Specialized and Experienced Toronto and Mississauga Family Lawyers
Kain & Ball was founded by Anita T. Kain and David R. Ball, two veteran Bay Street lawyers with the shared vision of providing the very best legal advice and representation to family law clients. Kain & Ball opened its doors in 1993 with this mandate and has continued to grow over the years. In the transformations and expansions that our firm has undergone in the years that have passed, one thing remains constant and always will: our commitment to our clients.
David Ball In Memoriam
David R. Ball: 1957-1999
Colleague. Friend. Brilliant Lawyer.
David Ball cofounded Kain & Ball with Anita Kain in 1993. As two experienced Bay Street litigators and best friends, David and Anita set out to provide unsurpassed legal representation to Family Law clients while creating a law firm culture that was truly unique and reflective of their values. David’s discerning legal mind, a razor-sharp wit, and fearless approach to advocacy imbued his practice and made him well-liked and respected by both clients and colleagues. David tragically lost his battle with cancer in 1999, only 6 years after co-founding Kain & Ball; his inspiring pursuit of excellence in the field of family law lives on in the culture of the firm that continues to bear his name. A skilled advocate and brilliant lawyer, David is sorely missed by his colleagues. Kain & Ball would not be what it is today had David not been a part of it. What began as the shared vision of providing excellent legal services to family law clients has now become a reality, and we are often reminded of David and how he enriched the lives of those who had the privilege to call him a friend and colleague.
Our Clients
We strive to understand your needs and develop solutions that you can live with – because after all, this is your life. We are straightforward about fees to ensure no surprises. Our premise in doing business is simple: treat others as we would like to be treated. By living our philosophy – and building our knowledge base – we have established a strong reputation based on mutual success: yours and ours.
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Fees
Our objective is to keep your costs as low as possible while providing you with first-class legal representation. The finance team at Kain & Ball is committed to keeping you informed with respect to your legal fees to ensure there are no surprises. For that reason, we encourage you to discuss the matter of costs with your Toronto family lawyer, or with our accounting department at any time. At your initial consultation, you will be provided with a schedule of all fees charged by our firm.
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Professional Development and Referrals
Because chance favours the prepared mind – and the law changes – your Toronto family lawyer invests countless hours each year in reading case law, attending legal seminars and working cooperatively with our colleagues as well as experts outside of the field of law to develop our knowledge base. This makes us better and more efficient, to ensure that you are getting optimal legal services.
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Toronto Team of Family Lawyers
Say hello to your potential team, each a master of their respective craft.
Anita T. Kain is a well-known and respected expert of the Family Law Bar in Ontario, having practiced exclusively in the area of family law for over 30 years. Along with her unquestioned experience, Ms. Kain brings a tenacity and fortitude to her practice that also exemplifies her approach to life more broadly. She is as much the vivacious powerhouse outside of the courtroom and the boardroom as she is inside them. Anita can often be found engaged in high intensity fitness pursuits such as kickboxing, cycling and many other physically and mentally challenging activities. The passion for challenge and the intense energy she brings to these activities are qualities that have served Anita very well throughout her distinguished career.
With an impressive range and depth of experience in the field, Anita is an esteemed and accomplished lawyer with expertise in all areas of family law, including negotiating and litigating complex financial matters, custody and access issues, and child and spousal support issues. Prior to co-founding Kain & Ball in 1993, Anita obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1983. She was then called to the Ontario Bar in 1985, articled with a large Bay Street law firm in Toronto, and has practiced since that time exclusively in the area of family law.
Having the courage to leave her successful practice at a large, well established firm to start Kain & Ball, and to rebuild and grow the firm after the loss of its cofounder and her dear friend is illustrative of Anita’s general approach to both law and to life. She has always taken on challenges with fearlessness, perseverance, and enthusiasm; and it is this approach that she has imbued in the culture of the firm she has built.
