RZCD LAW FIRM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate Call to the Bar: 2019 ( Ontario )
- Member of the Law Society of Ontario
After obtaining her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2013, Aasma attended law school in London, United Kingdom where she earned her Bachelors of Law (LL.B.) with a concentration in business and property law.
Aasma is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association and the Peel Law Association.
Job Titles:
- Associate, Call to the Bar
- Member of the Law Society of Ontario
Amber is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association, and the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Partner. Call to the Bar: 1988
Bonnie attended the University of Western Ontario for her undergraduate studies and graduated from law school at Western in 1986.
Bruce graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1996. Prior to law school, he studied Business Administration, English Literature and Mathematics.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner. Call to the Bar: 1997
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Canadian Bar Association
Education:
Craig graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. (Honours) in 1988 and from Queen's University with his LL.B. in 1991.
Experience:
Prior to joining RZCD Craig was a principal partner in his own litigation boutique firm in Toronto for 12 years after starting his legal career on Bay Street. Craig has been a frequent speaker at seminars concerning employment advocacy matters and has litigated successfully at all levels of Court in the province. In 2011, Craig was the recipient of the Traditional Law Practice Award from the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. He is also a trained mediator.
Memberships:
Craig is a member of the Canadian Bar Association - Ontario, the Toronto Lawyers Association, The Advocates' Society, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), the ADR Institute of Canada, Christian Legal Fellowship and Markland Wood Golf Club.
Practice Areas:
Labour and Employment Law: advice and counsel regarding the preparation of employment contracts, termination packages and wrongful dismissal claims. Creation, management and termination of the employment relationship. The disability management area - which addresses both the workplace and the employee.
Job Titles:
- Partner. Call to the Bar: 1991 ( Illinois ) and 1998 ( Ontario )
Shawn attended the University of Western Ontario, and graduated with a degree in Finance and Administration in 2001. He earned his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa and his J.D. from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2005.
Job Titles:
- Partner. Call to the Ontario Bar: 2006
Job Titles:
- Counsel, Call to the Bar
- Member of the Sports Lawyers' Association
Job Titles:
- Associate. Call to the Bar: 1983
Geoff joined RZCD in January 2009 when he and Penny Rintoul moved their practices from Guiney Rintoul Cauchi LLP, a boutique firm that focused on providing legal services to banking and financial institutions and, in particular, all the levels of the Canadian Credit Union system, under the name Tanner & Guiney Associates. He and Penny Rintoul now head up the Financial Institution Services Group at RZCD.
Job Titles:
- Associate. Call to the Bar: 2008 ( Ontario ) and 1998 ( India )
- Member of Ontario Bar Association
Indu earned LL. B (NCA Accreditation) from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in 2007. Indu graduated with a Bachelor of Law from India in 1997. Indu also has a degree in Bachelor of Arts.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Law Society of Ontario
- Partner. Call to the Bar: 1990
- Senior Litigation Partner at RZCD
Jim is the Senior Litigation Partner at RZCD and heads up our Construction Litigation and Law Group. He has appeared at all levels of courts and tribunals in Ontario, representing chartered banks and institutions, private corporations and entrepreneurs, as well as athletes and sport franchise owners. Jim has extensive experience negotiating for suppliers in the construction industry.
A seasoned corporate counsel and practitioner, Joel offers legal advice for the client who seeks responsive, professional legal services. Joel has diverse experience and practices in the areas of residential real estate, mortgage financing, commercial real estate and leasing, corporate and commercial law including the purchase and sale of businesses, licensing and commercial agreements.
Joel has an undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo and obtained his LL.B. from the University of Windsor. Following his call to the Bar in 1988, he joined a major downtown law firm in Toronto. As corporate counsel, Joel was associated with companies ranging from financial services, title and business process outsourcing to restaurant, travel and tourism sectors. He has focussed in the areas of real property, financial services, leasing, commercial agreements, regulatory compliance and title insurance. Joel has played a significant role in managing real property portfolios, the implementation and management of centralized broker and lender programs, the delivery of seminars to prospective home buyers and real estate professionals, title insurance and claims management. Currently, Joel represents both business and individual clients offering a full range of legal services with a particular emphasis on offering the best in client service.
