Keeping Your Firm Running Smoothly: Staff, Systems & Tasks

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.

Kristine brings over 20 years of legal experience to Fern Law. Since her first year in law school, she knew she wanted to be in the courtroom advocating for clients. Crafting a solution that empowers her clients is her focus. Kristine deeply understands clients' needs and genuinely cares about every file. Kristine is also a mediator who works with parties to obtain powerful solutions built on respect.

Over 30 years ago, Steve Benmor founded Benmor Family Law Group, gaining unparalleled experience in settling divorce cases for families with significant wealth and assets. Mr. Benmor is proficient in mediating high-net-worth divorces and complex financial cases with his sophisticated financial understanding and in-depth knowledge of divorce law, tax law, real estate law, corporate law and trust law. Driven by a mission to achieve great results for his clients, Mr. Benmor is known for his expertise in negotiation, conflict resolution and domestic violence in order to assist families through the many stages of separation and divorce, with compassion, respect, and urgency. Steve Benmor is one of the only divorce professionals in Canada who is licensed, certified and accredited in all out-of-court divorce options. Recognizing the need to help families avoid conflict and find a better solution for reaching a divorce settlement, Mr. Benmor was designated as a “Certified Family Mediator” by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario. In addition to Mr. Benmor’s extraordinary commitment to children and families, the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario awarded Mr. Benmor his designation as a “Specialist in Parenting Coordination.” Mr. Benmor is one of Toronto’s 24 Certified Specialists in Family Law, one of Canada’s 56 Fellows of the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers and holds a Master of Laws in Family Law.

Erin Cowling is a lawyer (not-currently-practicing), entrepreneur, and author, who developed her litigation skills over several years at a large Bay St. firm and then at an estate litigation boutique. Erin was fortunate to work on cases that ranged from Small Claims Court to the Supreme Court of Canada. When not managing Flex Legal, Erin speaks regularly at legal events (on women and the law, alternative career paths, and solo and small firm events, among others), writes for several legal publications, and is the author of The Modern Freelance Lawyer: A Guide to the Business, Ethics, and Evolution of Freelance Legal Work. She was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law teaching Legal Research & Writing (2018-2020) and was the Regional Alumni Advisor (Toronto) for the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (2019-2021).

Cris earned her Law Clerk Diploma from Seneca College’s Department of Legal and Public Administration and her Bachelor of Arts degree from York University. She has also shared her expertise by mentoring and training aspiring law clerks, helping to develop the next generation of legal professionals. With her thorough understanding of the Family Law Rules and deep commitment to client service, Cris prepares clients and their materials for negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, assessments, examinations, and trials. Her ability to combine technical skill with emotional intelligence allows her to guide clients through the legal process while helping them manage the personal challenges that accompany family transition. As a Certified Divorce Coach, Cris integrates her legal knowledge with coaching strategies that promote resilience, confidence, and personal growth. She is currently pursuing her Paralegal licensing through the Law Society of Ontario, further expanding her ability to assist families and enhance access to justice. Outside of work, Cris values balance, family, and community. She enjoys spending time with her loved ones and her dog, Happy, traveling, and cheering on the Toronto Raptors. She is also proficient in Spanish and Cantonese, which enables her to communicate effectively with a diverse range of clients.

- Senior Litigation Law Clerk - ILCO Certified Expert in Litigation Oct 2017 - Fellow Member of ILCO 2010 - Law Clerk Certification: 1997 - Legal Assistant Diploma: 1979 - Specialties: Commercial, Civil and Estate Litigation. - Consultant, mentor and teacher too.