Insights

Practice Areas

residential and commercial real estate, wills and estates, powers of attorney, corporate law, and landlord and tenant disputes.

Kristofer was born and raised in Thunder Bay and attended Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute. After high school, Kristofer attended Lakehead University and obtained an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2008. In the fall of 2009, Kristofer moved to Cardiff, Wales to attend the University of Cardiff and he obtained his law degree in the summer of 2012.

Following graduation, Kristofer began work as a student at Randall Johns Law Office while achieving his accreditation through the National Committee on Accreditation through the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He then articled with Randall Johns Law Office in 2013 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in January, 2014.

In his spare time, Kristofer is an avid sporting and outdoor enthusiast.

PRACTICE AREAS

Civil Litigation, Insurance Litigation, Employment and Labour Relations, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Thunder Bay Law Association
• Board Member

Natalie maintains a broad civil litigation practice. She has a particular interest in personal injury and human rights law. She appears regularly before the Superior Court of Justice and various administrative tribunals.

Natalie articled with Ericksons LLP and joined the firm as a litigation associate in 2017. She enjoys problem solving and helping her clients achieve successful litigation outcomes.

Natalie is from Sudbury originally. She pursued her Honours BA at the University of Toronto (Trinity College) and attended Western University for her Master’s. She returned to Northern Ontario for law school and was awarded her law degree in 2016 from Lakehead’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.

In addition to her legal work, Natalie is a founding member of the Thunder Bay Branch of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), an organization dedicated to advancing substantive equality rights for women and girls through litigation, law reform, and public education. She has also acted an adjudicator with Lakehead University’s Sexual and Gender-based Violence Panel.

In her spare time, Natalie enjoys spending time outside with her dogs, Zeus and Rex, practicing yoga, and cross-country skiing.

Select Reported Decisions:

J.B. v. R.B., 2021 ONSC 1023 (CanLII)
Natalie successfully obtained judgment for her client, whose damages were assessed at $1,000,000.

Homer v. MacKay et al., 2020 ONSC 5283 (CanLII)
Natalie successfully moved to set aside an administrative dismissal for delay so that her client could pursue his personal injury claim.

Pretto v. Almgren, 2020 ONSC 6966 (CanLII)
Natalie brought a claim for a purchaser in negligent misrepresentation against the sellers of a home that had undisclosed deficiencies. The Court found that the sellers had negligently misrepresented the state of the home. The decision was upheld on appeal to the Divisional Court.

Bodnar v. The Estate of Peter Boban, 2020 ONSC 2006 (CanLII)
Natalie acted for a mortgage lender and successfully brought summary judgment against the borrower who argued that the interest rate on the mortgage had been reduced.

In the News:

Sexual assault victim wins $1,000,000 court judgment, TBNewsWatch
LEAF continues fight for equality, The Chronicle Journal.

Practice Areas

business law, commercial and residential real estate, civil and family litigation, and estate law.

Randall was born and raised in Thunder Bay. He attended Port Arthur Collegiate and obtained his Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Lakehead University, with first class standing, in May, 1974.

In the fall of 1974, Randall moved to Toronto to attend the University of Toronto. While attending U. of T., Randall married Holly, then also a law student. He graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in May, 1977. Following graduation, Randall articled in the Law Department of Abitibi Price in Toronto. He was called to the Ontario bar in April, 1979.

After his call to the bar he articled, again, this time in the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse in Toronto. Randall obtained his Chartered Accountant’s designation in March, 1982.

Randall left Price Waterhouse in January, 1983 and began a short career in commercial banking with Bank of Montreal. That work brought him, Holly and their two children, back to Thunder Bay in the summer of 1984.

Randall left banking behind and began practicing law with the firm of Murray & Courtis in early 1985 becoming a partner several years later and then operated his own practice from 1997 to 2021.

PRACTICE AREAS

Wills and Estates.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Canadian Bar Association
• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association
• Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce
• Canadian Bar Association Estates and Trust Section

Ken recently retired as a partner of the firm, however he now acts as counsel to the firm and although he has practiced law in the areas of real estate and estates for almost 45 years, he now limits his practice to just Wills and Estates.

Ken can help you by providing advice on Wills and Powers of Attorney as well as advising you how to control your assets and your healthcare while alive, were you to become unable to do so yourself, and then with regard to the eventual distribution of your estate once you are gone. His many years of experience with the settling and probating of estates, as well as resolving estate disputes, have earned him a well-deserved reputation as an expert in these areas.

