Archive for the 'Miscellaneous' Category

Deductibility of Legal Fees

On Strictly Legal I mentioned, almost in passing, that legal fees in family law cases are sometimes deductible for income tax purposes. Little did I know that it would trigger a wave of inquiries. For some reason, a number of family law lawyers have not mentioned to their clients that legal (read more...)

Alternatives to Court - ADR

On November 8, 2007, my guest on “Strictly Legal” was Elinor Whitmore. She is a mediator at the ADR Chambers in Toronto and an experienced trainer in the area of alternative dispute resolution. I wanted to explore this topic on “Strictly Legal” because there is a growing frustration with the (read more...)

Estate Planning Insights: Secret Trusts/Mutual Wills/Joint Accounts

On October 18, 2007, I was very pleased to have on my programme “Strictly Legal” two of Toronto’s top wills and estates lawyers. Jordan Atin and Ian Hull are with the firm of Hull & Hull (www.hullandhull.com). On October 5, 2007, I had attended one of Hull & (read more...)

When Lawyers Go Bad

On October 11, 2007, I was very pleased to have as my guest Mr. Philip Slayton, the author of the wildly popular book, “When Lawyers Go Bad: Money, Sex and Madness in Canada’s Legal Profession” (Published by Penguin/Viking). Mr. Slayton is a lawyer and at one time was (read more...)

Opening Adoption Files - Pain, Privacy and Provincial Law

On “Strictly Legal” on September 27, 2007, I had as my guest Ms. Stacey Stevens. Ms. Stevens is a lawyer with Thomson Rogers  (email: sstevens @thomsonrogers.com). Ms. Stevens was co-counsel with Clayton Ruby on a case heard by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The case was called Joy Cheskes, (read more...)

Juries - Can They Handle The Truth?

On September 20, 2007, my guest on “Strictly Legal” was Todd White, a partner in Greenspan White in Toronto. Todd White and Eddie Greenspan, the partners in that firm, are well known for their representation of Conrad Black and many other accused persons in high profile Canadian cases. Todd has (read more...)

Democratic Reform - Ontario’s Proposed Mixed Member Proportional System

On Ontario 10, 2007, Ontario voters will not only be able to cast a vote for the next provincial government in Ontario, but they will also have the opportunity to vote to select a new method for electing Provincial Members of Parliament. The Referendum asks voters to vote on a recommendation made (read more...)

Peace Builders International

A part of my practice and background includes “alternative dispute resolution.”  Lately people in the field have taken to calling it “appropriate dispute resolution,” the idea being that dispute resolution processes like mediation and arbitration are no longer simply alternatives to litigation.  The question for professionals in the dispute resolution (read more...)

Inaugural Podcast - Strictly Legal: Things You Absolutely Need to Know About Canadian Law

Click here to listen to Strictly Legal Podcast # 1  I am very pleased to announce that my book, “Strictly Legal: Things You Absolutely Need to Know About Canadian Law” is now available at bookstores across Canada. The book is published by Insomniac Press and is available in a soft paperback (read more...)

News Flash!

The new edition (4th) of Surviving Your Divorce” is now available in book stores and through Amazon. Here it is…”Great news! Another book is on the way. The response to my weekly TV program, “Strictly Legal”, (BNN, Thursdays at 8:30pm Eastern/5:30pm Pacific) has been so fantastic that I’m doing a book (read more...)