Since 1999, lawyer Roslyn M. Tsao has fiercely advocated for her clients, using her years of legal experience to navigate complex family law matters with ease.
Both in and outside of the courtroom, Tsao has dedicated her career to negotiation, mediation, arbitration and other aspects of the Family Law practice area.
Managing partner at Epstein Cole LLP in Toronto and associate editor of the Reports of Family Law, Tsao is not only responsible for overseeing and monitoring firm operations; she also manages the firm’s public recruitment, engagement and student programs.
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ since 2020 for Family Law and Family Law Mediation, Tsao is honored as “Lawyer of the Year” for the same practice area in Canada for 2025.
“As a Chinese-Canadian, receiving the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Ontario has likely contributed substantially to a diversity of recognition among my peers. That said, I would like to think that my most significant accomplishment is maintaining professionalism and civility with colleagues and opposing counsel, regardless of whether they are across the table from me for the first time or many times,” said Tsao of her recent recognition.
Over the course of her legal career, Tsao has devoted herself to family legal matters surrounding parenting, property division and familial support.
“Every case file that requires lawyers and the legal system has the potential for varying degrees of collateral damage to affect the family members,” Tsao said.
“The damage can be short-term, mid-term and long-term, and it is our role to advise our clients about all such potential damage and review sensible options with them. It is professionally satisfying when your client trusts your counsel and objectivity to consider the future consequences of more immediate actions that may have only "short-term" gains, especially where children's interests are involved.”
Tsao’s client base ranges from high-net-worth individuals with complex asset and compensation structures to international clients residing outside of Canada.
Previously, Tsao gained experience in many other fields of law such as employment, wills and estates, criminal law, real estate, and taxation, which has allowed her to provide nuanced, effective and comprehensive legal representation to her clients.
Tsao has had the honor of representing clients in motions, conferences and trials before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and has presented arguments in appeals at the Ontario Court of Appeals.
In addition to working as a litigator, Tsao continues to further her understanding of what makes an effective lawyer by frequently serving as a mediator and arbitrator in private family disputes and has previously taught Family Law courses at Osgoode Hall Law School and the University of Toronto Law School.
“A great attorney will focus on litigators, displays subject-area expertise, creative and persuasive oral and written advocacy, and an ever-evolving understanding of human nature,” said Tsao.
“The latter quality informs the execution of the first two qualities and drives the attorney to always be thinking about achieving finality in their case, whether through settlement or, if necessary, by trial.”
