Gene C. Colman

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Leaders in Law endorses Gene C. Colman as our exclusively recommended Family Law expert in Canada. If you wish to get in touch with Gene, please use the contact information provided above.

Personal: As a father of seven children, and grandfather to many, I realize how essential it is for children to have significant contact and input from both parents. A divorce should not mean that one parent becomes cut off from the children.

Multi Jurisdiction: Divorces and other family law cases that involve more than one jurisdiction is an area of practice where our firm has experience.  I discuss issues with Ontario and international aspects here.

Child Abduction: Where child abduction between counties is an issue, one must consider The Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is a multilateral treaty that establishes proceedings for the prompt return of children who have been wrongfully removed or kept away from their home country.  Canada is a signatory to this Convention along with many other states.  But some countries have not adhered to the Convention, and we have experience there as well.

Residence: Some international family law matters involve complex issues of residence, and one must consider which property regime is to be properly applied and if there is an arguable choice of jurisdiction issue, then your Canadian lawyer must be able to work well with the lawyer in the other country to first of all determine where the client is best off.

Two levels of government in Canada: In Canada, family law jurisdiction is divided between the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments.  For my firm to be involved, your case must have a connection to Ontario.  My firm handles cases throughout the province.

Practice Focus: I have for years advocated:

  • against gender inequality;
  • against parental alienation (resist / refuse);
  • against procedural unfairness; and,
  • on behalf of a legislated presumption for Equal Shared Parenting.

After more than 44 years as a family law lawyer, I find that I do best for clients who have challenging situations of fact and/or law. I welcome complex cases, particularly meritorious appeals on points of law.

Demonstrated Commitment: In September 2018, I was named as the FDRIO (Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario) member of the month.  I have been front and centre in the campaign to improve access to family law justice in Ontario during and post Covid.  I am a founding member of Lawyers for Shared Parenting.  I am a founding editor of the Canadian Journal of Family Law.

The Consultation explanation page at the firm’s website is here.

 

Philip Lopatka

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Leaders in Law endorses Philip Lopatka as our exclusively recommended Commercial Law expert in Canada. If you wish to get in touch with Philip please use the contact information provided above.

Philip has been a practising Lawyer since 2005, providing expertise, advice and legal services clients can trust in a cost-effective manner for over 16 years of practice.

Philip has a diverse clientele with an expansive range of legal transactions, documentation, issues and disputes, and in part due to the breadth of his practice, he is fortunate to have had the time and opportunity to forge long lasting relationships with many of his clients.

Philip has also seen the Laws and practice of Law evolve, and he continues to strive to provide expertise, advice and service his clients can trust that is cost-effective, and this challenge has also helped to make the practice of Law engaging and enjoyable throughout his 16 years of practice.

When Philip is not at work he likes to spend time with his friends and family enjoying the fun and variety of activities that Edmonton has to offer.

Areas of Expertise

  • Commercial Matters –  Contract preparation and negotiation, commercial transactions, business purchases and sales;
  • Corporate Matters – Corporate purchases and sales, unanimous shareholders agreements and corporate restructuring, and corporate re-organizations [key employees and succession planning];
  • Real Estate Matters-  Residential, commercial and construction contracts and transactions;
  • Wills and Estate Planning Matters – Wills, enduring power of attorneys etc.;
  • Probate and Estate Administration Matters;
  • Employment Law Matters;
  • Civil Litigation in his areas of practice.

Memberships & Associations

Law Society of Alberta – 2005

Education

University of Alberta – LL.B. [Batchelor of Laws] – 2004

From time to time we get asked why Philip has a LL.B. [Batchelor of Laws] and not a J.D. [Juris Doctorate]. In Canada the LL.B. and J.D. are equivalent, and when Philip graduated in 2004, the University of Alberta Faculty of Law granted  the LL.B. designation. Several years after Philip graduated, the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, amongst many other Canadian Universities, changed the designation they provided from the LL.B. to the J.D., and Philip has chosen to keep his LL.B.

We also from time to time we get asked why Philip does not have an undergraduate degree before he obtained his LL.B. [Batchelor of Laws], and that is because Philip was accepted into the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta early before he had finished obtaining his Bachelor in Science degree, and chose to pursue his legal career as soon as he could.

Firm Description:

We are an Edmonton law firm with over 16 years of providing experience, advice and service our clients can trust to a wide variety of clients in different stages of their respective lives, businesses and industries.

We provide legal services for commercial matters, business law matters, corporate matters, real estate [commercial and residential] matters, wills and estate planning matters, probate and estate administration matters, employment matters, and civil litigation services.

