Kelli Preston Kelli graduated from Osgoode Hall with an L.L.B. in 2002. Kelli was called to the bar in 2003 and became a partner of a litigation boutique firm in 2004 which provided her with a large breath of knowledge in a number of areas of law. She joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) in 2013. Kelli manages the Whitby, Bowmanville and Haliburton offices for DSF. Kelli’s litigation practice areas encompass, real estate and mortgage litigation cases including mortgage recovery, estate litigation, bankruptcy, securities litigation, professional negligence, and general corporate/commercial litigation. Working on cases at all levels of court in Canada, Kelli has counselled and co-counselled several significant cases at the trial and appellate level. In addition to litigation, Kelli also practices real estate including residential and commercial, mortgage refinancing, wills and estate planning, franchising, corporate including share purchase and asset purchase agreements. Prior to her call to the bar in January 2003, Kelli was a law clerk for 13 years. In this capacity, she gained significant experience working with prominent senior lawyers in the commercial litigation field, with a special emphasis on solicitor negligence claims. Kelli credits this background to her pragmatic approach to her files. Kelli lives in Brooklin Ontario with her husband and has three children. Kelli’s favorite pastime without a doubt is travelling. Having her next trip booked is mandatory! She also loves cooking, waterskiing, downhill skiing, practicing yoga and spending time with her family at their cottage in Haliburton. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Larry W. Keown Larry has practised with the firm since 1997 as a litigator in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate law and employment law including: commercial landlord and tenant litigation, leasing disputes, real estate and mortgage litigation, banking recovery litigation, title insurance litigation, bankruptcy, receivership and insolvency, wrongful dismissal and employment law, oppression remedy and shareholder disputes, franchise disputes, construction lien litigation, injunctions, estate litigation, partnership litigation, commercial contract disputes and collections. Larry completed his honour arts degree in Psychology and Sociology at Brandon University in Manitoba and his law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. After articling at the firm in 1995/1996, Larry was called to the Bar in 1997 and admitted as a partner in the firm in 2003. For more than a decade, Larry has been the Managing Partner of the firm. Larry’s clients include a broad range of individuals, corporations and institutions including: major banks, lenders, title insurers, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, shareholders, employers, employees, commercial landlords, commercial tenants, property managers, insurers and others. He has significant courtroom experience, having appeared before the Small Claims Court of Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court in Ontario and the Ontario Court of Appeal on numerous motions, applications, trials and appeals. Larry has also appeared before many tribunals including: the Financial Services Commission, the Work Place Safety and Insurance Tribunal and the Ontario Labour Relations Board. He also has participated in many alternative dispute forums including: arbitrations and mediations. To see what some of Larry’s clients have said about him please visit our Client Testimonials page. Our law firm is conveniently located at Lawrence and Don Mills and we offer free parking. For further information or assistance with a legal matter please contact Toronto lawyer and litigator Larry Keown. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Carrie Kennedy Carrie is a graduate of Simon Fraser University (B.A. in Criminology) and Queen’s University (LL.B.). She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2003 and in Ontario in 2004. Since then, she has gained broad experience in litigation, primarily in the areas of commercial collections and mortgage recovery. In recovery, collections, and mortgage enforcement, Carrie represents major financial institutions, private lenders, businesses, and a securities commissions. She obtains and enforces judgments for breaches of loan agreements, security agreements, and mortgages. In bankruptcy and insolvency, Carrie appears in court for her commercial clients on various motions and hearings including lifting stays of proceedings, opposing discharge hearings, and appointing receivers. Carrie also has experience in many areas of general litigation including improvident sale actions, fraudulent conveyances actions, cheques kiting schemes, wrongful dismissals, general contract disputes, commercial leasing and tenancy issues, condominium issues, correcting land title errors, franchise disputes, injunctions, and estate disputes on behalf of lenders, mortgage insurance companies, title insurance companies, commercial landlords, commercial tenants, property managers, employers, employees, businesses, and individuals. Carrie has appeared in various courts and tribunals including the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court, the Superior Court of Justice, Commercial Court, Bankruptcy Court, the Human Rights Tribunal, Committee of Adjustment, Landlord and Tenant Board, and Small Claims Court. Carrie’s diverse practice has allowed her to develop an effective, efficient, and results-based approach to resolving legal issues. She strives to efficiently maximize the benefit to her clients while maintaining their good reputation. When Carrie is not in the office, she enjoys photography, baking, running, playing competitive sports, skiing, and learning karate. She has aspirations of earning her black belt in karate by 2022! By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Shawna M. Sosnovich Shawna M. Sosnovich joined