Best Lawyers in Canada for Family Law Mediation

Stephen is a strategic and fearless advocate in the courtroom. He is known for his ability to diffuse highly-charged situations so that cooler heads can prevail when resolving contentious family law matters through mediation, arbitration or litigation. Recognizing that every client is different, Stephen effectively adapts his approach to their unique wants, needs, and circumstances to ensure their best interests are protected. As a partner at Epstein Cole, Stephen’s practice focuses on ...

Life events that involve our families are often the most difficult to meet. Since 1998 Kim Johnson has helped people struggling with the deconstruction and reconstruction of their concept of “family” due to separation, divorce, custody disputes, and estate matters. Whether the problem is a straightforward Will or Agreement, or a complex contested divorce involving business assets, pensions, or high conflict people, her goal in every case is to find timely and practical answers to ...

Kirsten M. Hnatuk is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law Mediation. Kirsten M. practices law in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Best Lawyers has recognized Kirsten M. Hnatuk since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kirsten M. Hnatuk is held by other lawyers.

Patricia Fourcand, Ad.E., practices family law at the Montreal office of Fourcand, Tremblay, Kissel, Plante . She has a recognized expertise in family litigation with an international law component. She received the designation of Emeritus Lawyer from the Quebec Bar in 2021. Patricia has worked on complex cases, such as child abductions, the validity of foreign or religious marriages, as well as the multijurisdictional division of assets. Her representations as regards the rights of fathers w...

Sarah not only works hard for her clients, she works smart. As a determined and skilled negotiator and litigator, she effectively gauges each unique situation and tailors her approach to be collaborative or adversarial in order to achieve the best resolution for her client. Sarah prides herself on her ability to balance attention to detail with big-picture thinking. Understanding the very serious impact that family law issues can have on people’s lives, Sarah treats every case with the ...

Gary S. Joseph is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Gary S. practices law in Toronto, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Gary S. Joseph since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Gary S. Joseph is held by other lawyers.

Todd Bell is a Partner at Farris LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is a litigator with courtroom experience at all levels of court in British Columbia. His practice focuses on Family Law and Family Law Mediation, with an emphasis on resolving disputes through negotiated agreements and mediation whenever possible. When matters cannot be resolved outside the courtroom, Todd represents clients through litigation and trial proceedings. Todd advises clients on a broad range of family law matt...

Élisabeth Pinard is the partner who coordinates the firm's Family law, personal law, and estate law group. She acts primarily as litigator in complex divorce cases as well as in private international law, inheritance disputes, and elder law. She is also a certified mediator. Ms. Pinard also acts as counsel to accounting and valuation firms on the legal impact of marital breakdown in matters of succession, business transfers, protective trusts, and the valuation of private corporations....

Stacey has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since her call to the Bar in 2014, and between 2010 and 2014 she worked and/or volunteered with Family Justice Services (now Resolution Services) at the Calgary Courts Centre as a judicial clerk/intake worker assisting individuals with Family Law matters. Stacey believes that clients are best served through the use of alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation and arbitration, and as such will encourage people to consi...

Krysta Ostwald earned her B.A. in 1993 and her LL.B. in 1996, both from the University of Victoria. She articled with Fraser Milner and was called to the Alberta Bar in 1997. Since then she has practiced exclusively in the area of family law. Krysta worked with the firms of Laurie Allen & Associates, Turnbull Boyes and Soby Boyden Lenz, before creating Widdowson Kachur Ostwald Menzies LLP with her partners. Krysta emphasizes resolving disputes without unnecessary conflict. She utilizes ma...

Sarah is a family lawyer with more than a decade of experience helping clients find solutions for challenging situations. She provides timely and practical advice and is equally able to assist clients with cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts, parenting plans, property division and support arrangements. She also frequently acts for third parties drawn into family law litigation. Sarah prides herself on understanding her clients’ unique goals and circumstances, and on providing st...

Louise Campbell has been a lawyer since 1983. Her practice consists of family and related areas of law. Her approach is to find a resolution which is within the law that represents the concern of all parties, including economic, cultural, religious and health issues. She has been mediating since 1995 and has been Collaborative Family Lawyer since 2000. Because they are required in the resolution of family matters, she is also an excellent legal source for real estate, wills and estates. Areas...

Gary has been practicing as a lawyer for more than 20 years and is the managing partner of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP. Gary also has extensive training as a Mediator and has participated in numerous Mediation, Arbitration and Judicial Dispute Resolution hearings. In addition to the practice areas of Wills and Estates, Mediation and Family Law, Gary is also an experienced litigator. He has appeared before all levels of Court in Alberta. Currently, Gary’s practice is focused primarily on Es...

Aaron Martens, KC is a family law practitioner, mediator, arbitrator and Registered Collaborative Family Lawyer. He joined Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP in 1998 and is a partner in the firm. Aaron’s experience in family law matters includes being counsel on a wide variety of family and special chambers applications. He has represented clients in trials at Provincial Court and the King's Counsel, and has made appearances at the Court of Appeal of Alberta. Aaron also does adoption work. Aaron ...

Daniel is a partner in our Family Law Group. Certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Family Law Specialist, he is also fully qualified as a family law mediator and arbitrator. As a mediator and arbitrator, Daniel has assisted clients and family law lawyers to resolve matters in a sensible, efficient and private manner. In family law matters of property, spousal and child support, Daniel has been involved in the determination of income, the valuation of multinational, privately held ...

Herschel Fogelman is the founder and principal of Fogelman Law in Toronto. He has been named a Best Family Lawyer in Canada every year since the Best Lawyer rankings began. Herschel is also an experienced and highly sought after mediator and arbitrator, able to deftly navigate and settle complex and sensitive family law matters. Herschel is ranked as Consistently Recommended in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The directory, similar to Best Lawyers, is based on annual peer review surveys...