Biographical Summaries of Presenters

[Presented in alphabetical order]

February 21, 2017

FAMILY LAW

Practice Basics 2017

Jennifer Breithaupt, Breithaupt Law

Having completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Archaeology at Queen’s

University, Jennifer studied law at the University of Western Ontario and was called to the Bar

in 2003. Jennifer started at a boutique litigation firm in Waterloo, gaining real-life experience

that has shaped her career. In January of 2007, Jennifer opened her own practice in Kitchener

and in 2013 she was appointed as child’s counsel with the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. In

January of 2015, Jennifer rebranded her practice as “Breithaupt Law – Complete Legal

Solutions.”

Jennifer has participated in the Law Society’s New Lawyer Practice Series (now Practice

Basics) since 2009. She chairs the Advocates’ Society’s annual Courthouse Series program in

Kitchener, which has now expanded in Waterloo Region to include a further annual criminal

litigation program, and enjoys membership in both the Advocates’ Society and the Waterloo

Law Association. Jennifer is an active member of the Executive of the Family Lawyers of

Waterloo Region (“FLOWR”) practice group with the Waterloo Law Association and has written

submissions on behalf of FLOWR to the Family Law Rules Committee and to Justice Bonkalo’s Family Legal Services Review.

Jennifer has been active in a variety of local community initiatives including the award-winning

Leadership Waterloo Region and Communitech’s outreach programs for youth. Jennifer is

counsel to the Homer Watson House and Gallery Foundation and is past Chair of the Arts &

Culture Advisory Committee to Kitchener City Council. She and her husband are proud to

raise their young son in their shared hometown.

BRIAN J. BURKE

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Brian is a partner at Epstein Cole LLP. He attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto for undergraduate studies and then Osgoode Hall Law School.

Brian started his career by summering, articling, and then briefly practisingcorporate and commercial law at the firm Torys in Toronto. After that he practisedtax law for several years at the firm Thorsteinssons in Toronto. Brian then decided,over a decade ago, to pursue a career in family law, and he has been with Epstein Cole since 2004.

Brian is involved in various family law justice initiatives, committees, and educational programming. He is a member of the Ontario Court of Justice-Superior Court of Justice Assessments Task Force and for the past three years he has been a member of the organization committee of the Walsh Family Law Negotiation Competition. Brian is a director of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Ontario Chapter), and he serves as Secretary of the Board of that organization. Brian is regularly invited by various professional organizations to speak to audiences on both substantive and professionalism legal topics.

00632129-1

Andrew A. Feldstein

Feldstein Family Law Group 20 Crown Steel Drive, Suite 10 Markham, Ontario, L3R Tel.: 905-415-1635, ext. 255 Fax: 905-415-0785 Website: www.separation.ca Twitter: @AndrewFeldstein

Email: andrew@feldsteinfamilylaw.com

Background: Andrew Feldstein graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1992. He was called to the bar in February of 1994 and that same year founded Feldstein Family Law Group Professional Corporation, a firm dedicated to representing clients on their various family law issues. Prior to focusing exclusively on Family Law, Andrew’s legal practice covered many different areas, including Corporate Commercial law. Areas of Practice Andrew’s current practice focuses exclusively on Family Law. Professional Activities Andrew was recently honoured (2010) with an inaugural appointment to the Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) Panel for Newmarket in order to assist parties in resolving their matrimonial disputes. Andrew actively supports current law students, education, and the legal profession by volunteering as a mentor for the Osgoode Hall Law School Mentor Program. Several media outlets have interviewed Andrew for his expertise in the many aspects of family law. These outlets include the Globe and Mail Newspaper, Global Television, Prime TV, Channel 11, Mix 99.9, CKTB 610 A.M., Talk Radio 640 A.M., ET Canada, Canada AM, ITV and CTV. Andrew is a member of:

� the Law Society of Upper Canada, � the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), � York Region Law Association.

