John P. Schuman John P. Schuman is certified as a specialist in family law. He is an experienced and respected family lawyer, education lawyer and children’s rights lawyer. John Schuman is the partner heading the family law group at Devry Smith Frank LLP and he has earned the respect of his clients, judges, mediators and arbitrators for his sensible approach to resolving family law issues, his concern for children, and his understanding of complex financial matters. John Schuman received his Honours B.A. from Queens University in 1994. He obtained his EMCA (paramedic designation) in 1995. John attended Law School at the University of Windsor, graduating in 1998. He then went on to complete his LL.M. in child and family law at Queen’s University in 1999. John’s thesis on questioning child witnesses was published that same year and remains a frequently cited authority on the proper way to obtain the evidence of children. John Schuman has always practised in the areas of family law and children’s rights. He articled at a prominent Toronto litigation firm. After John was called to the bar in 2001, he practised at a firm known for its work in children’s legal issues and family law. He was also counsel for a children’s aid society before joining a prominent Toronto family law litigation boutique. He joined Devry Smith & Frank in 2009. John P. Schuman has litigated before every level of court in Ontario, several tribunals, Family arbitration, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Several of John’s cases have been reported in law reports. John’s cases involving children’s rights have been reported in the national media. John has earned the respect of the judges, mediators and arbitrators before whom he appears. In a recent court decision, Justice Sherr wrote “Mr. Schuman’s conduct, in this case, is an example of what lawyers are supposed to do in difficult cases.” John has published articles in referred legal journals on the questioning of child witnesses, allegations of abuse when parents have separated, the role children should place in the court process and the rights of children to direct their own medical treatment. John P. Schuman is also the editor of the “Child in the Courtroom” chapter of Wilson on Children and the Law. He is co-author of the Child Protection Proceedings Chapter in Evidence in Family Law. John’s book “Guide to the Basics of Family Law” is available on Amazon – click here or here. John is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Association of Family Mediators, the ADR Institute of Ontario, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Collaborative Practice Toronto, the Ontario Paramedic Association and he is on the board of directors of York Collaborative Practice. Outside of the practice of law, he is an avid swimmer, paddler and cyclist and retains an interest in pre-hospital emergency care. By Justin DominicMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Frank Shostack Frank Shostack is an experienced Toronto lawyer who joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (“DSF”) in April of 2016. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Toronto and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1970. Frank subsequently obtained his Master of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Frank has been practising law for almost 50 years and still enjoys the relationship with his clients and the personal satisfaction that comes with being an adviser, assisting clients with their business matters. Frank practises in the areas of Business and Corporate Law, Tax Law, Estate Planning and Trusts, advising clients on matters pertaining to corporate finance, corporate tax planning, acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, divestitures, intellectual property, licensing and other contract negotiations, shareholder and business disputes, and corporate governance. Frank also has significant experience in operations management, which he has used to assist clients with their strategic planning efforts, as they build and grow their businesses. Frank’s extensive training and experience in alternative resolution and his strategic business expertise enable him to apply a collaborative and solution oriented approach to resolve competing business interests that often arise during complex multi-party transactions. Through his commitment to quality, and his dedication to his clients, Frank has established many long-standing client relationships and solidified his reputation as a practical legal and business adviser. By Justin DominicMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