Ken began his post-secondary education by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from Lakehead University in 1972. He then received his Law Degree from the University of Manitoba in 1975, and finally, following graduation from the Osgoode Hall Bar Admission Program, became a Notary Public for the Province of Ontario as well as being made a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ontario in 1977.

Practice Areas

Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Residential Real Estate

Professional Affiliations

• Canadian Bar Association
• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association

Gillian Matson practices in the areas of Estate Planning (Wills and Powers of Attorney), Estate Administration, and residential real estate. Gillian creates estate plans for clients that are tailored to their specific family dynamics and intentions. Gillian advises Executors, trustees and beneficiaries on their rights and responsibilities in the administration of Estates and Trusts.

Gillian regularly assists clients in all aspects of residential real estate, including sales, purchases, refinancing, family transfers, and title correction matters.

Gillian obtained her Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Trent University in 2010 and earned her JD from Queen’s University in 2013. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2014. Prior to joining Ericksons LLP in 2021 she practiced at Thunder Bay firm in the same practice areas. Gillian is proudly from Red Lake, Ontario, but has called Thunder Bay home since 2013.

Community Involvement

PRACTICE AREAS

Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Labour & Employment Litigation

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Law Society of Ontario
• Canadian Bar Association
• Thunder Bay Law Association
• Ontario Trial Lawyers Association

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Matthew earned his undergraduate degree from Lakehead University, completing an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, in 2014.

Matthew continued his education at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, earning his law degree at one of the first law schools in Canada to focus on northern/rural practice, responsible natural resource development, and the law as it relates to Indigenous peoples. After being called to the bar of Ontario in 2018, he now focuses his practice in the areas of general Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, and Labour & Employment law, and has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, Small Claims Court, and Ontario Provincial Offences Court.

When not at the office, Matthew can be found walking his dogs, on the golf course, doing home renovations, or visiting with his many nieces and nephews.

Some of the recent cases Matthew has been involved in include:

• Ledger v Sabourin et al., 2019 ONSC 1893: for the Defendant
• Steinberg et al. v. Adderley, 2019 ONSC 1524: for the Defendant

Credentials:
HBA, JD.

Practice areas:

• Corporate and Commercial Litigation
• Estate Litigation

Professional Memberships

• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association

Morris Holervich practices in Civil Litigation, focusing primarily on Corporate and Commerical Litigation, and Estate Litigation.

Morris has over 30 years’ experience in representing clients before the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, Federal Court of Canada, and various provincial and federal administrative tribunals.

His experience in Corporate and Commercial Litigation is across a broad range of matters, including shareholder disputes, complex construction claims, security enforcement and debt collection, and issues relating to land ownership and use. His experience in Estate Litigation includes disputes over will interpretation and estate administration including accounting issues, and issues involving powers of attorney and Court appointed guardianship.

His approach to litigation generally involves the considered assessment of any given situation, followed by the implementation of a plan deliberately aimed at resolving or determining any matter in dispute, in the most practical and cost-effective manner possible.

Morris earned undergraduate degrees at Queen’s University in Chemistry, and Economics and Political Science. He received his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa in 1985, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1987.

Representative Decisions

Obtained substantial indemnity costs awards totaling over $470,000 in a protracted shareholder dispute: Gustafson v. Johnson 2021 ONSC 536 (CanLII)

Successfully defended against a motion for contempt in complex shareholder litigation: Witiluk v. Witiluk 2019 ONSC 2275 (CanLII)

Obtained a Judgment that applicants were 84% shareholders entitled to a winding-up Order, upheld on appeal: Gustasfon v. Johnson 2016 ONSC 2804 (CanLII); 2018 ONSC 1500 (Div. Ct.)

Obtained dismissal of an oppression Application, upheld on appeal: Dziver v. Marostica-Wing Developments Ltd. 2006 CanLII 42648 (S.C.J.); 2007 CanLII 45418 (Div. Ct.)

PRACTICE AREAS

Construction Law, Corporate & Commercial, Real Estate, Wills and Estates.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Canadian Bar Association
• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association
• Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce

Gino Arnone has helped hundreds of Northwestern Ontario businesses and non-profit corporations to achieve success. He provides expert advice and assistance in organizing and reorganizing business structures to maximize their commercial and tax efficiencies. He has successfully handled a large number of business acquisitions, from small corporate business purchases to large and complex transactions.

Gino practices primarily in Corporate & Commercial Law. He also conducts seminars in Contemporary Business Law and the Personal Property Security Act/Credit-Proofing, with the goal of helping businesses better understand these issues.

Gino graduated with an Honour Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University in 1971, and earned his LL.B. from Queen’s in 1974. Gino was called to the Ontario Bar in 1976.

