SERVICES
We can fully represent you or provide you with limited scope services based on your needs. Click on 'Services & Fees' at the top of the page to learn more.
Areas of law include:
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- Employment, Labour and Human Rights
- Civil Litigation
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Family
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Administrative and Environmental
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Wills & Estates
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Notary Services
APPROACH
We use the latest technology and try to minimize paper usage where possible to make our practice more cost effective (and greener!). We also ensure all of our staff and significant contractors are paid a living wage. We are the first private law practice to become a Champion Level Living Wage Employer in Niagara, in accordance with the Ontario Living Wage Network.
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Legal services have unfortunately become unaffordable and out of reach for the majority. This often leads to self-representation. Although going to court alone is not recommended or ideal, it is the reality that the legal profession is facing. Lawyers make a significant investment in their education and bring a special set of skills to approaching complex problems which can take a lot of time and effort to solve. That stated, it may be possible to provide alternatives such as unbundling (limited scope services) and legal coaching to help make legal services more affordable.
LAWYERS
ABOUT CHANTAL
Chantal McCollum grew up in the Niagara Region, where she attended Brock University and obtained a B.Sc. Later, she attended the University of Toronto, where she completed a M.Eng. in environmental engineering. Following this, she spent over five years working as an environmental consultant in large engineering firms in the GTA and Kitchener/Waterloo areas.
Chantal was a self-represented litigant on more than one occasion. While a self-represented person with respect to a human rights and employment law matter, she was inspired by her legal coach (a lawyer) to pursue a Juris Doctor, which she obtained from the University of Ottawa. During her first summer in law school, she volunteered at a legal clinic. She spent her next summer working at a large local firm and articled there after law school. Then, she thought it would be wise to start-up a law practice during a pandemic.
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Chantal is a member of the Lincoln County Law Association and sits on the Board of Directors, as Treasurer.
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Chantal's practice is focused on general civil litigation including employment and human rights matters, but she also can help with wills and estate and family matters. Chantal has an interest in environmental law also.
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In her spare time, Chantal likes to travel, takes care of her two cats and makes poor attempts to speak French. She is actively involved in politics and may be seen knocking on doors around election time. She was "voluntold" to be a CFO/Official Agent for a federal political campaign in 2019.
ABOUT SAMANTHA
Samantha Addario was born and raised in the Niagara Region and obtained her bachelor’s degree from Brock University. After graduating from Brock, she spent several years working as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for individuals living with acquired brain injuries. Despite loving this work, Samantha later went back to school and obtained her Juris Doctor from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. After law school, she returned to the Niagara Region to practice predominantly in Family Law.
In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reflecting on how she does not have any spare time. When she is not lawyering, she most enjoys volunteering and advocating for others in an activist capacity. Since her very first volunteer job as a child, Samantha has been passionate about community involvement and helping others. She is an activist for human and animal rights, and she has volunteered with a wide range of organizations helping a variety of individuals and groups. She has also served as a member of various boards, groups, and committees.
Samantha enjoys socializing with her close friends and family, but her favourite person is unequivocally her dog, who is a rescue from Mexico. She wishes she could apologize to the humans in her life for this last bit, but she’s just not sorry about it.
ABOUT PETAR
Petar Jovanovic - TBD
ARTICLING STUDENTS
ABOUT LAUREN
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Lauren Serianni was born and raised in the Niagara region and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Brock University. After graduating from Brock, Lauren moved to England to obtain a LLB from the University of Southampton. Lauren obtained her LLB on an expedited basis and then acquired work experience in England before returning home. She found employment as a Legal Assistant with Southampton City Council, in the Childcare Legal Team, engaging in various areas of child protection.
Lauren moved home to Canada during the pandemic and began the process of completing her equivalencies with the National Committee on Accreditation. Upon completing her NCA exams, Lauren began working as a law clerk with our team. Lauren has since started her Articling placement and is gaining valuable experience in Family and Employment Law and has some experience drafting Wills and POAs.
When Lauren isn’t at work, she enjoys traveling to new cities with her partner in search of new music and food and loves exploring what these cities have to offer. She also loves hiking with her dog Zeus and spending her time outdoors.
LAW CLERKS
ABOUT JACQUELINE
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Jacqueline brings 34 years of clerk experience to our team and keeps current on new practices and protocols in both the Family and Civil divisions or our court systems. She keeps up with 21st century technology in a firm belief that as systems are not static, neither should we be. She continues to adapt to the changing landscape of the legal field.
Jacqueline understands that at the point of hiring a lawyer, people are not necessarily at the best points of their life journey. As such, she takes a common sense approach with our clients and effectively assists in narrowing down the issues in any particular matter. She takes delight in empowering people.
Jacqueline is the youngest of 10 and a first generation Canadian. Her parents and 8 siblings immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 1953. She keeps busy with her nieces and nephews and their children.