Mark G. Appel, Q.C.
- Practicing with Chappell Bushell Stewart LLP since 1973
- Graduate of McGill University, Columbia University Law School and Osgoode Hall Law School
- Former clerk to the Chief Justice of the High Court
- Has appeared in all courts including the Supreme Court of Canada
Paul R. Henry
- Practicing with Chappell Bushell Stewart LLP since his call to the Bar in 1974
- Acts extensively in administrative matters, including Ontario Municipal Board Hearings
- Expertise in expropriation law
- Acts in insurance claims, employment law suits and personal injury cases
Paul Henry graduated from Trinity College, University of Toronto with a B.A. in 1969 and with an LL.B. from University of Toronto Law School in 1972. He articled with Chappell Bushell Stewart and was called to the bar in 1974. He has been counsel on over 60 major civil and criminal trials and administrative board hearings.
Paul has acted on behalf of numerous personal claimants and plaintiffs, developers and public agencies including Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the Regional Municipality of Peel, the Regional Municipality of Durham, the County of Northumberland, the Town of Richmond Hill, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ontario Realty Corporation.
Paul has been a frequent lecturer to the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Expropriation Association, the Investigative and Forensic Accounting Diploma Program and to the Ontario Municipal Board. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Expropriation Association and the Advocates Society.
Paul is frequently counsel for owners of expropriated properties and expropriating authorities. He has been involved in many major projects including the Pickering Airport, the North Pickering Project, the Humber Bay Shores (Motel Strip), the Port Union Linear Park and the widening and construction of Highways 401, 427, 407, 410, 416, 69, 7, 6 and the Queen Elizabeth Way.
He has been counsel in the former County and Supreme Court, the Superior Court of Justice, the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Publications:
- Editor for a newsletter with respect to expropriation
Ross M. Anderson
Ross Anderson graduated from Trinity College at the University of Toronto with a B.A., and from the University of Toronto Law School with an LL.B. He was called to the Bar in 1977. He has practiced at the firm since 1989, principally in the areas of corporate, commercial and business transactions. His practice also extends to real estate law, including mortgages, leases and construction liens, as well as secured loan transactions, family business succession, wills, trusts and estate administration.
During the period 2002 to 2007, Ross acted as counsel to the Province of Ontario and the Ontario Realty Corporation with respect to the taking into public ownership of more than 1250 acres of the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill, Ontario. His varied experience and sound judgment make him a valued counsel to small, large and medium size corporations of all types as well as individuals in need of sensible, well-balanced advice. Problem-solving and timely decision-making skills are his professional hallmark.
Ross is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Canadian Bar Association, and acts as counsel to other lawyers and law firms.
Ross has handled a wide range of legal matters including:
- real estate acquisitions and sales including all types of properties: commercial, residential, multi-residential, condominiums and industrial;
- real estate financings both commercial and residential including multi-residential and condominium;
- real estate leasing for landlords and tenants;
- real estate developments, syndicates and partnerships;
- mortgage enforcement, remedies and powers of sale;
- incorporation of companies and formation of partnerships including shareholders agreements and partnership agreements;
- drafting of a wide variety of commercial contracts;
- restructuring of corporate relationships;
- acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and other commercial entities;
- succession and estate planning;
- wills, estates and trusts;
- general counsel to ongoing clients including individuals, businesses and institutions.
Sheila M. Holmes
Sheila Holmes graduated with a BA from York University and an LL.B. from the University of Toronto Law School. She was called to the Bar in 1989. Ms. Holmes has practiced exclusively in the area of family law.
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 Herbert
Originally from Alberta, James has lived in Toronto for nearly twenty-five years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta in 1985, followed by a Master of Arts degree at the University of Toronto in 1986, and his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1990.
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.
T. Michele O’Connor
“One of the biggest challenges in family law is to get everyone focused on resolution. This not only reduces costs, but lets people get on with their lives.”
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 B. Lawson
“We bring a common sense approach to the practice of law. Our philosophy is to advocate forcefully to achieve creative and cost-effective solutions for our clients.”
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.
David M. Flynn
David Flynn was called to the Bar in 1997 after graduating from the University of Toronto with a B.A.; McGill University with an MBA; and the University of Western Ontario with an LL.B.
Before joining the firm in 2004, David was in-house counsel with a Toronto public company, Androcan, and a member of the mergers and acquisitions group at PricewaterhouseCoopers. His areas of practice include corporate-commercial transactions, and real estate law, with emphasis on financing and conveyancing as well as wills, trusts and estate administration.
David is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada. During the period 2004 to 2007, David acted as co-counsel with Ross Anderson of the firm in closing the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Exchange; a complicated transaction involving his client, the Province of Ontario, as well as numerous developers, public agencies, and lands valued at in excess of one billion dollars.