We offer flexible legal services from full retainers to limited retainers, and flexible fees arrangements including flat fee services, hourly rate services, and contingency fee services.

We offer remote and video conference meetings with a variety of service providers, can be contacted by phone, text, email, fax, or via instant message [Whatsapp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, Line etc.] all available through our website.

 

Barbara R.C. Doherty

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Leaders in Law endorses Barbara R.C. Doherty as our exclusively recommended M&A Law expert in Canada. If you wish to get in touch with Barbara, please use the contact information provided above.

Barbara has a broad corporate/commercial practice with specialties in securities, capital markets, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions. She is actively involved in dispute resolution, settling, and providing support in prosecuting litigious matters. She works with both Canadian and international clients.

Barbara has acted for issuers, controlling shareholders, independent committees, and registrants. She has experience with transactions relating to corporate acquisitions, divestitures, and reorganizations with securities, regulatory, competition, and Investment Canada implications.

Barbara has a wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions. Barb’s strength is her ability to help clients plan, orchestrate, and successfully implement complex transactions within time-sensitive, regulated environments.

Barbara has acted on private placements and prospectus offerings for both foreign and domestic registrants and issuers including investment funds and government agencies. These offerings consist of various equity and debt instruments. She has also acted on exempt and non-exempt takeover bids for offerors, targets, controlling shareholders, and dealers.

Areas of Expertise

  • Business and Corporate Commercial
  • Securities and Corporate Finance
  • Corporate Governance, M&A, Private Equity

Education

  • JD, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, 1980
  • B.Ed, McGill University, 1970

Bar Admission

Ontario, 1982

Firm Description:

In an ever-changing business world, Gardiner Roberts LLP enjoys a distinctive edge. With origins traced back to 1920s, Gardiner Roberts has evolved with Canada’s legal needs, providing the client-centric benefits of a full-service law firm with the dexterity of a mid-sized one. This effective combination has yielded a diversified client base that relies on us to provide in-depth, progressive advice to address complex business issues.

A focused, finely-tuned group of legal experts capitalizing on a cross-disciplinary, one-team approach, we’re committed to immersing ourselves into your business to help you capitalize on each and every opportunity.

And we listen – before providing strategic expertise in line with your short and long-term goals. The net result is a balance of wisdom, relevant experience and immediacy that, when combined with accessibility and overall cost-effectiveness, larger firms can’t touch.

Providing Canadians with over 90 years of legal expertise, Gardiner Roberts knows what works best. It’s why we prefer to remain a mid-sized, fiercely independent powerhouse, enabling us to provide you with timely, custom-tailored solutions to address your legal needs while propelling your business forward.

 

Cristina Guida

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Leaders in Law endorses Cristina Guida as our exclusively recommended Immigration Law expert in Canada. If you wish to get in touch with Cristina please use the contact information provided above.

Cristina Guida is an associate lawyer with Green and Spiegel LLP in Toronto. Cristina advises clients in all aspects of Canadian immigration and citizenship matters. Her practice focuses primarily on facilitating the entry of personnel into Canada for a variety of multi-national corporations and small businesses. Cristina offers clients her expertise in preparing tourist and business visitor applications, study permits, and all types of work permit applications, such as Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications, intra-company transferees and work permits under various International Free Trade Agreements, such as NAFTA and CETA. Cristina also assists with citizenship applications and a wide range of permanent residence applications including, family class sponsorships and economic class applications such as provincial nominations and Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades and Federal Skilled Worker applications under the Express Entry System.

Prior to joining Green and Spiegel LLP, Cristina worked for the immigration enforcement branch of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for five years. Among her various roles at the CBSA, Cristina represented the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (MPSEP) at tribunal hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board. The unique experience of working as a MPSEP representative has allowed Cristina, in her current role as opposing counsel, to successfully advocate for her clients in various enforcement, and litigation matters, such as temporary resident permit (TRP) and criminal rehabilitation applications, inadmissibility and detention review hearings, appeals before the Immigration Appeal Division and litigation matters before the Federal Court of Canada.

Cristina is able to assist clients in Italian.

Firm Description:

Green and Spiegel is Canada’s largest and oldest immigration law practice with over 50 years of experience assisting a diverse global clientele. We are headquartered in Toronto, Canada with U.S. offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Providence, Rhode Island and Vail, Colorado.

Green and Spiegel offers a full range of Canadian and American immigration services for employers, temporary workers, individuals and their families. Whether you are coming to Canada or the United States, to work, join your family, or seek new opportunities, Green and Spiegel can help. If you are an employer who needs an expert to manage your global mobility needs, Green and Spiegel has the depth and breadth of expertise to provide your business with immigration support to ensure a global mobility program that operates smoothly and efficiently.

