist Diana whenever I have need of her services; she is someone I trust. It is clear to me that she takes pride in her work and makes it her mission to do her best for her clients“. – Lily Sarno “During a difficult time, I had the great pleasure of having Diana Solomon represent me in my separation. She guided me through the process, and along with Leisa Heath, the details of my separation were completed with strict guidelines to include my young child. She was very quick to respond with action regardless of the time of day. Diana and Leisa are both very kind, knowledgeable, and professional. I would recommend Diana Solomon to anyone who is going through a separation or divorce as you will not be treated as just a “client”, and she will do everything she can for you. Thank you again for all your help ladies“. – Sonia Ott “I reached out to Diana Solomon to assist me in a family law matter in 2019. I needed to ensure the matter was dealt with on time, and be done with care. Diana was professional and responsive. She delivered on the matter on time, and took the time to answer all of my questions. I would highly recommend Diana to anyone needing legal counsel in family law matters“. – Fatima Bernando “I have been very fortunate to have had the guidance, support and legal expertise of Diana Solomon help me through a very difficult divorce. Without her, my young son and I would not have been able to safely leave an unhealthy situation. Diana always made sure that our safety was her main priority. She worked diligently for countless hours to help me reach a fair agreement that kept our best interests at the forefront. I can’t thank her enough for her compassionate and reliable professionalism that she has demonstrated to help me through this process“. – N.S “Diana Solomon’s years of experience paid off in the courtroom as she delivered precise oral arguments and performed strategic cross-examinations“. – Helen Nichols By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020March 18, 2024 No comments yet
Shawna M. Sosnovich Shawna M. Sosnovich joined Devry Smith Frank LLP in 2007 and is a partner of the firm. Shawna currently practices in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency, debt recovery, and employment law for a variety of small and medium-sized businesses, institutional clients including banks, title insurers, commercial landlords and trustees in bankruptcy, as well as individuals, employers, employees and professional advisors. Shawna was called to the Bar in 1999 after completing her Bachelor of Laws degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1997. Prior to joining Devry Smith Frank LLP, Shawna practiced in the areas of civil and commercial litigation with a well-respected GTA law firm, where she gained valuable experience in contractual disputes, debt collection, civil fraud, employment, and bankruptcy and insolvency matters. Shawna has extensive courtroom experience and has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court in Ontario, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission. In addition, Shawna has been counsel at private mediations and prides herself on negotiating practical alternatives to resolve disputes. Cases in which Shawna has appeared as counsel have been reported in the Ontario Reports and other industry reporting services. Shawna Sosnovich is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. TESTIMONIALS “Thank you Shawna for your expertise and advice with my employment matter. You improved my settlement and acted with professional skill and determination. It was a pleasure dealing with you and your on-the-ball assistant, Carmen. – L.P.” “My experience working with Shawna at DSF was unimaginably wonderful. Before retaining Shawna, I met with few lawyers to help me with what I knew is going to be a challenging and an extremely emotional ride. When I met with Shawna though, there was an instant trust that with no hesitation I knew at our first meeting I want to work with her and here we go, 4 years later, we got our successful outcome.During the four years of working with Shawna on a hotly contested litigation matter, Shawna was able to keep track of so many moving parts, so many developments and twist and turns. Throughout the process, her exceptional attention to detail, her professionalism, her expertise and her thorough research provided us with a positive outcome.Her calm yet firm style were truly amazing. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her guidance throughout. She was reassuring in the face of set backs and challenges, yet always offered realistic advice and kept my case moving forward. Going to court is never a pleasant experience, but Shawna was there with me at every step – As much as she was my lawyer, she was my sounding board. Shawna is one of a kind. Thank you so much Shawna! – Maryam Mostaedi.” I wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you. We received our funds today. I cannot express how great full we are for the funds and to put this in the past. Thank you so much for representing us, believing in our case and staying the course. We appreciate the both of you!-Thank you again.-Dave By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020September 5, 2023 No comments yet