David Lavkulik David Lavkulik is an established Toronto mediator at Devry Smith Frank LLP. David was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1995. He received a B.A. (Econ.) from the University of Toronto in 1990 and a law degree from the University of Victoria (B.C.) Law School in 1993. David is a partner at Devry Smith Frank LLP and works as a lawyer and mediator. He has been with DSF since 1999. David has over 24 years of civil litigation experience, with a focus on Insurance-Personal Injury claims including Tort, Accident Benefits and Disability claims and Coverage disputes, Medical Malpractice claims, Professional Negligence, Employment Litigation, Estates Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Sexual Abuse claims. Approximately 75% of his practice has been allocated to acting as counsel for various corporate defendants/insurers, with the remaining 25% allocated to acting for injured parties/plaintiffs. He has appeared in all levels of court in Ontario including trials (jury and non-jury), the Court of Appeal, Costs hearings, as well as at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. David has extensive mediation experience, both as counsel and as a mediator. He has acted as a David has extensive mediation experience, both as counsel and as a mediator. He has acted as mediator in nearly 1500 claimsmediator in nearly 1500 claims. His work as a mediator has been described as “persistent”, “patient”, and a “demonstration of the real art of mediation”. His experience in acting for both plaintiffs and defendants provides him with valuable insight into the perspectives of both sides, both as a mediator and as counsel. David is distinguished as counsel by his ability to take on and turn around the most challenging cases where previous counsel was unable to achieve any results. His work as Plaintiff counsel on one such case was summarized by the Court following a 13-day jury trial as follows: “This was a long, complicated and very demanding trial. It was, at the same time, a very well thought out, planned and presented case that Ms. M’s counsel placed before the jury… The health care issues were many and complex. Ms. M’s counsel was challenged to marshal the evidence necessary to help the jury to appreciate and assess the issues. I allow counsel fees for Mr. Lavkulik as senior trial counsel as that was the role he fulfilled in that forum. Trials demand much from counsel. They are not an arena for the timid. Trials challenge the skills, training and experience of any counsel. They present difficulties and pitfalls not easily avoided. This case is no exception; in fact it proves the point. To the extent that billing rates are a relevant factor, I prefer to view them in this case at the highest levels of those usually thought applicable for timekeepers of each level or range of experience considered.”[1] The judge’s comments are particularly significant given the history of the claim (the action had been dismissed prior to David’s involvement [2] and the magnitude of the jury verdict [3] and trial judge’s costs award. David is also a part-time musician. He plays keyboards and saxophone in several roots rock and jazz fusion groups is a member of the Songwriter’s Association of Canada and can occasionally be heard performing at venues in the GTA. Mader v Hunter (2013) Costs Order following trial The Jury Verdict and evidence at trial is summarized in the reasons at 1 above, and in the threshold decision at Mader v Hunter (2012) Threshold Motion following trial For information and assistance regarding mediation, please contact Toronto mediator David Lavkulik at (416)-446-5835. His availability for mediations may be viewed by accessing his online calendar at: By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Todd E. Slonim Todd received his B.A. in communication studies from the University of Calgary. While there, he created a documentary film that won Best Human Interest Documentary at the North West International Film Festival in 1999. Todd then attended Cardiff Law School in Wales and completed his LL.B. He returned to Canada to attend Dalhousie Law School, before returning to Toronto to complete his articles with a family law firm. Todd is a partner in our family law department. He has been involved with many difficult and complex cases. In addition to appearing at all levels of courts in Ontario, Todd is a proponent of resolving family law matters through Alternative Dispute Resolution. He has achieved excellent results for his clients in mediation and arbitration while avoiding the pitfalls of court proceedings. Todd is an accredited family law mediator. He brings an insightful, practical and efficient approach to mediation to help guide the parties towards the resolution of their family law disputes. Todd promotes the mediation process as a positive and reliable alternative to litigation. Todd is a trained collaborative family lawyer. He advances the collaborative practice as a practical and alternative process to court to help families achieve settlement in a respectful, creative and cost-effective manner. Todd is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, Law Society of Ontario, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, the Ontario Association for Family Mediation, Collaborative Practice Toronto and York Collaborative Practice. By Justin DominicMay 27, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Gerry Hyman Gerry is a sole practitioner of Gerry Hyman Law. He was a long time director and a past president of Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI). He is an author of the seven editions of Condominium Handbook published by CCI. Gerry has acted as lawyer for hundreds of condominium corporations and for numerous condominium unit owners. He was a member of the joint committee of CCI and the Association of Condominium Managers that made presentations to the Government of Ontario in regard to the passage of the original Condominium Act and in regard to the current amendments to the Act. Gerry is presently the condominium columnist for the Toronto Star and his bi-weekly question and answer column appears in the Homes and Condos section of the Saturday Star. Gerry is a sole practitioner and is not affiliated with Devry Smith Frank LLP. For more information about Gerry Hyman please visit his website. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 27, 2020June 2, 2020 No comments yet
