Donna practices in the area of matrimonial, family and immigration law. Donna`s matrimonial and family practice focuses on domestic contracts, including the creation of a Marriage Contract, Paternity Agreement, Cohabitation Agreement, Separation Agreement and Parenting Plan. Donna also drafts originating and responding materials to originating documents concerning:
i. property division/determination of net family property;
ii. exclusive possession;
iii. trust;
iv. spousal and/or child support;
v. custody and/or access;
Donna`s recent experience in civil litigation is further applied in a variety of contentious family law disputes, including interim exclusive possession of the matrimonial home, spousal and child support, custody or access disputes and other relief proceedings.
Her immigration practice includes but is not limited to: family class, spousal, and common law partner sponsorships, temporary resident, work permit and study permit applications, and applications for travel documents (permanent residents abroad).
Donna received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours History) degree in 1996 from the University of Waterloo, and her Bachelor of Laws degree in 2004 from the University of Windsor. She articled with the Law Offices of Roger Rowe, Barrister and Solicitor, in Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Rowe continues to be a noteworthy community activist for the Jane/Finch community, and was the distinguished counsel for the Applicant in the precedent setting, Supreme Court of Canada case establishing procedural fairness, Baker v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration). Following her successful completion of articles with Mr. Rowe, she set up practice as a sole practitioner in Hamilton, Ontario where she happily resides with her husband and two sons.
Apart from her professional dedication to servicing her clients` needs, Donna is a longstanding member of the Catholic Women`s League and regularly attends mass at St. Ann`s Parish, Ancaster. She is also an accomplished runner, having completed many full marathons and several half-marathons. Donna is delighted to make Hamilton her home as it gives her the opportunity to challenge herself mentally and physically in the annual `Around the Bay` 30km road race, the oldest road race on the continent.