Our History

Mendel Green founded Green and Spiegel LLP in 1962 when immigration law was in its infancy. It was not uncommon for families to be separated by seemingly arbitrary decisions and the prospect of an appeal was nonexistent – immigration decisions were final. The importance of our work was underlined by a lack of accessibility to representation – there were only two lawyers practicing immigration law in Toronto at the time.

What a difference more than 50 years can make. Since then, our practice has grown to include three U.S. offices, 5 partners, and a family of over 100 employees. We restrict our practice exclusively to immigration law and our law firm is considered an industry leader.

Our Culture

How is Green and Spiegel different? Simply put – we are all immigration, all of the time.  We are built on the foundation of our staff and team approach to immigration services. Our diverse and talented staff of over 100 immigration professionals are able to offer services in over 30 different languages. We live our diversity – and it shows. Our mantra is to get the work done.

Our Reputation

Our reputation has been earned over many years of providing excellent immigration ​services. The vast majority of our clients come to us the old fashion way: word of mouth referral. Happy clients refer friends, family and colleagues to us.

Green and Spiegel has been recognized by a number of leading publications through peer review, and has received many awards recognizing excellence. The firm was recently ranked by Chambers & Partners in the Chambers Canada Guide 2016 as a Band 1 Law Firm for immigration services. In addition, it was selected by Who’s Who Legal for Canada Corporate Immigration. Finally, it has been named as one of Canada’s Top 5 Immigration Boutique law Firms by Canadian Lawyer Magazine and has been selected by Best Lawyers Canada for Immigration Law.

 

France Côté

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Leaders in Law endorses France Côté as our exclusively recommended IP Law expert in Canada. If you wish to get in touch with France please use the contact information provided above.

France is a patent agent registered to act before the Canadian and United States Patent Offices. France’s expertise allows her to represent a wide range of clients. She works with start-up and multi-national biotechnology companies, as well as domestic and international universities and research institutes. France assists clients in the prosecution and management of patent applications, in the strategic planning of their patent portfolios, due diligence analysis of portfolios and related prospectus drafting for initial public offerings.

Although France’s background is biochemistry, her expertise is varied and includes inventions in the following fields: simple mechanics, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals and business methods.

She has been active in the training of new biotech patent agents through her involvement with the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and McGill University. France has served as Chair of the IPIC/McGill Course Liaison Committee from 1997 to 2001, Assistant director of the 1995 and 1996 IPIC/McGill patent courses and director of the course in 1997.

France started in the profession at Goudreau Gage Dubuc in 1988. France joined Swabey Ogilvy Renault in 1992 and became a partner in 1998. After the merger with Ogilvy Renault, she was the chair of the Montreal IP group from 2003 to 2005. France was a co-founding partner of the Montreal Office of Bereskin & Parr in 2005.

In 2009, France joined Marc to co-found BENOÎT & CÔTÉ.

Awards

Finalist for the “Prix Femme d’affaires du QuĂ©bec”

This annual award has recognized successful women with brilliant careers in a variety of industries.

The finalists will be honoured at a virtual gala on November 17, 2020.

https://prixfemmesdaffairesduquebec.com/prix/#

Firm Description:

BENOÎT & CÔTÉ OFFERS PERSONALIZED AND LEADING-EDGE SERVICES OF A BOUTIQUE FIRM WITH THE RESPECTED AND TRUSTED SECURITY OF A TOP TIER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FIRM.

Having previously worked together and combining over 40 years of experience, co-founders C. Marc Benoît and France Côté envisioned an IP firm that would offer a complete vision of the intellectual property needs of clients, be they inventors, start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses or multinational corporations.

In 2009, having brought together a team of patent and trademark professionals covering all areas of expertise, this vision became a reality with the creation of the first BENOÎT & CÔTÉ office in Montréal, Canada. Since then, we have supplied numerous local and international clients with a wide range of services and worked with well-known and highly respected foreign associates in order to maximize IP value.

 

Charles F. Willms

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Leaders in Law endorses Chuck Willms as our exclusively recommended Aboriginal & Native Law expert in Canada. If you wish to get in touch with Chuck, please use the contact information provided above.

Charles F. (Chuck) Willms has considerable experience in Indigenous, corporate social responsibility (CSR), commercial and constitutional matters.

Chuck’s industry knowledge encompasses the construction, energy, forestry, and mining sectors. Having represented clients at both levels of federal court, Chuck has also appeared before the supreme courts of BC and the Yukon; Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, and BC, Alberta; and Yukon courts of appeal. He has appeared numerous times in the Supreme Court of Canada.