Devry Smith Frank LLP in 2007 and is a partner of the firm. Shawna currently practices in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency, debt recovery and employment law for a variety of small and medium-sized businesses, institutional clients including banks, title insurers, commercial landlords and trustees in bankruptcy, as well as individuals, employers, employees and professional advisors. Shawna was called to the Bar in 1999 after completing her Bachelor of Laws degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1997. Prior to joining Devry Smith Frank LLP, Shawna practiced in the areas of civil and commercial litigation with a well-respected GTA law firm, where she gained valuable experience in contractual disputes, debt collection, civil fraud, employment and bankruptcy and insolvency matters. Shawna has extensive courtroom experience and has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court in Ontario and the Ontario Human Rights Commission. In addition, Shawna has been counsel at private meditations and prides herself on negotiating practical alternatives to resolve disputes. Cases in which Shawna has appeared as counsel have been reported in the Ontario Reports and other industry reporting services. To see what some of Shawna’s clients have said about her visit our Client Testimonials page. Shawna Sosnovich is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. For further information on commercial litigation, contract disputes, wrongful dismissal and employment law, human rights applications, commercial leasing, landlord and tenant matters, civil fraud, real estate litigation, debt recovery, bankruptcy and insolvency, injunctions and general litigation matters, contact Shawna. The law offices of Devry Smith Frank LLP is conveniently located north of downtown Toronto in the Lawrence and Don Mills area. We offer our clients easy access to an abundance of free parking on our premises. By Justin DominicMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Justin R. Winch Justin completed his post-secondary education at Western University, London, Ontario in 2003 (B.A. Hons) and at Queen’s University Law School (LL.B.) in 2006. While attending Law School, Justin was the recipient of the David Sabbath Course Prize for Advanced Labour Law and the Reuben Wells Leonard Course Prize for Wills and Estate Planning. He was called to the bar in 2007 after articling with a well-regarded firm in the Greater Toronto Area where he worked as an associate. Justin has extensive litigation experience representing individuals and businesses and has appeared on matters before the Small Claims Court, the Ontario Court of Justice, and the Superior Court of Justice. He also has significant experience representing executors and beneficiaries in the area of estate litigation, including Will interpretations, Will disputes, passing of estate accounts and dependant support proceedings. Justin is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association. By Justin DominicMay 25, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Lawrence Hansen Acting for individuals, corporations and institutions, Lawrence Hansen has a highly varied commercial litigation practice which includes dealing with commercial disputes, business and employee fraud, the enforcement of judgments, debt recovery, contract disputes as well as litigation arising from commercial leases. Lawrence also has over ten years of experience with insurance-related matters, mostly but not exclusively for insurers, focusing on complex litigation matters, particularly those involving insurance fraud, coverage, title insurance, and allegations of bad faith. He has advised clients on difficult questions surrounding suspicious and potentially fraudulent claims, their investigation, the remedies available to clients, and high-risk arson claims. In addition, Lawrence has been retained to represent defendants in personal injury and product liability claims. From Canada’s Atlantic coast, Lawrence spent a year studying Spanish and living in South America and Mexico. He is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick (History), McGill University’s Faculty of Law, and has earned a Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor (Stitt Feld Handy). Lawrence has studied Spanish at the University of Toronto, in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 20, 2020October 28, 2020 No comments yet
Michelle Cook Michelle is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School (Juris Doctor), the University of Toronto (Honours Bachelor of Arts, with distinction) and La Cité (French language certificate). At Osgoode, Michelle finished in the top 8% of her class and took classes geared towards litigation. Michelle has received numerous awards for her academic excellence, including Osgoode’s Labour Law Essay Prize. Her work has been published in numerous national law journals, including the Alberta Law Review, and she has spoken at national conferences on topics such as legal education and marijuana law. While attending law school, she served as Vice-President (External) of the Osgoode Labour and Employment Law Society, Third Year Representative of the Osgoode Business Law Society, Associate Editor on the Osgoode Hall Law Journal and Senior Editor on the Court. Moreover, she also was appointed to the provincial Minister’s Advisory Council of Students as the sole law school representative to the Premier and Osgoode’s Faculty Council (Digital Innovation Committee). Michelle has substantial experience drafting various legal documents and has appeared before the Ontario Small Claims, Superior and Divisional Courts. She has a broad commercial litigation practice and has handled complex motions such as summary judgments, oppression remedies and relief from forfeiture. Outside of law she enjoys running, hiking, painting and trivia. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 19, 2020October 28, 2020 No comments yet