KELLY JORDAN FAMILY LAW - Key Persons
Emma was called to the Bar in 2013. After practising civil litigation at a boutique firm for four years, Emma transitioned into practising family law so she could advocate for individuals. She takes pride in advocating for her clients and is committed to getting to know each client to ensure their interests are protected. Emma is a seasoned litigator and has been arguing in courts and in front of tribunals since she was an articling student. She also understands the importance of negotiating resolutions through Alternative Dispute Resolution when appropriate. Emma has completed the Fundamentals and Advanced Mediation Training with the Mediation Training Centre. She is a member of the OBA Family Law Executive and past member of the OBA Young Lawyers' Division Executive. Emma contributed to writing resources regarding decision-making responsibility and parenting time for the Family Law Education for Women and to the family law chapter in the new edition of Death of a Taxpayer.
Emma grew up in Toronto and is strongly connected to her community. She completed her Juris Doctor at Osgoode Hall Law School, during which time she spent one semester working at Parkdale Community Legal Services. Emma is proud and excited to join the Board of Directors for the legal aid-clinic, Justice for children and Youth this year, and continuing to work with the clinic on the Development and Fundraising Committee.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate Lawyer at Kelly
Kate Deveau is an Associate Lawyer at Kelly D. Jordan Family Law. She practises in all areas of family law, including representing children through her appointment to the Personal Rights Panel of the Office of the Children's Lawyer. Prior to joining Kelly's team, Kate worked for a family law firm in Kingston, Ontario.
Kate graduated with common and civil law degrees from McGill University and holds a Master of Laws from Queen's University. Her thesis, supervised by Professor Nicholas Bala, examined COVID-19's impact on family justice in Ontario. She co-authored an article about this work with leading family academics, Professor Bala, Dr. Rachel Birnbaum, and Dr. Claire Houston, which was published in the Family Court Review on March 8, 2022. Prior to law school, Kate completed her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies at the University of New Brunswick.
Kate understands that every family is different and tailors her approach to the specific needs and goals of each client. She provides thoughtful and empathetic advice and advocacy to assist families to try to move forward in the most cost-effective and painless way possible, particularly when children are involved. Kate's approach is to try to negotiate a resolution of issues out of court but, when needed, she leverages her court room experience to represent clients in contested family court proceedings.
Kate previously taught Introduction to Legal Skills to first year students at Queen's Law. She gives back to the profession by volunteering with the Walsh Family Law Moot and Negotiation Competition, an annual provincial law school competition that assists students in developing their litigation and negotiation skills.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of the Minerva Group
- Law Specialist
Kelly is a past member of The American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA), is certified by the Law Society as a specialist in Family Law, and is ranked as a leading Canadian lawyer by Lexpert and Best Lawyers.
Kelly is a founding member of The Minerva Group, an association of senior family law lawyers in Toronto who provide timely access to family law mediation, arbitration and litigation management services. Kelly brings an empathetic and innovative approach to conducting mediations, using foundational best practices for both mediation and arbitration, as developed by The Minerva Group. For more information about The Minerva Group, click here.
A creative thinker herself, Kelly is a patron of the arts. She surrounds herself with creativity and relishes the chance to enjoy ballet, dance, opera, and collecting art.