Lawyers & Consultant

After too many years fighting for clients in a slow, expensive and user-unfriendly court system, Doug decided there was a better way to solve their family law problems. So, since 1998 a significant part of Doug’s practice has been providing representation for clients in mediation and arbitration processes and acting as a mediator or arbitrator for spouses who both wish to resolve their family issues this way instead of through litigation. This better way now takes up about 15% of Doug’s practice.

Also, in 1998 Doug received the recognition of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) as a “Specialist in Family Law” and he has maintained this status to the present. Doug was the first lawyer in Simcoe County to receive this recognition. Doug is also one of very few lawyers in the province who has a wealth of knowledge in the topics of Adoption Law and the Representing of Children in Custody and Access Disputes. He co-authored a legal text on Adoption Law in Canada several years ago.

Since graduating from Law School at the University of Windsor in 1982 and being called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1984, Doug has provided sound legal advice in all areas of family law including child support, spousal support, property division, corporate/business issues that impact on separation or divorce, child protection, child custody/parenting plans, etc.

Doug has been a guest speaker at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, at the Ontario Provincial Police Academy and has contributed articles to local newspapers and legal publications throughout his career. Doug has also contributed to the legal and local communities through his work for, and memberships in, the Rotary Club of Barrie, Rainbows Canada, Simcoe County Family Law Lawyers Association, Ontario Bar Association and the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.

Doug retired from practice in October 2019 and now acts as a consultant in our Family Law department.