Ted is an original founder of the firm, and retired from regular law practice effective December 31, 2023. Ted was an accomplished trial lawyer, appearing before all levels of the courts of Ontario and some specialized administrative tribunals.

He also qualified as a Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute, and earned a Master's of Law degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall faculty of Law. Ted commenced working part-time as a professional mediator in 1991 as an adjunct to his litigation work. Ted is now, in retirement, working only as a mediator and arbitrator, through his own professional corporation.

Ted had a busy family law practice with the firm, primarily representing business owners, farmers and professionals in finding effective taxation and business planning solutions to their family law disputes. In addition to family law, he had extensive experience litigating estate disputes, personal injury and wrongful dismissal claims, and contractual and commercial issues. His mediation and arbitration practice is focused on assisting people to resolve their family law and estate disputes outside of the courts.

Ted has served as a board member of several charitable and non-profit organizations, and as a trustee and vice-president of the Waterloo Region Law Association. He was also a founding member involved in organizing The Collaborative Family Law Association of Waterloo-Wellington, currently known as Best4All.

Professional Qualifications:

B.A. - Wilfrid Laurier University, 1973

LL.B./J.D. - Osgoode Hall Law School, 1977

Bar Admission - Ontario Bar, 1979

LL.M. - Osgoode Hall Law School, 2001

C. Med. - ADR Institute, 2001

Email: lees@dsjnlaw.com

Lee has been practicing in the areas of real estate, wills, estates and trusts and corporate and commercial law in the Waterloo Region since his call to the bar in 1979.

Lee's practice involves all aspects of real estate law. He has extensive experience in both residential and commercial real estate development and general real estate law. Lee serves a varied and diverse clientele, including real estate developers, banks, not-for-profit and co-operative housing corporations and individuals. He is committed to ensuring that each client receives personal attention and every matter is completed properly and in a cost effective manner. He believes that it is essential to first understand the client's requirements, and then respond effectively to fulfill these needs, while providing prompt service and well-reasoned advice that is appropriate to the matter at hand.

In addition to his busy real estate practice, Lee is experienced in all estate planning and administrative matters. Within this field, he prepares wills, powers of attorney, trust agreements and related estate planning documents. He regularly advises clients on taxation, establishment and administration of trusts and estates. Lee represents estate administrators and trustees and assists them in respect to their responsibilities in managing and distributing trust and estate assets, including aiding in the winding up of complex estates and filing of related income tax returns.

Lee also practices in the area of corporate and commercial law where he services both for profit and not-for-profit organizations, in connection with a broad range of business and tax driven transactions. He has significant experience in mergers, acquisitions, asset and share transactions, incorporations, reorganizations and commercial real estate matters. Further, he also assists clients with a variety of commercial matters in the areas related to franchising and licensing, financing, technology, labour and employment, shareholder agreements and partnerships. As legal counsel to a number of charitable and not-for-profit organizations and housing co-operatives, Lee effectively advises his clients on such matters as formation, registration and governance.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Lee is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association and the Waterloo Region Law Association and numerous Mennonite organizations. He has been a past member of the Board of Directors for The House of Friendship Kitchener and Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo. Lee has also participated as a panellist and speaker in many seminars in the Waterloo Region and other parts of Southern Ontario on topics involving real estate law and estate planning.

Bar Admission - Ontario Bar, 1979

Education- Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Waterloo

Bachelor of Laws - University of Western

Assistants
Tina
Bronwyn
Tammy

Email: davej@dsjnlaw.com

Dave has extensive experience in corporate and real estate law matters. He acts for a wide variety of businesses and individuals in a diverse range of industries, including construction materials, manufacturing, health, software, retail and service sectors. Dave also represents a number of not-for-profit organizations, religious institutions and charities within the Waterloo Region in corporate governance and structural issues. He frequently represents clients in the acquisition and sale of office buildings, manufacturing plants and other developed rental commercial property throughout Ontario.

As a respected corporate lawyer and business confidant for many of his clients, Dave assists his clients at all stages of business growth and development. He plays an important role in structuring all aspects of tax and financial planning as well as establishing new ownership relationships including shareholder, partnership, joint venture agreements and other operational arrangements such as licensing and lease agreements.

Dave is a registered trade-mark agent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Working together with his clients, Dave prepares and registers trade-marks with the Canadian and International Trade-Mark offices. He also provides advice to clients relating to the validity and infringement of trade-marks.

Another component to Dave's busy legal practice, is advising his clients on estate planning and administration. He advises individuals respecting will planning, powers of attorney and trust planning in order to achieve their objectives while incorporating appropriate tax minimization strategies.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Dave is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association and the Waterloo Region Law Association. He is a speaker at many seminars in the Waterloo Region and other parts of Southern Ontario on such topics relating to business planning, not-for-profit corporations, charities, real estate law and estate planning. Dave has also been a board member on numerous not-for-profit corporations.

Bar Admission - Ontario Bar, 1984

Education - Juris Doctor, Osgoode Hall Law School

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Economics, University of Waterloo

Assistants
Shelley
Tina
Tammy

Email: ricn@dsjnlaw.com

With extensive experience in all facets of family law and related issues, Ric skillfully assists his clients through the legal process, always conscious of the fact that he is often dealing with emotional and stressful situations. Working together with his clients, Ric will assess what options are available and advise how to best resolve the situation. Separation and divorce can be resolved in various ways. Negotiation, collaboration, mediation and arbitration are all options which may be canvassed. However, if the issues cannot be quickly resolved through such alternative means of resolution, Ric is a seasoned litigator, having appeared before all levels of court in this province.

Ric is experienced in the negotiation and preparation of cohabitation, pre-nuptial and separation agreements as well as paternity plans, surrogate contracts and adoptions. He is also adept in matters relating to child protection, mobility and variation of custody, child and spousal orders and agreements.

In effectively serving the needs of his clients, Ric can also assist with transfers of property, mortgages, wills and powers of attorney. estate planning, administration and litigation is also a growing part of his practice.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Ric is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association and the Waterloo Region Law Association. He is also a member of Best4All, previously known as The Collaborative Family Law Association of Waterloo-Wellington.

Bar Admission - Ontario Bar, 1984

Education - Bachelors of Laws, University of Western Ontario

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - University of Waterloo

Assistant
Rachel

Email: chrisp@dsjnlaw.com

Chris practises primarily as a solicitor in the areas of corporate and commercial law, real estate and wills, trusts and estates. He joined the firm as an associate after practising civil litigation for several years in Stratford.

Chris attended law school at Western University, where he was awarded for his academic achievements. In addition to graduating with honours and distinction, he routinely scored in the top 10% of his cohort, received the highest grade in both his real estate and administrative law classes, was named to the Dean’s Honour List each year and earned a series of academic awards and scholarships, including the Law Society of Upper Canada Prize.

With experience in a multitude of legal areas, Chris strives to provide prompt, pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to his clients. Whether drafting agreements, completing transactions or providing summary legal advice, Chris is pleased to assist wide-ranging clientele in a variety of solicitor matters. He also has experience resolving civil disputes and, where necessary, has advocated for his clients at the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice and the Divisional Court.

Chris is committed to practising law with excellence and in accordance with the high standards of the firm.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Chris is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association.

Bar Admission – Ontario Bar, 2017

Education – Juris Doctor, Western University

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Criminal Justice & Public Policy, University of Guelph

Assistants
Tina
Margaret