George Karahotzitis

Admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2002 Practice Highlights George is a partner with Thomson, Rogers and his practice is devoted to litigation with an emphasis on matrimonial litigation and matters involving commercial disputes. George has coauthored a number of articles for use in continuing legal education seminars and is a regular contributor speaker at continuing legal education seminars having spoken at seminars conducted by the Law Society of Upper Canada, the National Judicial Institute, Osgoode Professional Development and the Advocates’ Society. George is the co-chair of the “Complex Issues” series of conferences held by Osgoode Professional Development related to complex issues in Family Law. George has the honour of having been selected by his peers to be published in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2016 as a leading practitioner in the field of family law, has been selected by his peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers of Canada” listing in the field of Family Law and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Education Bachelor of Laws, Osgoode Hall Law School (2000) Practice Areas Matrimonial Litigation Commercial Disputes General Litigation

JARET NEIL MOLDAVER Jaret Neil Moldaver obtained his LL.B from the University of Western Ontario in 1997 and

was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1999. Jaret has been a partner of the law firm Teplitsky,

Colson since his call, where he practises exclusively in the area of family law. Jaret

instructed for the Law Society of Upper Canada's Bar Admission Course and has authored

papers for and presented at continuing legal education programs. Jaret held a seat on the

Executive of the Ontario Bar Association (Family Law). In 2016, Jaret was a presenter on

the issue of child support at the Conference for Judges.

Constance Nielsen

Constance has been practising exclusively in family law since her call in 2008. She has been working as a

sole practitioner lawyer since 2011.

Her family law practice includes:

1. Litigation;

2. Collaborative practice;

3. Office of the Children’s Lawyer work; and

4. Duty Counsel and Advice Counsel work.

She is a board member of York Collaborative Practice, she is also a Girl Guide Leader, and presenter for

the Mandatory Information Program.

Kristen Normandin was called to the bar in 2004. After articling for a downtown Toronto civil litigation firm, Kristen started her practice in the area of family law at Niman Gelgoot and Associates and then continued at Goldhart & Associates. After 12 years in practice, Kristen started Normandin Law. In addition to having her own practice, Kristen continues to work in association with Niman Gelgoot and Associates LLP.

Kristen frequently appears before all levels of court including the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal. Kristen’s practice also includes representing clients in mediations and arbitrations and negotiating all forms of domestic contracts.

Kristen is actively involved in the legal community. She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Advocates' Society and she is the Vice Chair of the Advocates Society Family Law Practice Group.

Kristen participates in continuing legal education and speaks at programs of various associations, including the Law Society of Upper Canada and Osgoode Professional Development. Kristen has written articles for Lawyers Weekly and the Law Times.

Jennifer Samara Shuber B.A. LL.B. M.S.W. C.S. Acc.F.M. Beard Winter LLP

Jennifer’s practice is focused exclusively on family law. Jennifer is certified as a specialist in family law by the Law

Society of Upper Canada and accredited as a mediator/arbitrator by the Ontario Association of Family Mediators.

Jennifer advises clients on all family law matters, including property, support and child-related issues. Jennifer

represents clients at all Ontario levels of court, as well as in mediations and arbitrations. She has extensive family

law experience, including in high conflict cases, complex custody and access and high net worth matters. Jennifer also

represents children at the centre of contested custody and access cases, ensuring that the result reached is child focused.

Jennifer’s success stems from her practical approach to problem solving and her solution focused attitude. She obtains

positive outcomes by treating each client as an individual and each case as unique. Jennifer is a skilled and committed

advocate. Her clients appreciate her ability to both negotiate a resolution out of court and litigate successfully on their

behalf. Jennifer is best known for working with her clients to make reasonable decisions, ensuring that they both

understand the process and feel heard during this very emotional time in their lives. Jennifer’s clients value her efficient

and cost-effective approach as well as her warmth and sensitivity.

Jennifer received her B.A. from the University of Western Ontario in 1991, and her LL.B. and M.S.W. from the

University of Toronto in 1995. She was called to the Bar in 1997 and has specialized in family law since that time.

Jennifer is a comprehensive family mediator. She regularly combines her legal and mental health knowledge to assist

clients in creatively resolving their family law disputes.

In addition to representing clients in her private practice, Jennifer continues to lecture in the combined J.D./M.S.W.

Program and is cross-appointed as a lecturer at the University of Toronto Faculties of Law and Social Work.

