A. Shawn Richard, M.A., J.D., TEP
Lawyer, Founder
Practice
Shawn is committed to serving his clients well, and he has an excellent team supporting him.
You can expect a creative, forward-thinking but practical approach to finding solutions for you and your family. We try to provide a supportive environment to our clients, knowing that you come to us with your most important, personal issues often at a time when your life is complicated by complex family issues, complex estate issues, family conflict or all of the above. You may be feeling a bit overwhelmed and wondering it if will get better. With our help, it will. Many of our clients come to us after being represented by more than one different lawyer to finally resolve their matters. Whether you are meeting with Shawn for a second opinion or if he is the first lawyer with whom you meet, his first priority is understanding your story, the legal and practical issues involved and what you want to achieve.
He successfully argued Yenovkian v. Gulian, the first case in Canada to recognize the invasion of privacy tort of publicly placing a person in a false light, to achieve compensation for his client for online abuse from her ex-spouse. Shawn is a frequent speaker, educating other lawyers about foundational and emerging issues in the law. Shawn currently teaches torts at Lincoln Alexander School of Law, and taught trial advocacy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He is a co-chair of the Annual Family Law Summit and a published author.
Shawn’s practice has been built on resolving complicated financial and international family and estate litigation issues.
Bar Admission
Ontario, 2009
Education
TEP 2022, Full Member, STEP Canada
J.D. 2008, University of Toronto
M.A. 2002, University of Toronto
Hon. B.Sc. 2001, University of Toronto
Acknowledgements
Professional Involvement
Shawn is a full member of STEP Canada (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Canada)
Shawn is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Advocates' Society. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and is the Past President of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
Appointed by the Ontario Government as a Reviewer to address concerns about equity, anti-Black racism and serious issues related to governance, leadership and human resources practices in the Peel District School Board
Co-Chair, The Family Law Summit, The Law Society of Ontario, 2021 to Present
Ryerson G. Raymond Chang Volunteer Award, 2019Co-Chair, LSO E-Course on Advancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Legal Professions, 2018 to Present
Program Advisory Committee, Ryerson University Law School, 2017 to Present
Member, Legal Aid Ontario Test Case Committee, 2017 to 2018
Co-creator, Advocacy Skills Training Program for Members of RODA Organizations, a partnership between the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Advocates’ Society
Co-founder, Working Group of the Court of Appeal for Ontario and Equity Seeking Groups
Co-creator, Legal Practice and Equity: A Conversation with the Bar, the Bench and Faculties of Law, Ryerson University Faculty of Law
Publications
Presenter, Unique Issues for Blended Families with Business Interests, Ontario Legal Conference Family, Trusts & Estates Law, Ontario Bar Association, February 9, 2023
Presenter, Navigating After Marriage Contracts, Second Marriages and Estate Planning Considerations, Mastering Marriage Contracts and Cohabitation Agreements: Practical Insights and Creative Drafting Solutions, Ontario Bar Association, June 16, 2022
Presenter, Panel: Nuts and Bolts of Questioning: Undertaking, Refusals, Exhibits and Objections, Questioning for Family Lawyers, May 5, 2002
Presenter, Parental Support by Adult Children & Dependent Support, The Osgoode Certificate in Elder Law, April 7, 2002
Moderator and Presenter, Sexual Assault and Battery Claims/Torts in Family Law, 16th Family Law Summit, Law Society of Ontario, March 29, 2022
Presenter, What We Wish You Knew, Serving the Family: Unpacking the Intersecting Issues in Family, Estates and Real Estate Law, Ontario Bar Association's Institute Series, February 2, 2022
Presenter, Reimagining Legal Education with an EDI Lens, LegalVoices Conference, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, November 13, 2021
Presenter, Panel Discussion: Tech in Your Legal Practice - Tips from the Frontline: Building Your Tech, Law Society of Ontario, November 5, 2021
Presenter, Panel Discussion: Incorporating Children’s Rights in Family and Child Protection Cases, Access to Justice: Recognizing the Rights of Children under the UNCRC, Law Society of Ontario, November 2, 2021
Co-presenter, Cyberbullying in Family Law Cases, Superior Court of Justice (Ontario) Fall Education Seminar, November 2021
Presenter, Panel Discussion: The Diversity of Family Law in Practice, BLSA Canada Conference, May 7, 2021
Presenter, Panel Discussion: Family Disputes, Day 3: Common Elder Law Issues, The Osgoode Certificate in Elder Law, April 14, 2021
Moderator and Presenter, How Do I Practice in a Culturally Competent Way? 15th Family Law Summit, Law Society of Ontario, April 13, 2021
Moderator and Presenter, Update on Tech in Family Law, 15th Annual Family Law Summit, Law Society of Ontario, April 12, 2021
Presenter, Drafting and Executing Enforceable Agreements, The Art of Settlement, Advocates’ Society, February 22, 2021
Presenter, The Ins and Outs of Family Trusts, Ontario Bar Association's Institute Series, February 3, 2021
Presenter, Tools for Addressing Internet Abuse in Parenting Cases, AFCC-Ontario Annual Conference, October 16, 2020
Presenter, It Can Happen to you: Technology and Family Law- the Good the Bad and the Ugly, 14th Annual Family Law Summit, October 1, 2020
Presenter, Beyond Allyship: Coalition Toward Anti-Racism, Korean Canadian Scolarship Foundation, August 19, 2020
Black Lives Matter. State Power and the Breaking of the Social Contract, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, June 18, 2020
Presenter, Legal Practice and Equity: A Conversation with the Bar, the Bench and Faculties of Law, November 2, 2019
Presenter, Marriage Contracts, Conflicts in Blended Families, Sibling Struggles, Predatory Marriages and Family Meetings, Elder Law Certificate Planning, February 26, 2019
Presenter, 13th Annual Family Law Summit, Hot Topics in Child Support, March 19, 2019
Presenter, 12th Annual Family Law Summit, Disclosure, April 10, 2018
Presenter, 11th Annual Family Law Summit, How to Challenge an Income Report: Cross-examination of an Expert, March 6, 2017
Presenter, 20th Annual Estates and Trusts Summit, Professionalism Issues in Estates Litigation, October 16, 2017
Review of the Peel District School Board – Final Report Suzanne Herbert, Ena Chadha and Shawn Richard, February 28, 2020
Disclosure: The Principle of Proportionality, Shawn Richard, 12th Annual Family Law Summit, April 10, 2018
34 Days, Two Experts and an Overnight: a Critique of M v F, 2013 ONSC 6089 and M v F, 2015 ONCA 277, Shawn Richard and Esther Lenkinski, 5th Annual Recent Developments and Complex Issues in Child and Spousal Support, October 5, 2015.
Tactics and Strategy on Examinations and Motions in Matrimonial Cases, Esther Lenkinski and Shawn Richard. Ontario Family Law Practice, Related Materials, 2015 to the present
The Value of Date of Marriage Debt: Zavarella v. Zavarella, 2013 ONCA 720, Shawn Richard and Esther Lenkinski. 3rd Annual Recent Developments and Complex Issues in Property and Equalization, April 14, 2014
PHONE
416-718-4040