It is with immeasurable sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our colleague and friend, Lorne Barsky, Q.C. on April 11, 2020.
Lorne was called to the bar in 1971 and over his remarkable 49 years of practice came to be recognized as a senior statesman of the profession. Although he excelled in all areas, his contributions to real estate law are profound.
Lorne's dry wit, intellectual curiosity and wonderful disposition enriched the lives of every lawyer who crossed his path. To the lawyers of this firm, his mentorship has been invaluable and will be cherished for as long as we practise. Above all, his uncompromising commitment to ethics and integrity is a model to which we all aspire. A man of enormous emotional intelligence, Lorne impressed everyone he met with his thoughtfulness and empathy. He will be greatly missed.
An avid traveler and with an extreme love of his family (and notably his grandchildren), he is survived by his loving wife, Lesley of 54 years.
Job Titles:
- Partner. Call to the Bar: 1987
Education:
Lyle received his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa, and an MBA from York University.
Job Titles:
- Associate. Call to the Bar: 2010
- Member of the Association Des Juristes D'Expression Française De L'Ontario
Fluent in French, Naaila is a member of the Association des Juristes d'Expression Française de l'Ontario and a member of the Board of Directors of the Brescia University College Foundation.
After obtaining her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in 2006 (double major in Mass Communication and French Language & Literature ), Naaila attended law school at the University of Windsor, graduating in 2009. Naaila balanced a full course load along with volunteer and paid legal work and active involvement in student government. As a student, she was a supervisor at Community Legal Aid, the legal aid clinic affiliated with the University, for two years and successfully defended clients charged with criminal offences in the Ontario Court of Justice.
Penny focuses on providing advice on credit union share offerings, incorporations, and mergers and acquisitions, and also involves herself in regulatory issues affecting the Ontario credit union system. Penny also provides legal advice to credit unions on general corporate matters, and provides training on legal issues for credit union front-line staff and management. She also provides general corporate law advice to other kinds of entities.
She also provides estate planning services, including wills, powers of attorney, and trusts, as well as estate administration (probate) services.
She serves as a member of the Advancement Committee of, and on the campaign cabinet regarding a current major fundraising campaign for, Brescia University College (the only all-female university-level women's college in Canada).
Penny-Lynn M. Rintoul graduated from what is now known as Brescia University College at Western University in London, Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts in Administrative and Commercial Studies in 1987 and received her Bachelor of Laws and Master of Business Administration degrees from Western in 1991. Called to the Bar of Ontario in 1993, Penny worked with a limited-market securities dealer and a franchisor before moving to Credit Union Central of Ontario Limited in July 1995 as Legal Counsel, and practiced law, eventually as a partner, with the firm of Tanner and Guiney Associates until joining RZCD.
Penny focuses on providing advice on credit union share offerings, incorporations, and mergers and acquisitions, and also involves herself in regulatory issues affecting the Ontario credit union system. Penny also provides legal advice to credit unions on general corporate matters, provides training on legal issues for credit union front-line staff and management, and advises the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation. She also provides general corporate law advice to other kinds of entities, and wills and estate planning services.
She serves as Chair of the Board and a governance committee member of the Brescia University College Foundation, the registered Canadian charity supporting her alma mater, Brescia University College (the only all-female university-level women's college in Canada), and as Chair of the Board of Families with Children from China Charitable Fund, a registered Canadian charity founded by adoptive parents of children from China which supports the medical and educational needs of the children remaining in the care of Chinese orphanages.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner. Call to the Bar: 1990
- Writer to a Textbook on Condominium Law
Satwinder is a contributing writer to a textbook on Condominium Law and has published articles on human rights issues. He is also active in provincial and federal politics and holds several directorships on boards of non-profit organizations in the Peel Region. He has served as a director on the Regional Municipality of Peel Police Services Board.
Satwinder graduated from St. Andrews College and Queen's University, where he was a member of the Senate and Class President. He obtained his LL.B. from the University of Windsor in 1988 and subsequently articled at a boutique Toronto municipal law firm.