Jennifer Howard Toronto lawyer Jennifer K. Howard joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) as a partner early in 2016 after practising at a large full-service law firm in downtown Toronto. Jennifer obtained her Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 2007. Since her call to the bar, she has been practising in all areas of family law and has been involved in many difficult and noteworthy cases involving child and spousal support, equalization of property, custody and access, drafting and negotiation of cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts and separation agreements as well as trial and appellate advocacy cases. Jennifer has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and although her practice is taking her to the courtroom often, she uses collaborative and alternative processes to reach agreements that are mutually beneficial for all parties involved. When not busy practising law, Jennifer enjoys tennis, working out and performing arts. Noteworthy Cases Taylor v. Boon, 2021 ONSC 5521 Vukicevich v. Vukicevich, 2018 ONSC 4022 Ruffudeen v Coutts 2016 ONSC 3359 (CanLII) – successful at trial obtaining an Order for sole custody and primary care to a mother notwithstanding a lengthy status quo of shared care. Gilmore v. Gilmore [2014] O.J. No. 6111 (Ont. C.A.) – successfully defended an appeal of a spousal support award at the trial level where the Applicant obtained high range support Deakin v. Deakin, [2012] O.J. No. 6068 – denial of father’s interim travel request to Cuba with child Hayes v. Hanrieder, [2009] O.J. No. 421 – successful at trial obtaining spousal support for a common-law spouse Hernandez v. Hernandez [2009] O.J. No. 617 – interim mobility request and analysis of the children’s best interests Obtained interim Order permitting respondent mother to relocate with the children to Stratford Ontario Obtained Order for child and spousal support based on imputed income to the father who was the director of a corporation Obtained an order for costs of an application at a summary hearing based on the lack of disclosure and unreasonable conduct of the spouse Obtained interim order for unsupervised access for father who had been seeing child on a supervised basis Obtained interim order for respondent father dismissing applicant mother’s request to change the child’s residency and school resulting in the maintenance of the status quo shared parenting arrangement pending trial Successful at trial obtaining indefinite spousal support for spouse following a long term marriage Obtained refraining order for client suspending enforcement of child support arrears Obtained order dismissing motion to sever divorce from corollary relief based on inadequate disclosure and proof of financial arrangements Obtained interim order returning child to respondent mother’s primary care after unilateral removal by father Obtained interim order for high end spousal support to ill spouse Obtained interim order for production of police file for applicant father Obtained interim order for return of child to applicant father that had been arbitrarily removed by mother Obtained interim order for shared parenting for applicant whose mother had a final order for custody of the child Obtained restraining order for respondent husband against wife Obtained interim Order permitting mother to relocate with child to Calgary Obtained interim Order resulting in children changing school By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020September 5, 2023 No comments yet
Marc Spivak Proud Member of Marc is the managing partner of our personal injury group. He practices exclusively in the area of personal injury litigation, representing accident victims and disability claimants. Marc graduated from McGill University with Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Civil Law and LL.B. degrees. He has practiced with Devry Smith Frank LLP since 1990. Since his call to the bar in 1992, Marc has appeared before courts and tribunals in Ontario at both the trial/hearing and appellate levels. Marc also has extensive experience as counsel at mediations including mediations of accident benefits claims and navigating larger accident benefits claims through the Licencing Appeal Tribunal. Marc provides each of his clients with individual attention. He has extensive experience in claims arising from car accidents including no-fault accident benefits claims, as well as a slip or trip and falls, assaults, product liability, hazardous premises, occupier’s liability, sports injuries, dental malpractice, dog bites and health and disability claims. Marc takes pride in his proactive approach to the prosecution of his clients’ claims. Marc’s team of highly trained law clerks, paralegals and legal assistants ensures that timely personal service is always available. Marc’s extensive network of medical professionals and other experts assist him in assessing and proving his clients’ claims to ensure that his clients receive all benefits and compensation to which they are entitled. Marc is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto (where Marc had been counsel for many years). Testimonials: Liz S.: “Hi Marc, I want to thank you for everything that you have done to achieve a successful settlement for me. Have a wonderful holiday season and all the best to you and your family in the New Year. ” Jeffrey G.: “I have had the pleasure of working with Marc Spivak for many years and he is by far one of the most knowledgeable and experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in the country. When he takes on a file, you can be assured, that you will not only receive incredible service but the kind of service, that can only be described as sincere and genuine. Marc has always been dedicated at achieving the most for his clients and he does, with incredible settlements. I would personally recommend him to anyone looking for a great Personal Injury lawyer.” Tavia C.: “Thank you for helping me through my case and for ensuring the best possible outcome on my behalf. I am so grateful to you for representing me and for being a powerful advocate for me throughout my difficulties. Thank you so much for your dedication, thoughtfulness, and brilliant work.” “Marc- I want to really thank you and your team for your hard work and high level of professionalism. Thanks for your understanding and support! ” Julie A.: View more testimonials By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 26, 2020September 5, 2023 No comments yet
