After too many years fighting for clients in a slow, expensive and user-unfriendly court system, Doug decided there was a better way to solve their family law problems. So, since 1998 a significant part of Doug’s practice has been providing representation for clients in mediation and arbitration processes and acting as a mediator or arbitrator for spouses who both wish to resolve their family issues this way instead of through litigation. This better way now takes up about 15% of Doug’s practice.
Also, in 1998 Doug received the recognition of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) as a “Specialist in Family Law” and he has maintained this status to the present. Doug was the first lawyer in Simcoe County to receive this recognition. Doug is also one of very few lawyers in the province who has a wealth of knowledge in the topics of Adoption Law and the Representing of Children in Custody and Access Disputes. He co-authored a legal text on Adoption Law in Canada several years ago.
Since graduating from Law School at the University of Windsor in 1982 and being called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1984, Doug has provided sound legal advice in all areas of family law including child support, spousal support, property division, corporate/business issues that impact on separation or divorce, child protection, child custody/parenting plans, etc.
Doug has been a guest speaker at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, at the Ontario Provincial Police Academy and has contributed articles to local newspapers and legal publications throughout his career. Doug has also contributed to the legal and local communities through his work for, and memberships in, the Rotary Club of Barrie, Rainbows Canada, Simcoe County Family Law Lawyers Association, Ontario Bar Association and the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.
Doug retired from practice in October 2019 and now acts as a consultant in our Family Law department.
Garnik is an Associate Lawyer licensed to practice in both Canada and Australia. He earned his JD at Bond University in Queensland, completing his articling with Virgin Australia Airlines and International Aerospace Law & Policy Group. Garnik began his career in Brisbane, where he represented clients before tribunals, the Magistrates Court, District Court, Supreme Court of Queensland, and the Federal Court of Australia, gaining broad experience across corporate, commercial, employment, estates, and litigation matters.
After returning to Canada, Garnik has focused his practice on corporate and commercial law, employment disputes, civil litigation, and First Nations/Indigenous law. He brings a strategic, solutions-driven approach to advancing client interests, shaped by his international courtroom experience and broad legal background. Fluent in Armenian and Russian, Garnik also maintains a lifelong passion for martial arts, which reflects his discipline and commitment both inside and outside the practice of law.
Jim graduated from York University in 1982 having attained an Honours Degree in Political Science and Philosophy. He attended University of Ottawa Law School graduating in 1986 and was called to the Bar in 1988. During his initial years of practice, Jim obtained broad experience in several practice areas including real estate, corporate/commercial and litigation. Jim provides comprehensive advice and representation to municipal and private clients on a broad range of issues. His clients consist primarily of municipalities and utility suppliers including municipal electrical utilities and hydro distributors. With a focus on municipal and land use planning law, Jim provides advice and representation to his clients on statutory and regulatory matters including governance, land use and development, land acquisitions including easements and land sales. His past experience includes acting for a major title insurance company and serving as its Chief Agent in Canada from 2003 to 2009. Jim served as the firm’s Managing Partner 2010 to 2021.
Jim is an active member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Barrie-Huronia. He has worked with a number of other community organizations including Kempenfest (Barrie) Inc. and The Barrie Parenting Fair Steering committee. Jim was a member of the Board of Directors for Hospice Simcoe for 8 years starting in 2003 and assumed the role of President and Board Chair in 2006 during a time when key decisions were being made to fundraise for and construct a residential hospice facility in Barrie. Jim served as Chair of the Hospice Simcoe Capital Campaign beginning in 2007 which raised over $6,000,000.00 for the construction and opening of the 10 bed residential hospice in December of 2009. Jim was honoured and recognized for his efforts receiving the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism from the Province of Ontario in 2013. Jim continues to volunteer and serve through his active participation in Rotary and by supporting other worthwhile organizations and causes. In his spare time, Jim plays some golf, skis and enjoys time entertaining with family and friends.
Joanne is a business and real estate lawyer with a wealth of entrepreneurial experience behind her, providing her with a unique and practical perspective. Her common sense approach and her understanding of the business side of matters helps her work well as part of a team with her clients, to get the deal done. Joanne graduated from the University of Toronto (Hons B.A. in 1990 and LLB in 1993) and has lived and worked in Barrie since 1997 when her husband acquired a dental practice in the area. She is certified by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) as a Specialist in Corporate & Commercial Law.
Joanne has always been active in her community, sitting on various boards and committees including the Board of Governors of Georgian College, United Way of Greater Simcoe County (VP, Chair of Board), Barrie Food Bank (Vice-President), Business Networking International (President), Barrie Royals Basketball Club, Minesing School Council (Chair), Barrie North School Council and Women Presidents Organization (Georgian Bay Chapter). Near and dear to her heart has been her involvement with the Sandbox Centre (founding Board member and past Board Chair) where she currently serves on its Advisory Board and actively participates in their CEO CNNX Group. Joanne`s involvement in the management of the firm (Managing Partner, Chief Innovation Officer, Chair of Finance) as well as her real estate investment and development experience make her uniquely positioned to provide business and real estate advice from the perspective of both a lawyer and a business client. Joanne is a member of the Simcoe County Lawyers Association, the Barrie Real Estate Lawyers Association and MENSA Canada.
Joanne was a recipient of the 2018 Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards (Business and Commercial – Lawyer of the Year – Canada)
Janice Mumberson provides counsel to clients in the areas of corporate and commercial law, wills and estates, and real estate. Janice focuses on understanding her clients’ business and goals to ensure they receive the best possible advice. Janice was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) in June 2013 after earning her law degree from the Queen’s University Faculty of Law.