Eric Gossin Experienced lawyer and mediator Eric joined Devry Smith Frank LLP in July 2019. Eric was called to the Ontario Bar in 1977. He has incorporated into his practice a broad range of experiences including Corporate and Commercial Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Family Law and Real Estate. This leads to his serving clients and providing advice in all aspects of their lives. He has extensive experience in succession planning for both businesses and individuals who wish to insure that their plan accomplishes their wishes. He often works with other professional advisors to insure that all practical considerations, including tax issues, have been considered. Eric provides support for clients in the administration of estates and insuring to the extent possible that the administration proceeds smoothly without conflict. His negotiation skills and many years of completing complex transactions are value-added services which only a broad experience can provide and his training as a mediator is particularly helpful in this aspect of his practice. Note: The below calendar is for mediation bookings only. For consultations or any other bookings, please contact Michelle.Delaney@devrylaw.ca By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 20, 2020November 3, 2020 No comments yet
J. Lynne Frank Lynne was called to the Bar in 1982 and has practised exclusively in the area of civil litigation throughout her career. She received a B.A. from Dalhousie University and is a graduate of Queen’s University Law School in Kingston, Ontario. She has appeared before many different courts and tribunals in Ontario including the former Supreme Court of Ontario and District Court of Ontario, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario where she has sat as a roster arbitrator. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 20, 2020November 3, 2020 No comments yet
George O. Frank George was called to the Bar in 1982 and has practiced primarily in the area of civil litigation throughout his career. He received a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and is a graduate of Queen’s University Law School in Kingston, Ontario, winning prizes in contracts law and mediations and arbitrations. George heads our insurance defence group. He has been certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Civil Litigation. Although the focus of George’s practice is in personal injury, insurance defence and related areas, he also has extensive experience and expertise in commercial litigation, employment law and wrongful dismissal, injunctions and equitable relief, real estate litigation, estates litigation and a wide variety of other civil litigation. George has extensive training and experience in mediations and alternative dispute resolution. In addition to his litigation and mediation practice, George works in the areas of estate planning and administration, including advising clients on wills, powers of attorney, trusts, tax planned estate freezes and other tax and estate planning. Among his professional affiliations, George is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Toronto Lawyers Association, the Advocates Society and the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association. By Fauzan SiddiquiMay 19, 2020November 3, 2020 No comments yet
Robert P. Adourian Bob is a graduate of the University of Windsor Law School and was called to the Bar in 1980. He joined the firm as part of the merger of Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) and Adourian Law Office. Bob practices in the areas of real estate, wills, estate planning, estate administration, and mediation. He frequently speaks to community groups on topics such as “Buying Your First Home” and “Why You Should Make A Will.” Bob Adourian is an active member of the Armenian Bar Association, a world-wide organization of Armenian lawyers and has served on the association’s Board of Governors. He currently serves as a corporation member of the Yonge Street Mission and as a board member of his local church. Bob has also served as legal counsel to candidates in federal and provincial elections. Bob’s clients have many great things to say about him: “Robert Adourian has been assisting my clients with their legal needs for the past 20 years. Robert’s knowledge & his outstanding service to our mutual clients has been invaluable to me. Most real estate transactions run smoothly but occasionally issues can arise. Robert’s skill in dealing with issues is second to none and his genuine compassion and caring is always appreciated by our clients. Robert is a lawyer that I highly recommend to my clients, family and friends!” — Heather Griffiths, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd. By G63tEGnX1EApril 28, 2020November 7, 2020 No comments yet