Christopher W. Statham Christopher joined the commercial litigation group at Devry Smith Frank LLP following his call to the bar in 2011. His practice focuses on construction litigation, including lien claims, breach of trust claims and construction deficiency matters as well as real estate litigation, commercial tenancy disputes and insurance litigation. Additionally, as a member of our commercial litigation group, Christopher has experience dealing with a range of other complex commercial disputes including shareholder disputes, employee fraud & fraud recovery, employment law matters, and defamation litigation. He frequently appears before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and has also appeared before the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Federal Court of Canada, the Tax Court of Canada, the Small Claims Court, Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board and the Ontario Ministry of Labour. Christopher is a graduate of the University of Toronto (Hons. B.A. & M.A) and the University of New Brunswick (LL.B). He completed his articles with Devry Smith Frank LLP and is the self-proclaimed president of the firm’s library committee. He is also a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 26, 2020September 5, 2023 No comments yet
David S. White David is the head of DSF’s Planning and Development law group. He is an experienced senior legal practitioner having practiced in the areas of Land Development, Land Use Planning and Aggregate Resource matters for over 30 years. David has extensive experience with applications and appeals under the Planning Act, Aggregate Resources Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, Environmental Protection Act, Environmental Bill of Rights, and the Conservation Authorities Act. He regularly presents clients before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, the Environmental Review Tribunal, the Niagara Escarpment Hearing Office, the Consolidated Hearings Board, the Mining and Lands Commissioner and other municipal and provincial agencies, boards and commissions. David is one of the most experienced legal practitioners in the area of aggregate resource development and has a successful track record on applications and appeals for licenses, permits, approvals and zoning for all types of aggregate operations. He has been counsel on over 40 successful license applications, ranging from smaller projects for local contractors to large projects for national and international clients. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 25, 2020December 7, 2021 No comments yet
Wayne H. Wolfe Wayne is a graduate of Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, where he was a Herbert Sharpe scholar throughout his undergraduate career. He obtained his law degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and articled at DSF. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1988. Wayne practices in the areas of real estate, wills, estate planning, and estate administration. He is also a registered trademark agent. His real estate clients include both individuals and business and corporate clients. His work for individuals encompasses a broad range of residential, recreational, rural and investment properties. His commercial real estate practice includes partnerships, joint ventures, condominiums, co-ops, leaseholds, land leases, and real estate development. He has extensive experience with acquisitions and dispositions, easements, applications for variances, encroachment agreements Land Titles applications, plans of subdivision, and a wide variety of financing arrangements including private financings, institutional mortgages, debentures, etc. Wayne has worked for institutional lenders in connection with small business loans and other secured financings. Wayne’s estate practice includes estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, estate administration, estate litigation and substitute decision making. He has been involved in a wide variety of estate and tax planning structures, including inter vivos and testamentary trusts, alter ego trusts, Henson trusts, insurance trusts, as well as tax planned business reorganizations for estate planning and estate freeze purposes. Wayne has acted as an estate trustee in a number of estates and has also acted as attorney for property and for personal care for a number of individuals. Wayne works with financial and other professional advisers, institutional trustees and corporate executors, to coordinate the development and implementation of estate plans and the administration of both inter vivos and testamentary estates for his clients. Wayne has spoken on the subjects of wills, estate planning and real estate at a number of seminars. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and The Law Society of Ontario and has been approved by the Lawyer’s Professional Indemnity Corporation as Title Plus qualified. He is also a member of the Ontario Real Estate Lawyers Association. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 22, 2020September 5, 2023 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. Lawrence is a member of the board of directors of the Simcoe County Law Association as well as of the Barrie Literacy Council. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 20, 2020April 26, 2024 No comments yet