A skilled negotiator and captivating advocate, Anita owns her clients’ problems and takes them on with the confidence of a seasoned professional who consistently delivers excellent results. She truly engenders the belief that her clients’ successes are deeply important to her because they are. Anita’s passion for family law extends beyond what she does; she is committed to helping people and their families navigate the legal system. She has helped numerous clients reach optimal settlements and successfully argued numerous motions, trials, and appeals on behalf of her clients on all family law issues. Her advocacy experience extends to all levels of the courts, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition to being an authority on the technical aspects of family law, Anita is also a true presence in the courtroom; delivering hard-hitting arguments with the skillful ease that only a veteran expert can. While her mastery of family law litigation is comprehensive and formidable, Anita is a brilliant negotiator and creative problem solver. Where possible, Anita will do her utmost to assist her clients in achieving resolutions to their family law problems out of court. She has extensive experience in negotiating all kinds of domestic contracts and dealing with family law matters by way of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. During her more than 30 years of practice, Anita has successfully represented innumerable clients in negotiations, mediations, and arbitrations.
In addition to her role as an advocate Ms. Kain is also a certified mediator, who has assisted parties in reaching fair and reasonable settlements in an amicable and cost-effective manner. Anita’s wisdom in family law (and in life) in combination with her willingness to work tirelessly until a resolution is achieved and her open, direct, and friendly demeanour position her well to aide parties in overcoming their differences and finding creative and mutually beneficial solutions to even the most complicated and contentious family law problems.
As a senior lawyer, Anita is an excellent mentor; sharing her knowledge with less experienced lawyers and assisting them with finding ways to improve their mastery of the practice of family law. Within the firm, Anita acts as senior counsel on many of the files run by more junior lawyers, and her door is always open to offer insight and advice to other members of the firm. On a larger scale, she has also been an educator and published materials for continuing education programs. Anita has made an effort to give back to the community by creating a firm culture that prioritizes corporate social responsibility and has started many initiatives on behalf of the firm to make positive contributions locally and across the province. Remembering her roots, and feeling that it is important to recognize and encourage academic achievement Anita has also contributed to her Alma Mater by creating the Anita T. Kain Award in Modern Languages.
An engaging and vibrant speaker, Anita has also been a valuable resource to professionals in various fields, regularly giving presentations about family law at several different meetings, conferences, and summits. Her dynamic energy and willingness to share her wealth of expert knowledge make her presentations both interesting and informative. If you are interested in having Anita speak at an event, please e-mail contact@kainfamilylawnew.com
Anita T. Kain is a well-known and respected expert of the Family Law Bar in Ontario, having practiced exclusively in the area of family law for over 30 years. Along with her unquestioned experience, Ms. Kain brings a tenacity and fortitude to her practice that also exemplifies her approach to life more broadly. She is as much the vivacious powerhouse outside of the courtroom and the boardroom as she is inside them. Anita can often be found engaged in high intensity fitness pursuits such as kickboxing, cycling and many other physically and mentally challenging activities. The passion for challenge and the intense energy she brings to these activities are qualities that have served Anita very well throughout her distinguished career.
Team
Heather Cassells received her Honors Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2008, with an Honors Specialization in Media and the Public Interest and a Minor in Women’s Studies. Heather went on to obtain her law degree from the University of Ottawa in 2012. During law school, Heather actively pursued her interest in family law and honed her advocacy skills as an active member of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, completing a fellowship during the summer of 2011 and serving as chair of the Ottawa branch during her final year of law school.
Heather completed her articles with Kain & Ball from 2012 – 2013. After being called to the Ontario Bar in 2013, Heather returned to Kain & Ball as an associate and has been practicing with the firm exclusively in the area of family law ever since. She has broad range of experience with high conflict custody and access matters, as well as complex financial matters concerning child support, spousal support, and property issues.
Heather’s practice spans across the Greater Toronto Area and she has represented clients at the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Justice, as well as in mediation and arbitration.
Heather is passionate about family law and is dedicated to providing her clients with the information and advice needed to successfully navigate through the Ontario family law system.
