Melissa Conte is a Senior Associate at Barriston Law practicing in the areas of Residential Real Estate & Mortgages, Commercial Real Estate & Financing, Business & Corporate Law, and Wills & Estates.

Melissa joined Barriston in 2026 after practicing at Alousis Law Professional Corporation since her call to the Bar in 2015. She has practiced as a solicitor since that time, developing extensive experience in real estate, mortgages and loans, wills and estates, and corporate and business law. Her practice also includes land development matters such as severances and land titles applications.

Melissa earned an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto in 2011. She then attended the University of Windsor, where she received her Juris Doctor in 2014.

Outside of her legal practice, Melissa is an active member of the local community. She currently serves as a board member for Empower Simcoe.

Nicole is a Senior Associate practicing predominantly in the areas of civil litigation, employment law and municipal prosecutions. Before joining the firm in February of 2022, Nicole began working for the Ministry of the Attorney General as an Assistant Crown Attorney upon her call to the bar in July 2020. Nicole has conducted many trials, pre-trial motions and other criminal and provincial law proceedings as a Crown Attorney in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice.

In her current practice, Nicole represents both employers and employees in relation to various employment-related issues such as wrongful termination, allegations surrounding breaches of the Ontario Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as with workplace investigations both in her capacity as legal counsel and as a certified workplace investigator. Nicole also represents both plaintiffs and defendants in sexual assault and battery claims. In addition to her civil practice, Nicole utilizes her previous prosecution experience in conducting Part I, II and III prosecutions for various municipalities, and in acting as counsel for complainants in s. 276/278 and third-party records applications in criminal court.

Nicole earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in 2016 and further went on to attend Osgoode Hall Law School for her legal education, graduating in 2019. Throughout her time at Osgoode, Nicole was a Division Leader and a Board member at the Community Legal Aid Clinic, was an executive member of the Osgoode Peer Support Network, a member of the Osgoode Women’s Network and participated as an adjudicator in the Osgoode Cup Mooting Competition for undergraduate students. Nicole was also a competitor in the province-wide Arnup Cup Trial Moot competition.

Nicole enjoys being involved in both her local and legal community and is a part of a diverse range of organizations. Nicole serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary for the Simcoe County Law Association, is the Vice Chair of the Victim Services Simcoe County Board of Directors and serves on The Advocates’ Society Young Advocates Standing Committee. Nicole is also part of the planning committee for both the MacLaren Art Centre’s Annual Black-Tie Gala, and Georgian College’s semi-annual Golf Classic.

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys reading, travelling and spending time with family, friends and her two English bulldogs, Hank and Cali.

George Craig retired from practice as of December 31st 2023.

George Craig graduated from Queens University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in 1973 and from the University of Western Ontario with an LL.B. in 1978. Upon his call to the Bar of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) in 1980, George Craig began practicing and has been providing legal advice and representation primarily in the areas of real estate and estate planning since then.

George provides advice to individuals and large institutional clients on the various aspects of conveyancing of real property and the securing of adequate financing and mortgages. In addition, his knowledge in the areas of tax planning and estate planning has allowed him to serve a broad range of clients.

George is a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Barrie, past Chair of the Barrie & District United Way and is a member of the Canadian Bar Association.

Tom 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 focuses now entirely on mediation and arbitration of family disputes. He no longer represents private family law clients as he has retired from private practice as a lawyer.

Tom is a Certified Specialist in Mediation (FDR Med) and Arbitration (FDR Arb).

As a Mediator, Tom has assisted many mediation clients in resolving their disputes on a comprehensive basis – settling financial issues such as property division and support as well as parenting issues. He actively promotes mediation as the means of resolving family law disputes with a non-adversarial approach.

Tom is an experienced Arbitrator of family law disputes, appointed by parties who wish to resolve their disputes privately under the Arbitration Act. 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.

Prior to his retirement, Tom was an active participant in the legal profession. During that time, Tom presented many topics at continuing legal education seminars for the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Ontario (LSO). He has written articles for presentation at such seminars and for other newsletters and periodicals in the area of family law. He has been engaged as an expert witness for standard of care in family law cases.

Tom is a founding member of Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario. He is the past president of the Family Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association, past president of Family Mediation Canada, past president of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation, past vice-president of the Simcoe County Lawyers’ Association, past president of the Simcoe County Family Law Lawyers’ Association and past coordinator for Simcoe County’s Dispute Resolution Officers Program.

Tom received the OBA Award for Excellence in Family Law in Memory of James G. McLeod in June 2014. He was named Lawyer of the Year for 2014 and again in 2021 by Best Lawyers ® (as selected by peer recognition). Tom also received the FDRIO Crowe Soberman Award of Excellence in Dispute Resolution in November 2018.

Tom has also been a committed member of his community. He was historically involved with the Barrie Colts AAA Zone Hockey Association and is their Past Director of Risk Management and Past President. He is a past member of the Board of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Toronto, and a past President of the Barrie Minor Hockey Association. He is a supporter of numerous local charitable events. In his free time, Tom enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and cheering on the Montreal Canadiens.

