I assist clients in maintaining greater control over their lives by working with them to craft settlements that meet their own unique needs.
I am a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where I obtained my law degree after completing undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia and McMaster University.
I am accredited as a family mediator by the Ontario Associate for Family Mediation (OAFM), and I am a member of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO), Collaborative Practice Niagara (CPN), the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), the Lincoln County Law Association (LCLA), and the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).
I was called to the bar in 2010. Before I established my own practice, I honed my legal skills at a large national law firm in Toronto, and a boutique family law firm in Hamilton.
I have been a presenter in the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Mandatory Information Program for family law proceedings. I have also acted as a contributing editor for various titles of the legal encyclopedia Halsbury’s Laws of Canada, including the title on Family Law. I previously served on the board of directors for the Niagara Community Legal Clinic, and the executive for Collaborative Practice Niagara.
Before I decided to pursue a career in law, I was a culinary apprentice. I still love to cook.
We trusted Sharon with the most important financial and family assets in our lives, and she treated them with all of her care and attention. Sharon listened to our goals and concerns, and her calm and reassuring demeanor made it easy to see a path forward.
S & I PrescottI had an excellent experience with Sharon. All my questions and concerns were answered and addressed. Sharon’s expertise and knowledge of family law and mediation guided me during each step of the process. I highly recommend Sharon and have done so to family and friends in need of legal advice.
Steve GSharon helped me to prepare a separation agreement, and then again years later to prepare a marriage contract. In both cases, she was great. She was extremely knowledgeable, easy to work with, understanding, and sensitive around difficult subjects. I would absolutely recommend her.
Steven ASharon is trustworthy and provided her expertise and guidance from our initial meeting, throughout the entire separation process. I can’t thank Sharon enough for her personal approach and expertise during this process. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is going through the challenges of separation or divorce.
Matt WSharon was fantastic to work with. She made me feel comfortable and supported as I navigated a stressful life event. Sharon explained everything very clearly and helped me understand my choices and make the best decisions for my situation.
Allison AI was extremely satisfied with Sharon’s legal expertise and professionalism. She proved to be a reliable and competent lawyer who truly understands her clients’ needs. Sharon’s attentive listening skills and drama-free approach made my legal experience stress-free and efficient.
D RogersSeparation is never easy and I wanted to ensure the process was as amicable as possible with my ex-partner. Our separation took place at the outset of the global pandemic, which made things even more challenging but Sharon quickly adapted to our new reality. She took a collaborative approach to the entire process and helped me focus on the important steps.
MWI entered the office a frightened, abused woman. I almost gave up but Sharon’s compassion and empathy guided me through the legal process. Her understanding and concern continued after the legal documents were signed. It was my pleasure to have such a hard-working, honest lawyer. Sharon was recommended to me and I continue to highly recommend her.
ConnieWe trusted Sharon with the most important financial and family assets in our lives, and she treated them with all of her care and attention. Sharon listened to our goals and concerns, and her calm and reassuring demeanor made it easy to see a path forward.
S & I PrescottI had an excellent experience with Sharon. All my questions and concerns were answered and addressed. Sharon’s expertise and knowledge of family law and mediation guided me during each step of the process. I highly recommend Sharon and have done so to family and friends in need of legal advice.
Steve GSharon helped me to prepare a separation agreement, and then again years later to prepare a marriage contract. In both cases, she was great. She was extremely knowledgeable, easy to work with, understanding, and sensitive around difficult subjects. I would absolutely recommend her.
Steven ASharon is trustworthy and provided her expertise and guidance from our initial meeting, throughout the entire separation process. I can’t thank Sharon enough for her personal approach and expertise during this process. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is going through the challenges of separation or divorce.
Matt WSharon was fantastic to work with. She made me feel comfortable and supported as I navigated a stressful life event. Sharon explained everything very clearly and helped me understand my choices and make the best decisions for my situation.
Allison AI was extremely satisfied with Sharon’s legal expertise and professionalism. She proved to be a reliable and competent lawyer who truly understands her clients’ needs. Sharon’s attentive listening skills and drama-free approach made my legal experience stress-free and efficient.
D RogersSeparation is never easy and I wanted to ensure the process was as amicable as possible with my ex-partner. Our separation took place at the outset of the global pandemic, which made things even more challenging but Sharon quickly adapted to our new reality. She took a collaborative approach to the entire process and helped me focus on the important steps.
MWI entered the office a frightened, abused woman. I almost gave up but Sharon’s compassion and empathy guided me through the legal process. Her understanding and concern continued after the legal documents were signed. It was my pleasure to have such a hard-working, honest lawyer. Sharon was recommended to me and I continue to highly recommend her.
ConnieMy astrological “big three” are Aries sun, Aries moon, and Taurus rising.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a remote practice, and I meet with clients and other professionals almost exclusively via Zoom video conference. Documents can be sent to us electronically, by mail, or left in a secure drop box located in downtown St. Catharines.
When I am acting as a lawyer, I can only ever represent one party to the Separation Agreement. It would be a conflict of interest to give legal advice to both sides. When I am acting as a mediator, I do meet with clients together to facilitate settlement discussions. However, I always meet with mediation clients individually first to ensure that mediation will be an appropriate process before getting started.
Yes. The role of a mediator is different from the role of a lawyer. Your mediator’s job is to facilitate settlement discussions and help you and the other party to come up with solutions that will be mutually acceptable. But your mediator cannot give you legal advice because doing so would put them into a conflict of interest. For this reason, I insist that my mediation clients also work with a lawyer to obtain independent legal advice.
If you are seeking representation in court, I am not the right lawyer for you. My practice is focused exclusively on the out-of-court settlement of family law issues. If you are uncertain about whether court will be necessary, you are welcome to book an initial consultation with me to gain clarity on your needs and the ways in which I can support you, as long as you are comfortable with the possibility that I may end up needing to refer you to a colleague.