Best Lawyers in Canada for Family Law
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Mary Jane Binks, K.C. is the Senior Group Counsel in the Family Law Group at Tierney Stauffer LLP. She is also an Estate Litigation Practitioner. Mary Jane was a former Assistant Crown Attorney and Vice Chairman of the Commercial Registration Appeal Tribunal (Ontario). An advocate in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Trial Division) and the Ontario Court of Appeal, she also serves as an Arbitrator in Family Law disputes. Mary Jane has served as a Family Law instructor for the Law Society...
Pascale Gouin works in civil and commercial litigation, particularly in areas involving civil liability, relations between shareholders and between franchisors and franchisees, real estate law, labour relations and dispute arbitration. She pleads before the Court of Quebec, the Superior Court, the Court of Appeal and the administrative courts. She also applies her expertise in preventive ways, by drafting her clients’ employment contracts and commercial leases. Pascale also specializes ...
Mat Wirove is an accredited mediator and reputable family lawyer, recognized for his proficiency in court. With a prior background in civil litigation, Mat's versatile legal experience equips him to tackle a broad spectrum of family law matters with skill and efficiency. A Transparent, Client-Centred Approach Mat adopts a policy of openness and honesty with his clients, keeping them thoroughly informed about their case as it progresses. He understands the unique complexities of every situatio...
Laurie is a partner in our Family Law Group, acting in disputes involving high incomes and significant property. Her practice also includes mediation and arbitration. She appears in Courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Between 2010 and 2012, Laurie was elected as the 63rd Treasurer (President) of The Law Society of Upper Canada, the regulator governing all lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. She was only the third woman since the Law Society was founded in 1797 to hold this office. T...
Megan Edmiston is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Megan, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Megan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
A scholar, teacher and leader in the Alberta legal community, Rhoda I. Dobler’s practice spans two and half decades, and includes mediation, arbitration, collaborative law and litigation. Her positive attitude, compassion and creativity guide her conflict resolution approach, making her a valued mediator and arbitrator. An ardent believer in the importance of identifying new talent and mentoring junior lawyers, Rhoda teaches the Bar Admission (CPLED) course annually, and speaks at semin...
Partner Admitted to the Bar, 1984, Manitoba; 1992, Ontario. Education University of Saskatchewan. University of Alberta (B.A., 1979; LL.B., 1982). Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Law training. Recognitions Appointed Queen's Counsel (2019). Canadian Bar Association Cecilia I. Johnstone Outstanding Service Award (2015). Lexpert Zenith Award: Celebrating Women Leaders in the Legal Profession (2013). MBA Isabel Ross (MacLean) Hunt Award (2013). University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award (...
Georgialee Lang has practiced family law in Vancouver for 37 years beginning as an associate at Ladner Downs, now Borden Ladner Gervais. She inititated the firm's family law practice in 1989 and in 1994 started her boutique practice, Georgialee Lang & Associates, where she practiced with four associate lawyers and six legal staff. She is an invited Fellow of the International Academy of Family Law Lawyers, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators United Kingdom, and an invited m...
Kirsten M. Hnatuk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Kirsten M., who practices law in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kirsten M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Joanne has been a family law lawyer for more than 30 years, has been married for 30 years, and has raised her kids and her cats. She has a huge dose of common sense, in addition to her knowledge of law and process. Her task is to get to know her client, where her client wants to go, and then set a path with her client that ensures the client will reach his or her goal. Joanne encourages her clients to keep the money in the family, keep legal accounts as low as possible, and keep the conflict ...
Heather L. Hansen, C.S. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Heather L., who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heather L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
The stakes in Family Law cases don’t get much higher: it takes a special lawyer to consistently win results at the highest level in Family Law. Jim Edney has been that kind of a lawyer for 30 years, earning him recognition as a Certified Specialist in Family Law by The Law Society of Ontario. Vision Praised by clients for his ability to “put things in perspective” and described by them as “incredibly diligent, fair and intelligent”, Jim advises on complex Family ...
Founding Partner and Mediator with Kelly D. Jordan Family Law Firm in Toronto, Ontario. Practises in the areas of family and fertility law, wills and estates. Certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the LSUC. Particular expertise in family law issues pertaining to the gay and lesbian community and assisted human reproduction. Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys. Co-counsel on Baker v. Francis (1999) and Miglin v. Miglin (2002) before the Supreme Cou...
Kate Bennett is a Partner and Practice Group Lead with the Family Law group at Harrison Pensa. Kate’s practice encompasses all issues related to family law including separation and divorce, decision-making responsibility for children (formerly custody), parenting time (formerly primary care and/or access), child and spousal support, and division of property. Kate represents clients in family law litigation, as well as alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.