Articles 2020

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Aalia Adatia

Case Summary of N. v. F., 2021 ONCA 688: Stay Pending Appeal of N. v. F., 2021 ONCA 614

  • October 23, 2021
  • Aalia Adatia, associate lawyer, Hendrikx Family Law

N. v. F. raises issues of how a non-Hague signatory country would determine parenting rights and whether an involuntary separation from a parent creates a serious risk of harm to a child. In the latest round of litigation, the Court of Appeal for Ontario granted the mother a stay pending her appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Family Law, Student Forum
Joel Miller

Ontario’s Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution Pilot Project – Crossing the Rubicon or the Camel’s Nose? Does it make a difference?

  • October 18, 2021
  • Joel Miller

With Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution we now have a “streamlined way to reach a final resolution of less complex family law cases” using “less formal processes” in which a judge may “ask questions and request additional information” and hear anything that they consider important and relevant … regardless of the formal rules of evidence. This is a big deal.

Family Law, Student Forum
Christine Vanderschoot,

Exceptional Women of the Bench and Bar

  • September 15, 2021
  • Christine Vanderschoot, principal, Vanderschoot Family Law

The “Exceptional Women of the Bench and Bar” webinar held on September 9, 2021 offered key insights from and networking and mentoring opportunities with leaders of the bench and bar. Christine Vanderschoot highlights some of the advice given to young lawyers, how the career paths of senior lawyers/judges changed over time, and tips for fostering sponsorship or mentoring relationships.

Family Law, Student Forum

OBA Joins Global Efforts to Address Mediator and Arbitrator Diversity – Share Your Views Via Online Survey

  • April 15, 2021

The Ontario Bar Association’s Neutral Diversity Committee has crafted a survey to collect information about OBA member experiences and views in relation to mediator and arbitrator diversity. OBA members engaged in litigation, mediation and arbitration are invited to share their views.

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Civil Litigation, Family Law and 3 more..., Insurance Law, Labour and Employment Law, Trusts and Estates Law
Alexys Santos

Institute Series - Serving the Family

  • February 24, 2021
  • Alexys Santos, student-at-law, Dwyer Law Office

Law student, Alexys, provides her insight into the experience of attending the February 4, 2021 OBA Institute session on Professionalism and Ethics Challenges.

Family Law, Student Forum

The Impact of High Conflict Family Law Lawyers on Separating Families

  • July 09, 2020
  • Steve Benmor

This article starts with an historical tour of how family law used to be practiced, and how it has changed since the introduction of the Family Law Rules. For some, ahem, older counsel, this will be a trip down memory lane, but for many Steve’s portrait will be completely foreign. Imagine practicing family law without the Rules! This article reminds us all that, despite the Rules now in place, counsel must constantly be aware of their own actions and how they may affect a family law case.

Family Law, Student Forum

Access to Justice Challenges: COVID-19 and Support Obligations (Part 2 of 2)

  • July 09, 2020
  • Vanessa Lam

Part 2 of Vanessa Lam's two-part series delves into how the courts have actually been dealing with applications to change support during the pandemic. Vanessa’s work includes information on how the government has acted during this time of uncertainty where reduced incomes in one household may be relied upon by another household to provide support at the same or similar pre-pandemic levels.

Family Law, Student Forum

A Huge Problem Without a Clear Answer: COVID-19 and Support Obligations (Part 1 of 2)

  • July 09, 2020
  • Vanessa Lam

While we know that COVID-19 has had an impact on family law cases, Vanessa Lam’s two part series gives an in-depth analysis of how support obligations may have been affected by the pandemic. Part 1 offers a refresher on some of the principles underlying support, including the test a litigant must meet if s/he seeks to change a support obligation.

Family Law, Student Forum