Ms. Holmes is a highly respected family law practitioner. She provides a full range of services to clients including, but not limited to, initial consultations and advice, negotiations, all levels of Court proceedings (including Conferences, Motions, Trials and Appeals) and more recently has trained as a Mediator and Mediator/Arbitrator specializing in family law disputes.

Ms. Holmes was: an instructor with the Bar Admissions Course (family law) for many years; an instructor with the Trial Advocacy Program at the University of Toronto Law School; and an instructor in Trial Advocacy for the Ontario College of Advocacy Training. She has chaired seminars, authored and presented papers on family law issues, and has been actively involved in family law reform. As a former Director of the Advocates’ Society, and former Chair of the Family Law Task Force, Ms. Holmes has been involved in submissions to government committees on pensions, Child Support Guidelines, the Custody/Access Task Force and proposed amendments to the Family Law Act, and the amendments to the Arbitrations Act.

Mediation or Mediation/Arbitration is now a large part of Ms. Holmes’ family law practice. As a Mediator, and as a Mediator/Arbitrator, Ms. Holmes welcomes Mediations and/or Mediation/Arbitrations in Toronto, and also east of Toronto particularly in: Oshawa; Port Hope; Cobourg; Belleville; and Kingston.

Ms. Holmes is currently a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Advocates’ Society and the Canadian Bar Association.

James was called to the bar in 1992. He has worked his entire career at Chappell Bushell Stewart LLP, practicing family law and civil litigation. He is a partner.

In his nineteen-year career, James has accumulated a great deal of experience, appearing in court in a wide variety of cases.

James’ approach to litigation is practical. He understands the costs and stress of litigation. He resolves his clients’ cases fairly, and in a cost efficient manner. In any litigation, a cost / benefit analysis should be done before taking any significant step.

James is a supporter of alternatives to the traditional litigation route. In particular, James has had success with “Mediation / Arbitration” which is an increasingly popular way of resolving family law cases.

James has significant experience outside the area of family law. He regularly works in the area of defamation, wrongful dismissal, collections, and commercial litigation.

James is a member of the Advocate’s Society and the Ontario Bar Association.

James speaks at continuing education programs offered by the Ontario Bar Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada.

James was the co-chair of the “Family Law Institute,” a significant continuing legal education program to be offer by the OBA in February 2009.

James is the editor of O’Brien’s Encyclopedia of Forms – Family Law.

Michele is a Partner with Chappell Bushell Stewart. She has practiced exclusively family law since graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School and her call to the Bar in 1985. Her work involves all aspects of family law and she has extensive trial and appellate experience at every level of court including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Michele is a member of Collaborative Practice Toronto, the Advocates Society, the Toronto Lawyers Association, and the Family Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. She has completed training in mediation and collaborative law and was an Instructor with the Law Society of Upper Canada Bar Admission Course for many years. While involved in the Operations Committee of the Ontario Court of Justice (member and past-Chair) Michele sat as a Family Law Referee for 5 years.

Michele also served as a Board member (and past President) of the Canadian Foundation for Children and the Law (Justice for Children and Youth), and as a Board member for Covenant House Toronto.

For more information on Collaborative Practice, please contact info@collaborativepracticetoronto.com

Articles: – Collaborative Law

Robert Lawson is a partner at Chappell Bushell Stewart LLP. Robert practices in the areas of family law and civil litigation, particularly in expropriation. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Expropriation Association and the Advocates’ Society. Rob participates in the Advocates’ Society Court of Appeal pro bono programme. Rob is a graduate of York University and the University of Toronto Law School.