Shannon Dawson is a senior associate lawyer practicing in the area of family law. Shannon appreciates the uniquely personal and difficult nature of family law disputes, approaching these issues with not only the requisite sensitivity and respect, but fierce advocacy that such significant matters deserve. Shannon practices in all areas of family law, including separation, divorce, parenting, child and spousal support, property division, and the negotiation of cohabitation, marriage, and separation agreements.

Prior to obtaining her Juris Doctor from Western Law, Shannon earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honours) with a major in History and an option in Legal Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. At Western Law, Shannon was the Student Coordinator of the Dispute Resolution Centre where she mediated issues regarding small claims, peace bonds, and neighbour disputes, deescalating highly emotional and adversarial conflict and finding pragmatic resolutions. Throughout law school, Shannon was a Caseworker at Western Law’s Community Legal Clinic where she advocated for her clients in small claims, criminal, and family matters. She also worked on complex family files as a Caseworker at the Advanced Family Law Clinic. While pursuing her law degree, she was involved with Pro Bono Students Canada’s Family Justice Centre, where she assisted in delivering free, unbundled legal services to self-represented litigants in Ontario. Shannon was also a Staff Editor and a Managing Editor for the Western Journal of Legal Studies.

After graduating from Western Law in 2021, Shannon completed her Articles with Barriston, where she assisted on complex and high conflict parenting matters, as well as matters regarding spousal support, child support, and property division. She has advocated for her clients before both the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. Shannon was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Ontario in March of 2022.

In her spare time, Shannon enjoys reading, weight lifting, hikes with her golden retriever, Harley, and prioritizing quality time with her partner, family and friends.

Heather is an associate lawyer practicing primarily in the areas of wills and estates, real estate and corporate law. Heather was called to the Bar in June 2023 after completing her Articling and summers with Barriston.

Heather graduated from Queen’s University’s Faculty of Law in 2022 after obtaining her Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2018. During her time in law school, Heather volunteered her time with Pro Bono Students Canada and one of the free Legal Clinics run by Queen’s University.

Growing up in Midhurst, Heather is happy to return to the Barrie area after being away at school. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with her Golden Retriever ‘Bentley’, visiting her family cottage in Muskoka and travelling.

Carly is an associate lawyer practicing in the areas of municipal, planning and expropriation law. Carly was called to the Bar in 2022 after completing her Articling term with Barriston. Carly provides advice and representation to municipalities and private clients on a variety of municipal issues including land-use planning, development, freedom of information and privacy, elections, and general municipal matters.

Having focused on municipal law throughout her summering and articling terms, Carly has had the opportunity to appear before the Ontario Land Tribunal and has attended the Superior Court and Divisional Court in Ontario for both municipal and private clients. Before joining Barriston, Carly worked for the office of an Ontario Integrity Commissioner where she assisted on matters regarding conflicts of interest and codes of conduct.

Carly earned her LL.B. (Honours) from the University of Leeds School of Law in the United Kingdom and completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree at McMaster University where she majored in Political Science. She is the co-founder of the “Georgian Bay Social” which fundraises for local charities in Collingwood and enjoys skiing and golfing in her spare time.

Alison is an associate lawyer practicing in civil litigation and employment law. She was called to the Bar in June 2025 after completing her Articling term with Barriston.

Alison earned her Juris Doctor degree from Bond University in Australia where she graduated with First Class Distinction. While in law school, Alison was a student editor for the Bond Law Review. She developed strong advocacy skills through her participation in the Bond University Community Law Clinic and the K&L Gates Witness Examination Competition. Prior to completing her law degree, Alison obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honours) in Political Studies from Queen’s University.

Outside of practicing law, Alison volunteers for Hospice Georgian Triangle. In her spare time, she enjoys snowboarding, playing golf and travelling.

Hilary is a Partner practising in the Family department. Hilary assists clients in all areas of family law including separation, divorce, custody and access, spousal support, child support and division of property. 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 studying at the Hague Academy of International Law.

In her spare time Hilary enjoys playing ball hockey and softball for the Barriston Badgers, skiing, cycling and travelling.

Hilary was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) in 2013.

Marni is an associate lawyer practicing in the Family Law department advising on issues of parenting, child and spousal support and property division. Marni enjoys the opportunity to guide people through what can otherwise be a very emotional and trying time.

Marni Goodman earned an LL.B. from the Faculty of Law at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom in 2015 and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at University of Western Ontario in 2011 where she majored in Political Science and History. Marni completed her articles at a criminal defence law firm in Toronto where she developed excellent advocacy skills and a passion for litigation.

In her spare time Marni enjoys spending time with her family, playing golf, and wood working at her family farm. She is a member of The Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations, and the Advocates’ Society and is a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Volunteer Committee.

Marni was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2017.