PRACTICE AREAS

Civil Litigation, Estates Litigation, Real Estate, Wills and Estates.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association
• Canadian Bar Association

Ryan was born and raised in Thunder Bay and enjoyed a successful 20-year career as a Funeral Director in the city, before attending Lakehead University’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law where he received his Juris Doctor law degree in 2018. Ryan worked for a local criminal law firm before joining Ericksons LLP as a law student in May of 2017. Ryan was called to the Ontario Bar in January 2019 and practices primarily in the area of Wills and Estates, but also in Estate Litigation, Civil Litigation, and Real Estate.

PRACTICE AREAS

Civil Litigation, Insurance Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Canadian Bar Association
• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association
• The Holland Group, Practice Advisory Committee

Robert Somerleigh practices exclusively in Civil Litigation for Erickson & Partners.

Robert is a seasoned trial lawyer, appearing at all levels of Courts in the Province of Ontario. Many of his cases have been reported in law journals, including several before the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Since 1995, he has been a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (Medical Malpractice Subsection) and held the position of Director of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association from 1995 to 2000.

He is at present the most experienced lawyer in Northwestern Ontario in the area of Medical Malpractice. Robert also practices in the areas of Insurance Litigation, Motor Vehicle Accidents and Personal Injury.

Robert has also been named to the Best Lawyers in Canada list on four occasions.

Robert graduated from Lakehead University in 1972 and earned his LL.B. from the University of Windsor in 1975. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1977.

LinkedIn

PRACTICE AREAS

Indigenous, Corporate & Commercial, Labour & Employment.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Canadian Bar Association, Indigenous Division
• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association
• Founding Member and Advisor, The Indigenous Law and Advocacy Program, Negahneewin College at Confederation College
• Tutor, Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University

Ted Scollie practices in the areas of Corporate & Commercial, Labour & Employment, and Aboriginal Law. He has been involved in various enterprises, including counsel for a regional airline in such matters as financing and commercial acquisitions. Ted has also represented several First Nations commercial entities, such as a travel agency, mining security organization, and an alternative energy company. He provides advice and assistance in organizing of business structures and non-profit entities.

Ted works extensively with First Nations communities and organizations in Northern Ontario, with an emphasis on commercial matters and in Aboriginal bank financing.

Ted provides employment and labour advice to several Aboriginal and First Nations businesses, non-profit organizations and employee associations. He also advises and assists with the organization and reorganization of non-profit corporations.

Ted earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Lakehead University in 1989, and earned his J.D. from the University of Toronto in 1992. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1994.

Community Involvement:
Westfort Kiwanis Club Past Director, Scandinavian Home Society of Thunder Bay President, Thunder Bay-Atikokan Progressive Conservative Party Director and Vice President, Thunder Bay Ventures

LinkedIn

PRACTICE AREAS

Indigenous & First Nations, Civil Litigation, Corporate & Commercial, Real Estate, Wills and Estates

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Canadian Bar Association
• Ontario Bar Association
• Law Society of Ontario
• Thunder Bay Law Association
• OBA Indigenous law
• OBA Business law
• OBA Construction Law
• OBA Real Property Law

Lucas Jewitt has had the privilege of spending much of the past decade working with First Nations, community development corporations, and tribal councils as an ally of Indigenous peoples in Northwestern Ontario.  As a lawyer, Lucas has developed a legal practice focused on working closely with First Nations and Indigenous organizations to strengthen governance, grow economies, protect rights, reclaim sovereignty, address injustices, and ultimately build healthy, resilient, and prosperous nations.

Primary Areas of Practice:

• Indigenous Legal Issues
• Corporate & Commercial

 
Academic Qualifications

As a member of Bora Laskin Faculty of Law’s charter class Lucas was one of the first students in the province to complete a J.D. program tailored to northern/rural practice, responsible natural resource development, and the law as it relates to Indigenous peoples in Canada. During law school Lucas completed academic work related to Indigenous law, the crown’s duty to consult and accommodate, First Nations governance, mining law, environmental law, natural resource development, and Indigenous law. In addition to the Lakehead curriculum, Lucas participated in Osgoode Hall Law School’s renowned Intensive Program in Indigenous Lands, Resources and Governments. As part of that program, he was placed with West Coast Environmental Law’s Indigenous and Natural Resources law team in Vancouver where he was involved with projects that supported First Nation communities looking to revitalize, articulate, and apply aspects of their own Indigenous laws to questions of environmental governance.  Lucas was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2017.

