Chris Burr

Peter Downard is a senior litigator and leading practitioner in the area of defamation. With extensive experience acting as defamation counsel throughout litigation proceedings, he has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, Ontario Court of Appeal for Ontario, trials and numerous mediations and advisory matters. Peter also has comprehensive experience in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Peter is the author of The Law of Libel in Canada , referred to as an author...

Ian Palm’s practice focuses on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity. He helps private and public companies, major corporate clients, pensions funds and private equity and venture capital investors achieve their strategic goals. In addition, Ian has a deep understanding of the technology, energy, life sciences and infrastructure industries. Ian advises issuers, investors and underwriters on a range of corporate finance and M&A transactions includin...

John Papadakis is a partner in Blaney McMurtry's Corporate/Commercial and Real Estate practices. John focuses his work on secured lending, acting mainly for financial institutions extending credit facilities to their clients. John is particularly active in the financing of large-scale high rise and low rise residential developments and commercial real estate, including shopping centres and office towers. John has arranged financing for a wide variety of products and purposes, including aircra...

John Mastoras is a senior partner in our Canadian employment and labour law group, and acts exclusively for employers. He is known to clients as a passionate and dedicated labour lawyer. He regularly litigates and provides strategic advice in connection with labour arbitrations, labour relations board disputes, collective bargaining negotiations, human rights proceedings, occupational health and safety charges, workplace insurance, labour injunctions and common law employment actions. His pra...

Maria Holder is an experienced real estate partner who advises clients on a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, with a focus on complex acquisitions and dispositions, joint-ventures and financings. With 15 plus years of practicing in this space, she is focused on the business objectives of clients and is sought out for her experience and her practical advice. Maria acts on behalf of several of the largest real estate investors and developers in Canada, which includes pension f...

Nationally known for his expertise in real estate property matters, Brett Tkatch numbers Canada’s top commercial and residential development companies and commercial institutional lenders among his clients. He is a partner in Blaney McMurtry LLP, practising in the firm's real estate group and is the Head of the Real Estate Practice Group. "I take great pride in knowing some of the people looking at my biography no doubt have visited some of the major development sites I have had the opp...

Nicola Simmons is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law. Nicola, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicola is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John A. Olthuis is one of the founding partners of OKT. His practice includes litigation, comprehensive and specific land rights, self-government, and impacts and benefits agreements. John was on the legal team of the Assembly of First Nations in negotiations with Canada and the provinces lending to the inclusion of "Section 35" in Canada’s repatriated Constitution in 1982. John was legal counsel to Chiefs of Ontario and table negotiator at the Aboriginal Government table for the Assemb...

In advocating for her clients' best interests, Kristin balances a results-driven approach with empathy for the emotional and financial strains that separation and divorce can have on individuals and families. Through focus and foresight, she develops advanced negotiation, arbitration, and litigation strategies to achieve creative solutions, effective settlements, and optimal resolutions. As a partner at Epstein Cole, Kristin’s practice encompasses all areas of family law, including nego...

Louis Sokolov is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Class Action Litigation. Louis, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Louis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.