Through her involvement with the law school, Janice was a part of the Queen’s Business Law Clinic, providing advice and guidance to start-up corporations, and volunteered with the Family Law Project in assisting those without representation navigate the family law court system. Prior to enrolling in law school, Janice completed her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) at the Queen’s School of Business.
In 2019 Janice received the Barrie Advance Readers’ Choice Favourite Real Estate Lawyer Award.
In her spare time, Janice is active in a wide range of outdoor activities, including running and rowing, and also volunteers with the Barrie Uptown Theatre. Janice is a member of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce and currently volunteers with the Small Business Centre of Barrie assisting as part of a panel of mentors for start-up businesses.
Lauren is a dedicated paralegal who graduated, with honours, from the Paralegal program at Georgian College in December 2024. She brings over a decade of legal experience, having started her career at the age of 14 as a filing clerk with Purser Dooley Cockburn Smith LLP. Prior to completing her paralegal studies, Lauren worked for six years as a law clerk in the litigation department at Barriston Law, where she gained extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in a variety of legal matters.
Now licensed to provide legal services, Lauren focuses on representing clients before the Small Claims Court, the Landlord and Tenant Board, and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. She is passionate about delivering accessible, client-centred legal support and takes pride in guiding individuals through challenging legal processes.
Outside of her professional life, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, hiking with her dog, golfing, baking, and crafting.
Cayley is a trusted legal advisor to business owners and their families and she values the opportunities she’s had to work with multiple generations of business owners, assisting in the ongoing success of their ventures. Cayley’s clients trust her legal and business insights and are confident in the quality of her legal services. They value her responsive attention to their ongoing needs.
Cayley works with all types of business owners including doctors, dentists, veterinarians, farmers, car dealerships, and manufacturers. She assists in all aspects of their businesses, including buying and selling assets or companies, commercial financing, commercial leasing and maintaining corporate records. She also helps business owners with their commercial real estate needs and their wills and estate planning, including succession planning for their businesses.
Cayley is an experienced commercial lending lawyer with expertise in commercial lending, real estate financing and construction financing. Cayley has also represented public institutions in a general advisory capacity and helps not for profit and charitable organizations with incorporations, applications for charitable status, and on-going corporate maintenance.
Since moving to Simcoe County in January 2018, Cayley has enjoyed the opportunity of working alongside several senior Barrie business lawyers with her previous firm. Prior to moving to Simcoe County, Cayley practiced with Pavey Law LLP in Cambridge and with Torys LLP in Toronto.
Cayley has presented at seminars hosted by local Real Estate Boards and Chambers of Commerce, to groups organized through Pro Bono Law Ontario and the Law Society of Ontario, as well as to smaller groups organized by local banking institutions, libraries, and stroke survivor organizations. She welcomes the opportunity to speak to other groups.
Cayley is currently a member and past-director of the Rotary Club of Barrie, having previously been the president and treasurer of the Rotary Club of Cambridge (Preston-Hespeler). Cayley is past-Chair of the Board of Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.
Outside of the office, she enjoys reading all varieties of books, has very eclectic tastes in music and stays active by curling, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and exploring the County’s highways by bicycle.
Lisa joined Barriston LLP in May, 2016. She advises clients in the areas of real estate, business law, and wills and estate planning. Lisa approaches her practice with enthusiasm and a strong attention to detail. She strives to provide excellent client service. Lisa is an active member of the Simcoe County Law Association and the Barrie Real Estate Lawyers Association. She is the Chair of the Simcoe Trust and Estates Lawyers Association and currently sits on the Board of the Downtown Barrie Business Association (BIA).
Lisa completed her law degree at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. While attending Law School she volunteered with Downtown Legal Services in the family law division. As a member of the MLST Advocacy Project, Lisa represented a claimant before the Health Professionals Appeal and Review Board. She also sat on the Executive of the International Law Society. Prior to attending law school, Lisa obtained her Honours degree in Arts and Science from McMaster University.
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys skiing, paddleboarding, and spending time with family.
Tushar Sharma is an associate lawyer practicing in the area of municipal law. Before entering private practice, Tushar served as in-house legal counsel for two large Ontario municipalities, where he provided advice on a range of complex municipal and regulatory matters. In these roles, he worked closely with municipal staff and council members, advising on matters related to municipal governance, procurement, enforcement, building permit administration, and municipal finance.
Tushar earned his law degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was called to the Bar in Ontario in June 2020. During law school, he was involved with Pro Bono Students Canada’s Family Law Project, assisting in the delivery of free legal services to self-represented litigants. Prior to studying law, Tushar completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Alberta.
Outside of his legal practice, Tushar enjoys reading, weight lifting, travelling, and spending time with family and friends.
David Smith graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1974,and was called to the Ontario bar in 1976. On graduation, he joined the Barrie law firm of Livingston Myers & Cockburn as an associate. He became a partner of the firm and subsequently became a founding partner of Cockburn & Smith in 1990, and of Purser Dooley Cockburn Smith LLP in 2006. Dave was a proud Co-Founder of Barriston LLP in 2011. In recent years his practice has focused in the areas of corporate and commercial law (for which he was designated as a Certified Specialist by the Law Society of Ontario), real estate and estate planning & administration. Currently his practice is limited to oversight of corporate matters, the administration of estates, and the counselling and mentoring of junior lawyers in the firm.
Dave has been involved in community affairs, having served as the President of the Barrie Downtown Improvement Board and the Rotary Club of Barrie-Huronia, and as a director of the Barrie YMCA and United Appeal.
Dave is an avid golfer and skier and immensely enjoys spending time with his wife, sons and grandsons at the family cottage on Georgian Bay.