Vanessa Hansford

Daniel Pugen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Daniel, 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 Daniel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peter Viitre is a partner at Sotos LLP. He is the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Group and the leader of the Home Services and Retail practice areas. Working extensively with franchises in those sectors as well as clients in the restaurant and automotive industries, he oversees all merger and acquisition transactions, primarily the purchase and sale of franchise systems including those with a cross-border component. Peter provides advice on all aspects of franchising, from the preparati...

Massimo Starnino is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law. Massimo, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Massimo is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Charles is a senior Partner and head of the Construction Law Group at Shibley Righton LLP. Charles represents clients involved in construction defaults, delay claims, construction liens, trust claims, insolvency, surety bond and professional liability actions. He appears before all levels of courts in Ontario and has also appeared before several tribunals and inquests. Construction cases are regularly mediated as an efficient alternative to litigating and Charles has developed an expertise in...

Clare Burns is a senior trusts and estates litigator. She served as the Children's Lawyer for the Province of Ontario from 2003 to 2008 pursuant to an Order-in-Council appointment. As the Children's Lawyer, Clare's office was responsible to investigate, advocate, protect and represent persons under the age of 18 in proceedings before the courts and tribunals of Ontario. In this role, she supervised more than 11,000 cases including variations of trust, will challenges, passings of accounts, gu...

Michael is a partner in Ogletree Deakins’ Toronto office. His diverse practice spans all areas of employment law, labour law, privacy, wage and hours issues, human rights, accessibility, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Michael also has experience with class actions, appellate litigation, M&A/restructuring, and general litigation. He regularly represents employers in judicial review proceedings.

Lauren is a partner at Beard Winter LLP and a member of the firm’s Insurance Litigation group. Lauren began her practice in insurance defence litigation in 2000 upon her call to the bar. She continues to practice in the insurance defence field and has focused her practice on motor vehicle accident cases, nursing home litigation, institutional sexual liability and occupiers’ liability disputes. She has proven successful on numerous summary judgment motions and has appeared before t...

Andrea Centa is the Co-Leader of the firm’s Real Estate Law practice group and Co-Leader of the Ontario Real Estate Law practice group. She is a seasoned real estate partner who has established a broad real estate practice, focused on acquisitions and dispositions of commercial real estate, the development of large real estate projects and financings. In her transaction-based practice, Andrea advises both domestic and cross-border clients across a variety of industries. She handles soph...

Joanna Radbord is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Joanna, 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 Joanna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...