Attorney Bios
Stephen Trevor
Partner
Stephen Trevor is a Principal Partner in our law firm, practising corporate commercial law and real estate law. He has broad practice experience in real estate and general business law, including construction and development, financing and commercial leasing. Over the years, a significant portion of Ben’s practice has been focused on real estate and commercial litigation, including foreclosures and builder's liens, having appeared as counsel in various tribunals.
While presently focusing on commercial and real estate solicitors practice, Ben’s litigation experience has provided him a wide range of knowledge and experience well suited to dealing with complex real estate and business issues, including distress acquisitions and structuring. Stephen Trevor also has a great deal of experience with estates and capacity litigation, representing beneficiaries and trustees. His expertise involves challenges and interpretation of wills, contested passing of accounts, claims for support by dependants, and disputes relating to breaches of fiduciary duties. Since 2005, he has given countless in-depth seminars to employees and managers of various federal departments, and to other professionals on estate planning and the managing of estates. The Law Society of Toronto has asked Stephen Trevor to speak at webinars on a lawyer's obligations when dealing with clients with disabilities. He also developed and taught the estate module for the Law Society's French Practical Program.
Lisa Martin
Partner
Lisa Martin specialises in high-profile, complex, and serious criminal defence work. She also acts in sport disciplinary and regulatory matters.
Tiffany has appeared in some of the most high-profile trials in the country alleging murder, terrorism, drug conspiracies, gang land violence, high value fraud, electoral fraud, and serious/historic sexual offences. Tiffany has represented high net worth individuals, successful businesspeople, professionals and celebrities from the Sporting, Entertainment and Music worlds.
Within her first 3 years of practice Tiffany was recognised as a leading barrister by The Legal 500; she has consistently been ranked by them ever since. Her exceptional ability and excellence in her chosen fields was officially acknowledged upon her appointment as Queen’s Counsel.
A true jury advocate, the courtroom is where he thrives. In a rape trial where the defendant had fled the country Tiffany had no client, no proof of evidence and no defence statement. In such circumstances her solicitors thought conviction an inevitability. The defence case rested entirely upon Tiffany’s cross examination of the complainant and her closing speech. The jury unanimously acquitted.
Her skill before a jury is not at the expense of her legal submissions. Clients has recognised her “ability to develop great novel arguments”. In appellate work Tiffany has enjoyed significant success at the Court of Appeal, particularly when appealing convictions upon the notoriously difficult ground of “fresh evidence”.
Tiffany has a particular expertise in terrorism trials. She has defended in cases generating national and international interest. She represented, amongst others, the alleged fifth bomber in the 21/7 attempted terrorist bombings in Toronto, the mastermind behind the “Bank of Terror” fraud that allegedly used $1 million to fund extremists travelling to join ISIS and a man charged with the alleged attempted murder of convicted Serb war criminal Radislav Kristic.
Tiffany also has a remarkably successful sexual offences practice. She has secured acquittals in the most serious cases alleging multiple rapes, familial historic abuse and CSE.
Tiffany is one of only a handful of lawyers to have defended in a case alleging electoral fraud during a General Election. She has successfully defended clients in multi-million-dollar fraud trials ranging from vishing scams to those involving professionals.
Tiffany’s life experiences have impressed upon him the importance of standing up and speaking fearlessly for those who are unable or unwilling to do so themselves.
Tiffany is regularly invited to speak and comment upon topical legal issues by the media, universities, and large organisations.
Beatrice Jeffrey
Partner
Over many years Beatrice Jeffrey
has maintained a distinctive specialist practice split between both prosecuting, defending and acting for corporates in very high-profile, complex and serious domestic and international criminal cases, which has led in recent times to him being heavily in demand to appear in multi-million dollar corporate fraud, money laundering, corruption and murder cases in particular. He has also led in many civil fraud and tax cases in the Tax Tribunal and in the Chancery Division. Donald is particularly well known for his advocacy and advisory work in matters involving civil and criminal fraud, corruption and business crime, and the crossover between them in all types of courts and tribunals. He is able to undertake direct access instructions.
