Nicholas Reinkeluers Commercial litigation lawyer Nicholas Reinkeluers is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (B.A. and J.D.). Nicholas was called to the bar in 2013. Prior to joining Devry Smith Frank LLP in 2019, Nicholas practiced at a leading litigation firm in downtown Toronto. Nicholas has been involved in a broad range of commercial litigation matters, including contract disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence claims and disciplinary proceedings, mortgage enforcement litigation, employment disputes, injunctions, claims against directors and officers, appeals, construction litigation, and commercial arbitrations. He also has experience representing employers and employees in a wide variety of employment law matters, including reviewing and negotiating employment contracts and termination packages, wrongful dismissal actions, workplace bullying and harassment, and human rights disputes. Nicholas has represented clients in proceedings before the Ontario Small Claims Court, Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, Court of Appeal, and various administrative tribunals. Nicholas takes a pragmatic approach to litigation. He believes in resolving disputes in the most efficient, timely, and cost-effective manner possible. Outside the office, Nicholas enjoys cycling, snowboarding, travelling, and playing the piano. By Justin DominicMay 28, 2020November 5, 2020 No comments yet
Elyse Mallins Elyse Mallins joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) in 2020 as a partner in our Labour Law and Commercial Litigation groups. She graduated from York University in 1999 where she received a B.A.(Hons.) in Sociology. She later went on to receive her LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School. Elyse was called to the Ontario Bar in 2003. Prior to joining DSF, Elyse acted as senior counsel where she provided exceptional legal services and proactive, practical guidance to employer and employee clients. Elyse’s experience has allowed her to sit on both sides of the table in a workplace dispute: she has been both the client and the counsel. This has given her unprecedented insights from both perspectives and the ability to predict and respond to issues before they escalate. She is a frequent and highly respected speaker at seminars and conferences across Canada and regularly provides extensive nationwide training on all practical workplace matters, including sexual harassment, violence in the workplace, workplace investigations, human rights, and disability management. 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
William J. Smith William (Bill) Smith was called to the bar in 1980 after receiving a Bachelor Of Arts degree from Glendon College, and his LL.B. from the University of Toronto Law School. Bill has practiced corporate and commercial law with the firm since then., Bill’s experience is varied and extensive. He has had a broad exposure to virtually every aspect of corporate and commercial practice including incorporations, partnerships, joint venture agreements, shareholders’ and creditors’ rights and remedies, as well as business mergers, acquisitions, financing and debt restructuring. Bill’s skills include structuring, negotiating, and the preparation of required documentation, as well as liaising among directors, shareholders, financial advisors and institutions. As an experienced corporate and commercial practitioner, Bill is often involved in litigation matters on behalf of his clients. His depth of experience enables him to combine expert legal advice with sensitivity to the firm’s clients’ business needs and environment and to meet client’s specific needs in the most expeditious and cost-efficient manner. Bill advises clients on employer and employee rights, termination and wrongful dismissal matters, fiduciary duties and non-competition issues. Bill works closely with other professional advisors including accountants and tax and financial advisors in assisting his clients to minimize their tax exposure and is familiar with vehicles such as tax-free rollovers, co-tenancies, trusts and estate freezes. Bill takes an active role in co-ordinating all aspects of his clients’ legal service needs by ensuring that, when necessary, appropriate specialized expertise is obtained, either from within the firm or through an established referral network, in areas such as securities law, intellectual property, labour law, income, commodity or other taxes, or international business transactions. Bill is a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario. By Justin DominicMay 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
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