shirley.levitan@dicksonlawyers.com

Professional Experience

Shirley spent her first years of practice in the corporate world of a large downtown law firm. She moved into the practice of family law in 1992. Shirley has litigated, mediated and negotiated all aspects of family law. With her university background in psychology, and experience with corporate law, Shirley has insight into the personal and business aspects necessary in the practice of family law. Shirley has also worked with the Board of, and provided legal counseling and seminars to, New Directions, a non profit organization assisting women experiencing separation and bereavement.

Shirley has been involved with collaborative practice since its introduction to Ontario, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Collaborative Practice Toronto. Shirley is committed to resolving legal issues that arise in family law in a respectful, creative and cost effective way.

Shirley has also been practicing in the area of reproductive technology since 1996 and is a licensee with the Government of Ontario for private adoption. Shirley works with intended parents, egg/sperm donors and gestational carriers. Shirley deals with interprovincial, as well as international cross border, legal issues, and she has considerable experience with court and government applications dealing with birth registration matters that arise in assisted human reproduction and adoption arrangements.

Shirley has spoken at seminars and conferences in the areas of Family Law and Reproductive Technology Law.

Shirley is on the Board of a Toronto non-profit corporation, Newchoir. Newchoir is an association of local singers and musicians who are committed to bringing a modern choral repertoire to the stage. Newchoir has grown from 27 singers in September, 2005 to the current number of 80! Newchoir supports charities such as Easter Seals, and children’s choirs and is proud of its commitment to the community.

Shirley is licensed to practice law in Ontario and New York State.