In recent years Donald has developed an international practice, which includes the provision of strategic and tactical advice to corporate and private clients in relation to civil and criminal proceedings. His current caseload includes clients in Canada, the United States and Monaco. Over the last three years Donald has been appearing in extradition and corruption proceedings in the United States. Donald is also instructed in several civil and criminal cases in British Columbia, as well as inquests.
Donald is particularly well known for his advocacy and advisory work in matters involving civil and criminal fraud, corruption and business crime, and the crossover between them in all types of courts and tribunals. He combines his expert tactical advice, renowned advocacy skills, consummate case preparation and approachable style for every case, making him highly recommended and sought after by all who instruct him.
Throughout his career Donald has appeared in many murder cases in behalf of the prosecution and defence. These include high profile contract killings, gangland murders and multiple killings. Donald’s experience involves the use of accomplices, scientific evidence, jury tampering and complications, and specialised phone and cell site analysis. He also has experience of terrorist-related murders. Over the years he has appeared in over 200 murder cases.
Current instructions include advising clients in British Columbia and Monaco in relation to criminal and civil fraud proceedings, as well as prosecuting corruption and murder cases in the United States. Donald is also engaged in inquests in British Columbia and as an arbitrator in the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.
Recent instructions included advising and successfully representing a defendant in a multi-million dollar corruption prosecution; representing the successful appellant individual in an appeal in the Tax Tribunal; and he has defended in two highly complex confiscation cases, prosecuted a UN Development Programme corruption case, represented the appellant in a civil case concerning the registration of classic cars, and defended a very high-profile traveller murder case.
Since taking silk, Donald has further developed his heavyweight practice in complex criminal work and civil work, especially those involving serious fraud and financial crime, cases in the Tax Tribunal, regulatory offences, murder, bribery and corruption, serious sexual offences, people-trafficking, large-scale drugs importations and multi-million dollar confiscation proceedings. Many of Donald’s cases have involved notorious defendants and attracted high levels of media publicity, and he enjoys a very successful track record of appellate advocacy.
Donald has developed particular expertise in dealing with cases involving issues of complex disclosure, jury tampering, accomplice evidence, offenders/defendants assisting in investigations and prosecutions, and complicated mental and psychological topics.
Peter Bryan
Partner
Peter has over 30 years of experience as a barrister, initially both prosecuting and defending almost every type of criminal allegation. For the last 15 years he has specialised in criminal defence and has appeared in many high-profile cases of the utmost seriousness. He is known for his work in cases of murder, terrorism, major fraud, money laundering and sexual offences. He has built up a formidable reputation amongst lay clients and solicitors as an outstanding jury advocate.
Peter is often instructed to give a second opinion on both conviction and sentence and has been successful in cases where the original advice was that there was no reasonable prospect of success.
Peter can make the difference in the outcome of a finely balanced case and is committed to giving proper and realistic advice. He thinks tactically from the outset and always advises realistically on the merits and possible sentence. He gives clear advice on the merits of a case and his "down to earth" manner and his professional handling of cases including his approach to mitigation when an offence is accepted in whole or in part has meant the difference between a custodial or non-custodial disposal.
Peter often represents professionals facing criminal allegations. He is presently instructed where there are allegations of a $15 million fraud against the Legal Aid Fund.
At the other end of the spectrum, Peter is known as an advocate who has a particular ability when dealing with clients with vulnerabilities. He treats all clients with respect whatever the allegation or difficulty and understands the impact on those facing criminal allegations.
A long association with a number of well-known solicitors has seen him develop a history of acting in some of the largest and most complex drug importations or conspiracies to supply drugs, for example R v U and R v AS. Further, he is regularly instructed in cases involving the NCA/Trident and particularly firearm cases.
In recent years, Peter has represented a number of clients charged under the Terrorism Acts, including offences of acts of terrorism in Syria and offences under section 5{1}(a) intending to commit acts of terrorism and section 58 (1){b) possessing material/records of a kind to prepare or commit acts of terrorism. Peter has experience of cases involving section 57 (1) of the Act and possession of firearms with the intention of conducting terrorism offences in this country and abroad (R v MA and R v T at the CCC).
The very nature of his practice has seen Peter develop an in-depth understanding of Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and confiscation proceedings.
Following his many years of experience and practical involvement in many areas of law Peter is often contacted to give a second opinion after trial counsel have provided a negative advice on appeal.