• Juris Doctor, Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (Lakehead)
• Intensive Program in Indigenous Lands, Resources & Governments (Osgood Hall Law School)
• Honours Bachelor of Commerce (University of Ottawa)
• Called to the Bar of Ontario, 2017

 
Professional Affiliations & Community Involvement:

• Northern Ontario School of Medicine – Governance Committee
• Law Society of Ontario
• Canadian Bar Association
• Thunder Bay Law Association

Barbara attains with High Distinction a Master of Laws and Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law completing her legal studies with preeminence in Canadian and parallel International Business and Tax Law. She is a Law Fellow with a Principal Faculty in the United States in Transnational Law and Policy with predominance in Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law and Comparative Public Law completing her studies under the direct supervision of President Emeritus Talbot D’Alemberte. She was called on to deliver her thesis and respectively publish on the Canadian Constitution and the Criminal Code of Canada in light of the Sex Workers Case with the David Asper Center of Constitutional Rights, University of Toronto Faculty of Law while concurrently publish for the Supreme Court of Canada. Barbara attains with High Distinction an Honors Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting and Taxation.

Barbara served as an elected Officer on the Executive Committee of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law Student Council in addition to serve as a Student Representative of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law Women and the Law Society. She instructed on Legal Advocacy at three prominent Law Faculties, and lectured on Business Law for the Canadian Economic Development Commission and for an International Law Faculty. She has engaged in discourse on matters of Gender Binary including a deficiency in their serving on Canadian Corporate Boards and their retention within the legal profession. Barbara is an Executive of the Law Needs Feminism Because National Committee and is assisting in furthering its mandate.

Derek Noyes practices in the areas of Labour & Employment, Real Estate, Indigenous, and Environmental Law.  He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria in 2010, and was subsequently admitted to the Law Society of British Columbia in 2011 and to the Law Society of Ontario in 2012.

Derek takes a proactive approach to labour and employment issues, finding that it is almost always better to prevent a dispute before it can arise, through sound judgment and sound agreements.  Derek prides himself on providing sensible and effective advice to his clients, and on working closely with clients to ensure that matters come to successful conclusions whenever possible. He has advised and represented clients regarding strikes and lockouts, grievances, certification drives and applications (for both unions and employers) and collective bargaining.

In real estate, Derek enjoys having a hands-on practice, meeting personally with clients and working closely with support staff to ensure that the deal goes smoothly. When issues arise, Derek’s litigation experience allows him to provide effective, practical advice and take firm positions that can be backed up with action.

Where a negotiated resolution is not possible, Derek is prepared to bring a matter forward for adjudication. Derek has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Provincial Court, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Ontario Labour Board, the Chief Coroner of Ontario, and the Federal Court of Canada on a variety of matters related to real estate, labour and employment and band governance.

Prior to attending law school, Derek obtained an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in History, and Bachelor’s Degrees in French and Education from Lakehead University. Following this, Derek worked as a substitute teacher for the Superior-Greenstone District School Board, working with students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Derek enjoys spending his time away from work trail running, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, playing soccer and hockey, and (above all) being with his family.

Community Involvement:

• Thunder Bay and District Humane Society – Vice-President
• Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Foundation – Vice-President
• Fort William Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 415, M.M.

Representative Decisions:

Labour and Employment:
Labourers’ International Union of North America, Ontario Provincial District Council v RJ Concrete & Construction Ltd., 2020 CanLII 101810 (ON LRB): Derek acted for the Respondent employer in successfully defending against an application for automatic certification by the Applicant union.

Bombardier Transportation Canada Inc. v. Unifor et al, 2014 ONSC 4635 (CanLII): Derek acted for the Respondent union in successfully defending against an application by the employer seeking to effectively end lawful strike action.

Indigenous:
James v. McDowell Lake First Nation, 2020 FC 641 (CanLII): Derek acted on behalf of the Respondent First Nation and its council in defending against an application to declare an extension of council’s term and subsequent election null and void.

Inquest into the Deaths of Seven First Nations Youth: Derek appeared on behalf of an Intervenor tribal council to assist in determining the cause of death of a community student and in developing strategies and funding opportunities to prevent future deaths of First Nations youth attending school in Thunder Bay.

Gagnon v. Bell, 2016 FC 1222 (CanLII): Derek acted on behalf of the Respondent First Nation and its council in defending against an application to overturn the results of an election.

Real Estate:
Fors v. Overacker & Mallon, 2014 ONSC 3084 (CanLII): Derek acted on behalf of the Plaintiff in a successful claim against the sellers of a home who failed to properly disclose significant water, leakage and septic issues to the buyers.