Outside of the office, Heather enjoys going on long walks with her husband and their beagle, Cora around her native Toronto and spends weekends at the cottage every chance she gets.
Laura’s ability to stand her ground, no matter what the topic, was evident from a young age. Whether it was defending her choice of outfit or convincing her parents to let her stay out past curfew, her family knew her obstinate will would one day serve a greater purpose.
It was no surprise then when Laura announced her interest in law as early as high school. Laura’s ability to articulate an argument and her close attention to detail allow her to navigate the most complex of family law cases. Clients who retain her can expect a lawyer who is truly in their corner, and exhaustive in her approach to coming up with a resolution that satisfies the best interests of their families.
Laura has worked with clients on a variety of family law issues, ranging from the preparation of Marriage Contracts to comprehensive Separation Agreements addressing parenting issues, division of assets, and child and spousal support. Laura has extensive experience advocating for clients in Court at both the Ontario Court and Superior Court of Justice. Laura is well-versed in handling issues of pension division, as well as complex issues surrounding business interests within the context of equalization. Laura is a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution, with a particular focus on resolving files collaboratively, when possible.
Laura’s grit doesn’t just materialize in the Courts. In her spare time, you can find her at her local CrossFit gym or training for her next Spartan race. While some call it stress relief, others may consider it a physical extension of her day job. Either way, she’s not afraid of putting in the work required to achieve a desired outcome.
Laura Natalizio received her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in Criminology and Political Science. Laura then worked for a Member of Parliament at the provincial level before obtaining her LL.B from the University of Windsor. Laura has always played an active role in her community throughout her post-secondary studies, and continues to involve herself in various charitable undertakings. Laura first became a part of Kain & Ball in 2006 as a summer student and went on to complete her articles thereafter. After her call to the Ontario Bar in 2009, Laura returned to Kain & Ball as an Associate where she continues to develop her practice.
Nida Hussain obtained her Honours B.A. with a major in Political Science and minors in Psychology and Fine Art History from the University of Toronto, where she graduated with high distinction; and an L.L.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School where she graduated in the top 7% of her class in 2008. Her articles at one of Toronto’s national business law firms provided her with exposure to litigation, pension law, labour and employment, as well as corporate law. During her articles, Nida assisted in the drafting of legal documents on freedom of information to the Supreme Court of Canada. Prior to joining Kain & Ball, Nida worked at a small family law firm and gained significant experience through carriage and control of files after her call to the Ontario Bar in 2009. With a particular focus on litigation, Nida enjoys oral advocacy and has successfully argued motions and represented clients at trial on a variety of issues including custody, access and support. She has also appeared before the Court of Appeal of Ontario. In 2011, Nida joined Kain & Ball and has continued to build on her experience through her involvement in high-conflict and complex family law files. Nida is currently a member of the Peel Law Association.
Jonathan Stankiewicz graduated from York University in 2005 with a Specialized Honors Degree in Psychology. He subsequently worked as an educator at a local private elementary school before he obtained his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2010. During law school, Jonathan worked at a legal aid clinic servicing clients where he assisted unrepresented parties with navigating their matters through the court process. He later worked at a criminal law firm in Toronto, Ontario and gained experience working in the field of criminal law. Jonathan completed his articles at Kain & Ball and has remained at Kain & Ball since his call to the bar in 2011. Jonathan now practices as a junior associate with an interest in all family law related issues.
Jessica Polis received her Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction in English and Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2008 and her Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2011. She has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law at Kain & Ball since 2012, where she also completed her Articles. She has assisted parties in dealing with all manner of family law issues, including custody and access, support and property division, in addition to drafting marriage contracts, cohabitation agreements and separation agreements. Whether resolving a matter through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or litigation, Jessica maintains a client-focused, results-oriented approach.
Jessica is also fluent in Polish. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her fur-babies (a golden retriever named Archie and a grumpy cat named Meowser) and doing yoga.