Jennifer has authored and co-authored numerous papers and articles on family law issues, particularly on

mediation/arbitration and custody and access. Jennifer is actively involved in continuing education programs and

speaks regularly on various family law and mediation topics. Jennifer is a member of the family law section of the

Canadian Bar Association, the Advocates Society, Family Mediation Canada, the Association of Family and Conciliation

Courts and the Ontario College of Social Workers.

Jennifer blogs about current family law issues at torontofamilylawblog.ca. When she is not practicing law, Jennifer

loves travelling, yoga, fiction novels and spending time with her son, family and friends. She enjoys canoe tripping and

has a special fondness for Algonquin Park and its clear night sky.

BRAHM D. SIEGEL

Brahm is a senior partner at Nathens, Siegel, LLP, a family law and divorce boutique

firm with offices in Toronto and Mississauga, celebrating their 20th year this year.

Brahm received his Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours from McGill

University in 1990, a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in 1993, and was

called to the Bar in 1995.

Certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the Law Society in 2008, Brahm was co-

author of McLeod’s Ontario Family Law Rules Annotated for ten years and is the

consulting editor of the Consolidated Ontario Family Law Statutes and Regulations, both

published by Thomson Carswell. He is also the author of the chapters on divorce,

procedure and alternative dispute resolution for the family law Licensing Process at

the Law Society. He was a Dispute Resolution Officer in the Superior Court of

Justice for five years, is a certified Family Mediator with the Ontario Association of

Family Mediators (OAFM), and has a busy mediation/arbitration practice assisting

lawyers and clients resolving divorce disputes.

Brahm has also spoken at numerous conferences and seminars, including the Law

Society of Upper Canada, Advocates Society, and Ontario Association of Family

Mediators. His work has been published in Canadian Family Law Quarterly and

Money and Family Law.

Brahm is also the founder of the Nathens, Siegel Award, an annual scholarship for first-

year law students at Queen's University. He is a member of various organizations

including the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario, the Association of

Family Conciliation Courts, the Ontario Association of Family Mediators,

Collaborative Family Law Association (Toronto), and the International Network of

Boutique Law Firms.

Daniella Wald is an Accredited Family Mediator, Collaborative Family Lawyer and owner of Daniella Wald Family Law Resolutions in Toronto. In addition to her private settlement practice, Daniella is a family mediator on the mediate393 roster, providing court-connected onsite and offsite mediation services at the Toronto Superior Court of Justice. Daniella has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since being called to the Bar in 2007 and she is committed to increasing awareness of and access to family dispute resolution process options. Daniella has been a guest speaker on FDR topics in various mediation and law school courses. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of Collaborative Practice Toronto and the Family Mediation and Resource Center, and is a former Director of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario.

Cheryl Suann Williams Williams Family Lawyers | Family & Collaborative Lawyers * Mediators

Cheryl commenced work in the legal field in 1992 and earned a law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1998. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2000 and is currently pursuing a Masters in Law (Alternative Dispute Resolution) degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. She is also trained in Collaborative Law.

Cheryl's long association with family law commenced in 1996 through her involvement with the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic assisting victims of physical and sexual violence; an intensive study in family law during law school; and articled at the Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of the Children's Lawyer involving custody, access and child protection disputes.

Cheryl has worked in reputable boutique family law firms in Markham and downtown Toronto before joining partnership with Laura Fryer in February, 2014 prior to her appointment to the Superior Court of Justice, Family Court Branch in February, 2015. Cheryl developed an extensive practice in complex financial, property and support disputes. She appears at Provincial and Superior Courts, mediations and arbitrations. Cheryl utilizes strong analytical, written and organizational skills in all of her files. Her approach is to provide service to clients in a resolution-based, efficient, cost-effective, and compassionate manner.

She has written for the Bar Admission Course on Divorce Law and family law publications. She has also written for and presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Bar Association and Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario Continuing Legal Education Programs. Since 2004, she appears in an educational film on separation and divorce produced for the public by the Superior Court of Justice for the Mandatory Information Program entitled “Moving Forward.” Cheryl was selected to present at the Mandatory Information Program at Newmarket Court. She was a Council Member of the Ontario Bar Association and currently sits on its Family Law Executive Committee.

When not practicing family law, Cheryl enjoys Latin and ballroom dancing, travelling and cooking.