John Schuman, C.S., Child and Family Law

John is a Certified Specialist in Family Law. He is a respected family lawyer, education lawyer and children's rights lawyer. John is the partner managing the Family Law Group at Devry Smith Frank LLP. John has earned the respect of his clients, judges, mediators and arbitrators for his sensible approach to resolving family law issues, his concern for children, and his understanding of complex financial matters. At paragraph 71 of a court decision, click here, Justice Sherr wrote “Mr. Schuman’s conduct in this case is an example of what lawyers are supposed to do in difficult cases.”

The mainstream media has recognized John’s expertise and turns to him when it needs a top lawyer in the areas of family law and children’s rights. John has appeared on: CBC/Radio Canada, the Ward and Al Show on Canada Talk Radio, Family Matters with Justice Brownstone (also see this page), DivorceSource Radio, Real Estate 101, and To Your Success. John is also the host of the Ontario Family Law Podcast.

John has litigated before every level of court in Ontario, several tribunals and the Supreme Court of Canada. Several of John's cases have been reported in law reports. John's cases involving children's rights have been reported in the national media. John has earned the respect of the judges, mediators and arbitrators before whom he appears.

John has trained as both a family mediator and arbitrator to assist families in resolving their matters in a less adversarial way. John is also trained as a Collaborative Lawyer. That does not just mean that John knows how to negotiate a sensible settlement. It also means that John knows how to use Collaborative Practice, which is another way to resolve family disputes without having a big fight or “wrecking the kids.”

John has published articles in referred legal journals on the questioning of child witnesses, allegations of abuse when parents have separated, and the rights of children to direct their own medical treatment. John is also the editor of the "Child in the Courtroom" chapter of Wilson on Children and the Law. He is the co-author of the child protection chapter in the leading text, Evidence in Family Law. John is also the author of the DSF Guide to the Basics of Ontario Family Law.