He has extensive experience in alternate dispute resolution including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. He is consistently ranked by top legal publications as one of the best lawyers in Canada for Indigenous law.

Related Solutions

Firm Description

Fasken Martineau is a leading international business law and litigation firm. Tracing our roots back to the mid-1800s, our firm was founded through the merger of three regional Canadian icons in 2000. Today we have nine offices with more than 770 lawyers across Canada and in the UK, France and South Africa.

Our lawyers consistently receive accolades worldwide and earn hundreds of rankings each year from prestigious business and legal publications such as Chambers & Partners, International Financial Law Review (IFLR), The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Legal 500 and others.

While we take pride in each of these acknowledgements, we take our greatest satisfaction from our clients who continue to entrust us with their most pressing matters. We aim to see legal issues in the context of our clients’ broader business issues. We have created a firm that is nimble, entrepreneurial and responsive to the global pressures facing our clients. Our success depends on the success of our clients.

 

Melanie A. Shishler

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Melanie’s ability to bring strategic thinking to clients’ public and private mergers and acquisitions is the reason organizations across numerous sectors rely on her expertise for their complex transactions.

A significant portion of Melanie’s practice is working with clients in the mining sector. Her skill in this area has earned Melanie recognition in Chambers Global for Mining. She is lead counsel on worldwide and significant M&A initiatives for Barrick Gold Corporation as well as numerous intermediate and junior mining companies.

She is well regarded by clients for her insight into the business realities of Canadian and international M&A. Melanie, says a client, “gives frank advice, which is always top notch, but also grounded in commercial sense, regarding what’s possible and how to do the transaction.” (Chambers Global 2016)

Melanie is a member of our Management Committee.

The Mining Law Practice:

Mining companies are transforming themselves to boost profitability, strengthen their social impact and adopt cutting-edge practices. Our team helps you make those bold moves swiftly and successfully.

Global mining companies rely on our team for their most structurally complex and precedent-setting deals. Working across borders and with every type of commodity, we immerse ourselves in your strategies, projects and operations, and use our deep practical experience to create solutions that work.

Our clients range from senior players to junior and mid-tier companies as well as emerging exploration and development companies. Across international borders, we organize and coordinate teams of legal, financial, accounting and technical experts to get the deal done.

Thanks to our long-standing relationships with industry leaders, you get our broad perspective and practical advice on everything from project financings, strategic alliances and streaming arrangements to restructurings, dispute resolution and the mitigation of political risk.

Our team has sector-focused expertise in M&A, securities, tax strategies, finance and litigation. We also have deep experience tackling environmental and Indigenous issues. And we are tracking emerging, potentially disruptive technologies.

We’re here to advise you on every step in the acquisition, growth and financing of your company and at every stage in the exploration, development, financing and operation of specific properties.

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg:

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is an integrated firm of approximately 240 lawyers with offices in Toronto, Montréal and New York. The firm is focused on business law and is consistently at the heart of the largest and most complex commercial and financial matters on behalf of its clients, regardless of borders.

Davies is a market leader in each of its core practice areas. The Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada ranks Davies as the leading firm in corporate transactions in Toronto.

We act for a wide range of leading industrial and commercial companies and financial institutions, both public and private, in Canada, the United States and abroad. As well, our clients include governments, regulatory bodies, charitable organizations, international agencies, educational institutions, individuals and trusts and estates. Many clients are directed to us for special-purpose engagements by other North American and international law firms.

All law firms are not created equal. The difference at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg is that we consistently produce superior results for our clients.

Phillip M. Millar

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As a former Combat Officer, Phillip brings a refreshing approach to legal services. He served his country for over a decade and experienced battle firsthand. As a result, Phillip does not shy away from conflict when necessary and excels at defending his clients in high stakes scenarios.

Phillip has appeared at all levels of court including the Ontario Court of Appeal. He firmly believes in providing his clients with wise counsel, not incentives to spend more on legal fees.

Among Phillip’s many victories have been landmark courtcase decisions on behalf of sexual assault victims. He has also won important cases for the wrongfully accused as well as serious accident victims throughout London and Sarnia, Ontario.

What makes Phillip a fighter is that he is not a paper tiger. His adversaries know this or will soon find out.

In addition to his reputation as a top defender and advocate for Victims Rights, Phillip is a sought after commentator on news programs and has contributed his vast knowledge and experience to several articles and media outlets. He has also written a book filled with invaluable advice for anyone choosing a lawyer.

