Strategic Criminal Defence
13 lawyers · Established 2007 · Calgary Region, City of Toronto
One of 696 law firms listed in Calgary, and one of 144 handling Criminal Defence.
Accepts Legal Aid
Free consultation
Virtual appointments
Accepts Legal AidFree consultationVirtual appointmentsAbout Strategic Criminal Defence
One of the highest-rated law firms in Toronto, going by its Google reviews.
Strategic Criminal Defence is a Calgary based criminal defence firm with additional offices across Western Canada and one in Toronto. Its story goes back to 2007, when Michael Oykhman was called to the Alberta Bar and began working with Ian Savage. The two practiced together as Savage Oykhman Law from a downtown Calgary office at 396 11th Avenue SW starting in 2010, and grew the practice into what became known as Oykhman Criminal Defence before it took on its current name as the firm expanded into other provinces.
The firm handles criminal law only, representing clients on charges ranging from impaired driving and domestic violence to drug offences, sexual assault, fraud, and youth matters. Its Toronto office, at 100 Richmond Street West in the city's financial and legal district, dates to 2016, when criminal defence lawyer Dylan Finlay, who grew up in Toronto, returned home after articling with the firm's Calgary team to open a local practice. Two more lawyers, Lorant Kiss and Justin Marchand, later joined, and the Toronto team now handles cases across the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Founded in 2007, when Michael Oykhman was called to the Alberta Bar and began working with Ian Savage.
- Grew from a shared downtown Calgary office at 396 11th Avenue SW, taken up in 2010, into a firm whose lawyers are now licensed in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
- Michael Oykhman, a co-founder, is a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law and a former President of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association (Calgary).
- The firm has received the Three Best Rated award for criminal defence multiple times, along with several Consumer Choice awards.
- The Toronto office was established in 2016, when Dylan Finlay, who grew up in the city, returned home after articling with the Calgary team to start a local practice.
- One of the firm's senior lawyers holds the designation King's Counsel (KC).
In the community
- The firm provides pro bono legal services to CUPS, a Calgary nonprofit that helps people facing legal and social barriers.
- Lawyers advise University of Calgary law students through Student Legal Assistance, a pro bono legal clinic.
- The firm supports Franny's Fund, which helps families and children facing urgent legal needs, and the Project Warmth Society of Alberta, which addresses homelessness.
- It sponsors the Gale Cup Moot, a bilingual criminal law competition, and offers the Strategic Criminal Defence Criminal Law Scholarship for law students.
- The firm supports the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (BC) Society and takes part in Assist's Coffee For A Cause mental health initiative for legal professionals.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
LGBTQ+ friendly
Virtual appointments
By appointmentFees & payment
Flat fee
Payment plans
Free consultation
Legal aidLawyers 13
Alex Yip
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal DefenceFamily Law
Anosha Bic
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Cara Lebenzon
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Funda Mutlay
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Ian Savage
Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Joseph Beller
Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Laura Bobyn
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Mateya Selders
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Michael Oykhman
Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer, Founder
Criminal Defence
Neal Dixon
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Rebecca Snukal
King's Counsel, Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Shaun Leochko
Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
Shervin Sabet
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Criminal Defence
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2007–2024 · median 10 years in practice 3 of 13 lawyers
- Law schools
- University of Calgary (5), University of Alberta, University of Birmingham, University of Liverpool, University of Ottawa, University of Southampton and 1 more 11 of 13 lawyers
- Languages on the roster
- Cantonese, English
Who handles what
Offices 2
The neighbourhood
Strategic Criminal Defence's Toronto office is at 100 Richmond Street West, Suite 414, in the heart of the city's financial and legal district. That puts it within walking distance of the courts its lawyers appear in most, including the Toronto courthouse and the Superior Court of Justice, with Old City Hall close by as well.
The office traces back to 2016, when Dylan Finlay, who grew up in Toronto, returned home after articling with the firm's lawyers in Calgary to start a local criminal defence practice. What began as a one lawyer office has grown into a team of three, now handling cases across the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Strategic Criminal Defence handle impaired driving and DUI charges in Toronto?
- Yes. Impaired driving and DUI is one of the practice areas the Toronto office lists among its main areas of focus, alongside domestic violence, assault, and drug offences.
- Can Strategic Criminal Defence represent someone facing a domestic violence or assault charge?
- Yes, domestic violence and assault are among the criminal matters the Toronto office regularly handles.
- Does Strategic Criminal Defence handle youth criminal charges in Toronto?
- Yes. Youth criminal defence is listed among the Toronto office's practice areas, including diversion options such as the Alternative Measures Program and Extra Judicial Sanctions.
- How long has Strategic Criminal Defence had a Toronto office?
- Since 2016, when Dylan Finlay, who grew up in Toronto, returned home after articling with the firm's Calgary lawyers to open a local practice. Two more lawyers, Lorant Kiss and Justin Marchand, have since joined the Toronto team.
- Where is the Toronto office and what's nearby?
- The office is at 100 Richmond Street West, Suite 414, in the city's financial and legal district, within walking distance of the Toronto courthouse, the Superior Court of Justice, and Old City Hall.
- Does Strategic Criminal Defence offer a free consultation?
- The firm offers a free initial consultation to discuss a criminal matter, and its lawyers can be reached outside regular office hours for urgent cases.
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Insurance LawLegal AidListing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Alberta directory ↗