Intersection of Family and Criminal Law

For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community. To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.

The Honourable Madam Justice Susanne Goodman was called to the Bar in Toronto, Ontario in 1982. Justice Goodman was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2000. From 1982 until her appointment, she practiced family law exclusively as a partner with the law firm of Epstein, Cole, Barristers, in Toronto. At the time of her appointment, she was the Head of the Family Law Section of the Bar Admission Course for the Law Society of Upper Canada. Justice Goodman is the Editor and principal author of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s Electronic Bench Book in Family Law, which is relied on extensively by the judiciary across Canada. She teaches Advanced Family Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto and teaches Financial Issues (property law in the family law context) in York University’s Osgoode Hall LLM Programme in Family Law. She regularly participates in continuing education programmes for the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada and the National Judicial Institute. Between 2001 and 2004, Justice Goodman was the Local Administrative Judge at Newmarket. In 2005, Justice Goodman received the President’s Award from the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, for her contributions to the legal profession as a teacher and mentor. Justice Goodman served as a member of the Family Law Rules Committee from 2003 to 2013.

Mr. Navarrete’s practice at Neuberger & Partners LLP focuses primarily in the area of criminal law and quasi-criminal matters including professional disciplinary hearings. Mr. Navarrete has appeared before all levels of Court in the Province of Ontario including the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In addition, Mr. Navarrete appeared as co-counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada in the matter of R. v. Gomboc. Mr. Navarrete graduated from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law and he subsequently summered and articled with Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP. During his articles, Mr. Navarrete completed an intensive litigation rotation with the late Edward L. Greenspan, Q.C. and returned to that firm as an associate from 2004 to 2008. Mr. Navarrete has also worked as an Assistant Crown Attorney with the Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario). Mr. Navarrete has participated as an instructor at the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Cross Examination College CPD Program. Mr. Navarrete also participates as a moot judge for the Cassels Brock Cup held annually at the Court of Appeal in Toronto. Mr. Navarrete is one of the founding members of H.O.L.A. (Hispanic Ontario Lawyers’ Association), now known as the Canadian Hispanic Bar Association. He is also a member of C.I.A.O. (Canadian Italian Advocates Organization).

Leanne Townsend is an experienced family lawyer and the owner of Townsend Family Law. Leanne received her Bachelor of Arts (1990) and Bachelor of Education (2011) from the University of Toronto, and her Juris Doctor (1993) from the University of Western Ontario. Leanne spent over 16 years as an Assistant Crown Attorney prosecuting a wide range of criminal offences, and she acted as the Domestic Violence Lead Prosecutor within her office for over 10 years. In her role as a prosecutor she gained significant trial experience and exceptional skills as a litigator. Leanne has over 25 years of court room experience and has developed an expertise in family law. She brings a balanced approach to her clients with her compassion and people skills, combined with her strength as a litigator. She is a strong negotiator and is very resolution oriented, but should a resolution not be feasible, her courtroom skills ensure that her client’s rights are always protected. Leanne is regularly interviewed in the media, on the radio and on podcasts throughout North America. She is also a regular contributor to various publications including The Lawyer’s Daily and Divorce Magazine. Leanne is also featured as a speaker at various events including most recently at Toronto’s Elite Divorce Party and The Total Mom Show.