When you can’t afford to lose.
Trial and appeal lawyers with expert solutions for complex problems.
Most people don’t believe they can be wrongfully accused of a crime—until it happens. We understand how the judicial system can fail. We also know the best defences to help prevent wrongful convictions. We are a team of highly experienced lawyers and academic scholars who mount creative, innovative, and vigorous strategies in the defence of criminal and regulatory offences. We understand that our clients cannot afford to lose, and we regularly succeed with the most difficult types of trials and appeals—cases involving murder, sexual assault, firearm and drug offences, driving offences, professional discipline and more. Many of our clients are established professionals—doctors, lawyers, business people, athletes, students. We also take on good causes for people who could not otherwise afford effective representation. With offices in Toronto, Ontario and Fredericton, New Brunswick, we serve clients throughout southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Toronto criminal lawyer, Nathan Gorham appears in court for an individual charged with second degree murder.
CRIMINAL TRIALS
We defend all types of criminal trials, including murder (first and second-degree murder), manslaughter, criminal negligence, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, firearms, drug offences, and theft. Our trial lawyers regularly appear at all levels of criminal trial court in Toronto as well as Southern Ontario (Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice) and throughout New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada.
Criminal appeal lawyers Nathan Gorham and Breana Vandebeek addess the media outside the Ontario Court of Appeal.
CRIMINAL APPEALS
Many of our clients retain us after they have been convicted of a serious crime. By that point they face a challenging situation; the criminal justice seeks finality, and it can be very difficult to appeal certain issues. Expert analysis is required to identify legal issues that will provide a foothold on appeal. The best appeal lawyers know the law and understand how to frame the issues on appeal. We do our best to craft creative appellate strategies that embrace the latest academic literature on criminal justice issues. Our lawyers regularly act on appeals in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, including before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, as well as the Summary Conviction Court of Appeal in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Appellate counsel Breana Vandebeek arguing a criminal appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada.
PROFESSIONAL DEFENCE
We often act for professionals facing allegations of misconduct before regulatory bodies or criminal courts. These cases can be complex, engaging criminal, administrative, and civil law principles. Because our team includes criminal, administrative, and civil law experts, we are able to offer cohesive solutions that cover all the angles for our professional clients. We have successfully defended doctors, lawyers, police officers, athletes and others against a wide range of allegations.
OUR TEAM
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Nathan Gorham
(416) 410-4814 | gorham@gvlaw.ca
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Breana Vandebeek
(647) 973-5402 | breana@gvlaw.ca
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Michael Marin
marin@gvlaw.ca
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Alexander Pate
(902) 802-5442 | pate@gvlaw.ca
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Adrian Forsythe
(506) 259-9252 | forsythe@gvlaw.ca
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Alexandra Youssef
(506) 999-2171 | youssef@gvlaw.ca
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Julianne Jakobek
(647) 233-3546 | Jakobek@gvlaw.ca
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Alisha Rice
(438) 884-2298 | rice@gvlaw.ca
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Kimia Heidary
(647) 829-9524 | heidary@gvlaw.ca
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Mya Westhaver
(902) 578-4253 | westhaver@gvlaw.ca
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Beth Brown-Kirk
(506) 866-0363 | Brown@gvlaw.ca
PRACTICE AREAS
We act on all types of criminal, quasi-criminal, and regulatory allegations. Our firm often handles serious criminal trials and appeals. Many of our professional clients face complex situations involving allegations of professional misconduct with the potential for criminal or civil proceedings.
Murder
We regularly defend homicide cases (first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence) throughout Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Read more…
Appeals
Much of our practice is devoted to appealing convictions at all levels of appeal court. We regularly appear before the Ontario Court of Appeal and New Brunswick Court of Appeal. Read more…
Drug offences
The trial and appeal lawyers at Gorham Vandebeek frequently defend all types of drug cases, including trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, importing, and production of controlled substances. Read more…
Fireams
The criminal defence attorneys at at Gorham Vandebeek regularly defend people charged with, or appealing against, weapons (firearms) and drug offences. Read more…
Driving
Our lawyers act on all types of driving offences, including drinking and driving (impaired operation, over 0.08, refusal to blow) as well as dangerous driving, flight from police, Read more…
Discipline
We regularly act for professionals (doctors, lawyers, and athletes) against professional discipline allegations before professional governing bodies or other administrative tribunals. Read more…
Theft
The criminal defence lawyers at Gorham Vandebeek defend clients charged with offences of dishonesty such as theft (theft over or under $5000) as well as fraud, false pretenses and others Read more…
Sexual Assault
Our lawyers often assist people who are charged with sexual offences (sexual assault, sexual interference, etc) and those appealing against convictions for sexual related offences. Read more…
Assaults
Our lawyers often assist people who are charged with assaults (simple assault, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, aggravated assault) Read more…
Contact us
Toronto: (416) 410-4814.
New Brunswick: (506) 800-2036.
General inquiries: info@gvlaw.ca.
Toll free for either office: (866) 463-7353.