Mary received her Law Clerk diploma in 1996, graduating with Honours, and has since worked exclusively with Kain & Ball. She has assisted in the preparation of countless motions, mediations, trials and arbitrations, bringing her insight and perspective to every case. She oversees all aspects of client management, with a focus on complex financial matters, having received the designation as a Certified Expert in Family Law from the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario.
Mary’s decades of experience coupled with her empathetic nature, make her an invaluable part of our team.
Mary’s decades of experience coupled with her empathetic nature, make her an invaluable part of our team.
Jenna received her Law Clerk diploma in 2010 and has worked exclusively in family law since then Jenna joined Kain & Ball in 2015 where her dedication, attention to detail and knowledge of complex financial matters makes her a valuable part of our team.
Katherine believes that the best settlement is a negotiated one, where both parties have a say in the outcome. Therefore, she attempts to resolve matters outside of Court if possible, and brings an individual focus to each particular case. Katherine strives to ensure her clients understand all issues pertaining to their case, and regularly engages her clients in a cost-benefit analysis when discussing options for next steps.
Should Court become necessary, Katherine has extensive Courtroom experience, appearing regularly before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice, while also appearing before the Ontario Court of Appeal. Katherine can also assist with your marriage contract or cohabitation agreement.
Katherine graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Science, Honours Genetics. She has continued her education, taking College courses in social sciences (domestic violence) and photography.
Katherine was called to the Ontario Bar in 2012. Prior to joining Kain & Ball, Katherine gained invaluable experience working in Toronto for a boutique family law firm and a mid-size full-service firm. Katherine’s world view has also been shaped by travel, including a 14-month sabbatical where she solo-travelled South America, South-East Asia and Australia.
In her off time, Katherine can be found with her rescue dog, Theo, hiking, baking, playing board games, or spending time with friends and family. Katherine practices in all areas of family law, and is ready to assist you and your family.
Sarah truly cares about her clients, and is ready to help them through what can often be a difficult and challenging time. As a detail-oriented creative thinker with excellent communication skills, Sarah was drawn to the practice of Family Law. She earned her J.D. at Western University, Faculty of Law, and prior to attending law school, Sarah obtained her Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Law and Business from Ryerson University. In her third year of law school, eager to tackle the challenge of living abroad and fuelled by curiosity, Sarah spent a semester studying at the National University of Singapore. Sarah was called to the Ontario Bar in May 2020.
Prior to joining Kain & Ball, Sarah completed her articles and practiced at a boutique law firm in Toronto where she worked in both family law and civil litigation. Sarah joined Kain & Ball in 2021 after deciding to practice solely in family law. Clients who retain Sarah can expect a conscientious lawyer who takes a practical approach to problems, and treats them with empathy and compassion. Sarah practices law, and life with integrity and authenticity.
Sarah has experience representing clients at conferences and motions and has assisted senior counsel at trial. Sarah has appeared at both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice and has represented clients at mediation. Sarah also represents clients in negotiating and preparing domestic contracts.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys spinning, yoga, watching movies (especially documentaries) and spending time with her orange tabby cat, Walter.
Management and Finance, Support Staff
Alexis Johnson is Kain & Ball’s Chief Financial Officer; she handles all client and company financial matters. Alexis has over twenty years’ experience in the financial community.
Professional Development and Referrals
Because chance favours the prepared mind – and the law changes – we invest countless hours each year in reading case law, attending legal seminars and working cooperatively with our colleagues as well as experts outside of the field of law to develop our knowledge base.
This makes us better and more efficient, to ensure that you are getting optimal legal services.
We also appreciate the value that other professionals can add in areas such as taxation, investing and social assistance. So we gladly work on a co-operative basis with your other advisors to ensure holistic solutions that meet your current and future needs.
Confidentiality
Your business is nobody’s business except yours. In order to provide you with the best legal representation possible, it’s important for you to tell us the whole story, and it’s important that you feel comfortable in doing so. You can rest assured that your information will be treated on a strictly confidential basis.
Book An Appointment With A Toronto Family Lawyer
Our concern for the security of your personal information goes beyond the letter of the law. Our reputation is built on it.