In 2007 Shana completed her undergraduate studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, earning an Honours B.B.A. as well as a B.A. in Political Science (Minor History). She attended law school at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, earning her J.D. in 2010. Experience: Shana is a civil and family law practitioner with RZCD. She assists clients in resolving civil litigation matters and family law disputes through negotiated settlements as well as via court processes when appropriate. Shana is currently accepting clients with Certificates from Legal Aid Ontario for civil and family law matters. Shana enjoys travelling and in addition to studying abroad in Auckland, New Zealand she lived in The Hague, Netherlands while interning for an international war crimes tribunal in 2009. She also worked in a small and fast paced family law firm before beginning her practice at RZCD. Memberships: Shana has been admitted to the Bar of Ontario and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association and the Peel Lawyers' Association (Family Law Section). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation Family Law: procuring a divorce, child custody and access concerns, issues surrounding child support and spousal support claims, the division of assets upon dissolution of a marriage, property and asset claims of unmarried couples, and collateral issues arising as a consequence of a relationship breakdown. Advocacy in child protection and support enforcement (FRO) matters. For further assistance, please contact Shana directly at smaiato@rzcdlaw.com or at Ext. 233. Alternatively, her legal assistant Mahi Noor Khalid can be reached at nkhalid@rzcdlaw.com or at Ext. 266.
Education:
Bond University- Queensland, Australia (Juris Doctor- First Class Honours)
York University- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Experience:
Taman's advice and counsel is sought by large corporations, small business owners and high net worth individuals - with a particular focus on assisting them with their Employment, Corporate/Business, Residential/Commercial Real Estate, and Immigration Law needs.
Taman is a fierce advocate for, and an empathetic resource for you, his clients. Understanding that for some the legal process can be intimating, Taman takes the time to understand your legal needs, explain the legal concepts and process to you, and assist you in an effective and efficient manner. Taman recognizes that your matter is unique and so he adapts his approach to match your circumstances, ensuring your best interests, concerns, and requirements are met.
Client engagement and collaboration is central to Taman's Practice, and he is committed to maintaining a high level of communication with his clients. Taman manages the relationship transparently so that you can see how your interests are being served at every stage of the legal process.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate. Call to the Ohio Bar: 2003, Call to the Bar: 2005
- Member in Good Standing With the Law Society of Ontario
Usman is a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario, The Advocates' Society, Peel Law Association. Usman also sits on the board of directors of several non-profit corporations.
Associate. Call to the Ohio Bar: 2003, Call to the Bar: 2005
Education:
Usman fast tracked through high school, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 2000, studying Economics and Computer Science, graduating with honours (completing a 4 year degree in 3 years). Usman continued his education at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctor in 2003 with a Concentration in Business Law and was the youngest student in his graduating class. Usman graduated as a Dean's Scholar and was on the Dean's List throughout law school.
Experience:
Usman is one of the few lawyers in our firm whose skills have allowed him to successfully practice in areas ranging from transactional work to litigation. Usman's advice and representation is sought by governments, companies and wealthy individuals with unusually challenging and complicated problems, as well as smaller companies and individuals looking for guidance on less complicated matters. Usman has built a reputation and is known for his skilful and creative representation, negotiating abilities and foresight - especially in respect of transactions and disputes with no obvious solution. Usman has been featured in the media for cases he has worked on and is also a regular speaker at seminars educating on various areas of the law. Additionally, Usman represents some of the largest real estate brokerages and is a regular speaker where he has educated realtors on all aspects of a real estate closing, tax implications, investment strategies and the fundamentals of the transaction.
Usman brings a unique approach to his practice, where his litigation clients benefit with his knowledge and work in the areas of transactional work resulting from his understanding the intricacies of a transaction, but also his transactional clients benefit as a result of his first-hand understanding on how courts will interpret, view and enforce various transactions. To this end, Usman and his team provide full-service representation to his clients.
Usman has successfully appeared at all levels of the Court, including the Tax Court of Canada and various Tribunals and Administrative Boards obtaining favourable results for his clients.
A one-time fashion consultant and stylist, Usman admits he still enjoys the fashion industry, and is big on health and fitness and playing sports.
Practice Areas:
Usman provides service to his clients in the following areas of the law: