Tom Dart

Tom Dart was called to the bar in 1976. In the early stages of his career, he practiced as a criminal lawyer, a civil litigation lawyer and a family law lawyer. He now practices only in the area of family law and alternative dispute resolution.

Tom has appeared at all levels of Court in Ontario from Ontario Superior Court of Justice to the Ontario Court of Appeal. He has conducted many trials and many successful negotiations.

Tom is a mediator, with over 15 years’ experience, providing services on contract to the Mediation Centre, Barrie and as a private mediator. Tom has assisted many mediation clients in resolving all matters pertaining to separation including parenting issues as well as financial issues such as property division and support.

Tom also has experience as an Arbitrator of family law disputes, appointed by parties who wish to resolve their disputes privately under the Arbitration Act. Tom has provided Arbitration services to parties and their lawyers for over 8 years. Arbitration can prove an effective and cost efficient method of resolving any family law dispute and Tom is committed to alternatives to dispute resolution such as this.

Tom has presented at continuing legal education seminars for the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada. He has written articles for presentation at such seminars and for other newsletters and periodicals in the area of family law.

Tom has recently been a member of an advisory group to the Attorney General Ontario with respect  to family law reform and with respect to reform of the family courts in Ontario.

Tom has been a volunteer in Barrie for many years. His volunteer commitments include acting as Chair of the Catholic Family Life Centre, Captain for the March of Dimes, Past President of the Barrie Minor Hockey Association and Past President of the Barrie AAA Icemen Minor Hockey Association. He is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and is currently past President of the Family Law Section. He is also a member of the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association and Family Mediation Canada. He is a past vice-president of the Simcoe County Lawyers’ Association and past president of the Simcoe County Family Law Lawyers’ Association. He is also past secretary of the Regional Bench and Bar Committee (1990-1993).

 

Barrie Hayes

Barrie Hayes graduated from the University of Windsor Law School in 1979. He was called to the bar in 1981. Barrie is currently a partner at Barriston LLP (formerly Burgar Rowe Professional Corporation).

Since graduation, Barrie has been providing legal services to the Simcoe County area. He practices in all areas of Family Law, with further extensive experience in both Criminal and Estate Litigation matters.

Barrie has practice experience in all levels of Court in Ontario, including Provincial Offences Court, Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal. He has conducted many cases from start to finish, whether the matter is completed through negotiated settlement or through the Trial process.  Barrie has successfully negotiated countless settlements, often without having to commence court proceedings.

Barrie is a certified mediator and is a member of the Simcoe County Dispute Resolution Association.

Barrie is a past president of the Simcoe County Law Association. He is also the current President of the Simcoe County Family Law Lawyers’ Association, a member of the Criminal Law Lawyers’ Association and the Ontario Bar Association.

Barrie is an appointed Dispute Resolution Officer in the Superior Court of Justice Family Branch.

Barrie was, several years ago, voted Barrie’s Favourite Lawyer by the people of the City of Barrie.

 

Doug Manning

Doug Manning has been providing legal advice and representation for clients in all aspects of family law and has argued cases at all level of courts in Ontario.

Doug has co-authored two legal texts, one on the legal issues of children in need of protection, and the other being Adoption Law in Canada. He has also written scholarly articles in the areas of financial issues in divorce, legal representation for children and has been a contributor to Barrie newspapers on family law matters, as well as appearing as a guest lecturer at the University of Windsor Law School.

In 1998, Doug was granted a Specialist Certification in Family Law, the first lawyer in Simcoe County to do so. He is also one of the few lawyers in Simcoe County to practice Adoption Law and is the only lawyer in Simcoe County who is licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to perform private adoptions.

As a certified Arbitrator and an accredited Mediator Doug also offers services to clients in Alternate Dispute Resolution. Doug is also an agent for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer and represents children in custody, access and child protection disputes.

 

Jodi Armstrong

Jodi Armstrong advises clients in matters relating to custody & access, child support, spousal support, and the division of family property.

Jodi obtained a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University in 1998 having majored in Psychology and minored in English. She went on to attend the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law and graduated in 2002. While at Western, Jodi was involved in community volunteer and fundraising activities.