Yusra Siddiquee

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Yusra Siddiquee leads the business immigration and international mobility team in Littler’s Toronto office. Yusra develops corporate immigration strategies and facilitates the temporary and permanent entry of senior executives and key personnel of Canadian and multinational corporations. Her practice is not limited to Canada, as she is experienced in facilitating visas and permits to global destinations. With comprehensive experience in immigration law spanning over 20 years, Yusra is able to advise employers on alternate jurisdictions to relocate key employees who are unable to secure immigration status. She also assists companies in determining the human capital costs when bidding on international projects. As well, Yusra provides extensive training to human resource professionals and in-house counsel on the implementation and execution of immigration policies and processes. From an employment law perspective, she advises clients on the employment and termination of foreign workers. Yusra’s clients span a wide range of industries, including engineering, telecommunications, information technology, health sciences and energy.

Yusra has appeared before parliamentary committees to advise government officials on immigration policy and legislation. She is a frequent speaker at legal and industry conferences both domestically and internationally. She is ranked as a leading immigration lawyer in several publications including Chambers and Partners, Who’s Who Legal and Canadian Legal Expert.

Firm Overview:

We realize that in-house counsel, HR professionals and corporate executives do not just manage legal work; they are expected to be business partners and contribute to the organization’s overall success. This means you need us to do more than just great legal work. You need us to be your strategic partners, as well as legal counsellors who understand your industry and your business. Our lawyers need to help your organization make money, save money and present you with ideas to help you reduce cost, manage risk and succeed in your professional role.

That’s why we run our business the way you run your business, making important investments in our firm, client relationships and the future of the legal profession. We understand your need for high-quality, cost-effective legal services. Here are just a few examples of how we can help you meet your business goals:

  • We can manage all of your litigation needs – from administrative charges, to single plaintiff litigation, to class actions – so that your costs are predictable and you have the valuable business analytics that will help manage risk and prepare for the future.
  • We have developed a strong subject matter focus through our Knowledge Management Department and our vast network of global labour and employment thought leaders who can give you precise recommendations to help solve your business and legal issues.
  • We invest in research and development to create products and services, such as Littler CaseSmart, ComplianceHR and Littler GPS, to offer new and alternative ways of delivering legal services that maximize efficiencies and control costs.
  • Our pricing and project management teams help us develop alternative fee arrangements that enable us to meet your needs, give you pricing predictability and achieve expectations on any project.
  • Whether you are based in a single location or have global operations, we have the depth and breadth of lawyers you need through our more than 75 U.S. and global offices and our strong relationships with lawyers worldwide.
  • Littler values diversity and inclusion and our lawyers and culture reflect that value. We always rank at the top across the broad range of diversity metrics.
  • We care what you think. We conduct comprehensive client satisfaction interviews throughout the year to ensure our clients are getting the service and value they want and expect.
  • Our goal is to provide exceptional client service and our priority and focus is to deliver that to you. Read about Our Client Service Guarantee™

Frédéric Pagé

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As head of the research department in Montreal and the director of marketing for the firm’s Canadian offices, Frédéric Pagé blends his thirst for knowledge about all things to do with the law with his passion for the arts. Frédéric joined Clyde & Co in 2012 after nearly three years at a large Montreal firm.

Frédéric brings a wealth of experience to the task and possesses a deep understanding of legal research, legal nuance, and knowledge management. He is instrumental in guiding research on a variety of legal matters, rendering opinions with practical advice for clients and crafting written arguments in Quebec, Canadian, French, American and British law. His work covers a broad spectrum of legal issues, with an emphasis on international and domestic insurance law, as well as regulatory matters.

In addition to his role as head of research, FrĂ©dĂ©ric orchestrates Clyde & Co’s marketing department in Canada. An outstanding communicator, FrĂ©dĂ©ric is responsible for much of Clyde’s outreach to clients. And drawing on his personal skills and good humour, FrĂ©dĂ©ric serves as a liaison between many partners and correspondents of the international firm, while leading his talented team.

A 10-year practitioner, Frédéric began his career as a research lawyer at the Quebec Court of Appeal working under Justice Nicole Duval Hesler, now the court’s Chief Justice. A member of the Quebec Bar, the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Bar Association, he is also known for his involvement in various committees within Clyde, and philanthropic organizations.

When FrĂ©dĂ©ric is not at the office, he is either marvelling at Tchaikovsky’s 6th symphony, diving into one of his favourite historical novels, or learning his lines.

Firm Overview:

Clyde & Co is a dynamic, rapidly expanding global law firm focused on providing a complete legal service to clients in our core sectors.

We advise businesses that are at the heart of worldwide commerce and trade.

Our combination of sector expertise, commercial attitude and in-depth regional understanding provides a unique perspective.