After completing her year of articles in Vancouver Jodi was called to the Bar of the Law Society of British Columbia in 2003. She practiced Family Law on the west coast but made the decision to return to her roots and transferred to Ontario. She was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in May 2004 and joined Barriston LLP (formerly Burgar Rowe Professional Corporation) shortly thereafter.

In her spare time Jodi enjoys running, hiking, and cycling and is learning to golf and to windsurf.

 

Kelly Blakey

Kelly Blakey is a Senior Family Law Clerk for the Family Law Department.

Her work involves interviewing clients and preparing draft pleadings including applications, affidavits, motions, financial statements and uncontested divorces. She also produces and obtains disclosure, prepares disclosure briefs, and assists in trial preparation. Before taking on the role of Law Clerk with Burgar Rowe Professional Corporation Kelly was Thomas Dart’s Legal Assistant. She has been employed with Barriston LLP (formely Burgar Rowe Professional Corporation) since 1990. Prior to joining Barriston, Kelly was employed as a legal assistant with a Toronto Law Firm for 8 years.

 

 

Catherine Hyde

Catherine Hyde is a Senior Family Law Clerk for the Family Law Department.

Catherine has been in the legal field since 1973 in the role of legal assistant and law clerk in various areas of law including real estate, corporate, family, litigation, wills and estates. Catherine obtained the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario diploma in 1995. Prior to joining Barriston LLP (formerly Burgar Rowe Professional Corporation) in July, 2005, she was assistant/clerk to Mark Scharf, for 14 years dealing primarily with litigation and family matters.

Her work involves interviewing clients and preparing draft pleadings including applications, affidavits, motions, financial statements and uncontested divorces. She also produces and obtains disclosure, prepares disclosure briefs, and assists in trial preparation.

 

 

Evelyn Thompson

Evelyn Thompson joined Barriston’s (formerly Burgar Rowe Professional Corporation) Family Law Department, in December, 2006.

Evelyn has extensive experience with many practice areas, with an emphasis on family law, civil and estate litigation. Her work includes meeting with clients to assist in the preparation of financial statements and gathering all documents necessary to be disclosed in a Family Law matter. Evelyn is responsible for preparing draft pleadings at all stages of a Family Court action, from the initial client meeting up to and including preparing for a trial. Her duties include careful analysis of all documentation provided from opposing parties.

Evelyn is a member of the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario and has been in the legal field since 1982.

 

David Harris-Lowe

David Harris-Lowe advises clients in all areas of family law and estate litigation, in particular relating to property and support disputes. He has represented clients at all levels of court in Ontario and has worked as a Dispute Resolution Officer in the Superior Court of Justice. He is also an accredited mediator and provides mediation services at the Mediation Centre in Barrie.

Before his call to the bar David graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (1993) and from Queen’s University (1996) where he obtained his law degree. He is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, the Simcoe County Law Association and the Simcoe County Family Law Association. David is also a member of the community liaison committee for the Simcoe/Muskoka Supervised Access Centre.

Outside of work David is active in sports, back country camping and spending time with his family.

 

Hilary Goodman

Hilary is an associate lawyer practising in the Family department.

Hilary earned an LL.B. (Honours) from the Faculty of Law at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, an Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution at York University and completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree at Carleton University where she majored in Law. While pursuing her law degree, Hilary was an active member of the Kent Law Clinic and spent a summer at the Hague Academy of International Law.

In her spare time Hilary enjoys playing women’s hockey, skiing and travelling.

Hilary was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2013.

 

Dylan Scott

Bracebridge Office

Dylan is an associate who practices in the areas of commercial litigation and family law. His litigation practice is broad and includes providing advice and representation to clients regarding construction, property, business and contract disputes, as well as employment litigation. Dylan also provides advice and representation to clients regarding all aspects of family law.

Dylan obtained his Honours Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science from the University of Toronto. He graduated as a member of the Dean’s List from the University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law, in 2010 and was awarded the Law Society of Upper Canada Award of Excellence before being called to the Ontario Bar in 2011. Before studying law, Dylan worked in fundraising for Habitat for Humanity Toronto.

Prior to joining Barriston LLP, Dylan articled and practiced commercial litigation with Lerners LLP in Toronto. He is a member of the Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations and the Advocates Society.

In his spare time, Dylan enjoys spending time with his family, sailing, cooking and attempting to play guitar.