Agueci Calabretta
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.8 lawyers · Established 1983 · City of Toronto
One of 2,276 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 435 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
About Agueci Calabretta
Agueci Calabretta works for lenders in debtor and creditor law, and mortgage enforcement gets particular emphasis within that practice. More than 25 financial institutions rely on the firm, among them Schedule "A" banks, trust companies, credit unions, mortgage servicers, and mortgage and title insurers.
Joseph Agueci and John Calabretta started the firm together in 1983, and John Calabretta, one of the two co-founders, is now its Senior Partner. Joseph Agueci designed the firm's MACE Program (Mortgage Administration, Collections and Enforcement) so that lenders running a power of sale face less delay, less paperwork and lower costs.
Power of sale files sit alongside a broader lender practice: commercial and residential conveyancing, litigation over secured and unsecured debts, and enforcement of money judgments once a client has one in hand. The firm takes on legal work for lenders of every size, from small to big.
Judgment enforcement is often done on a contingency basis, which limits a client's financial risk and cost. The office is in North American Centre at 5700 Yonge Street, Suite 1110, in Toronto, and there's a toll-free number alongside the local line.
Practice areas
Mortgage enforcement and power of sale
Lawyers stay hands-on with each defaulted file, so every part of the default gets dealt with promptly, and they monitor each file to protect the client's financial interests and limit reputational risk at every step. Karen Pedroso, who reports to Joseph Agueci, runs the sale side: listing properties, receiving and reviewing agreements of purchase and sale, and submitting post-sale claims to mortgage insurers.
Commercial and residential conveyancing
For home purchases and sales as well as complex commercial acquisitions, the firm reviews the agreement of purchase and sale, corrects title and registers mortgages, and on mortgage-insured properties it files title insurance claims with the insurer. John Calabretta acts for financial institutions on conveyancing and title rectification.
Unsecured debt and commercial litigation
Defaulted unsecured loans are routine work here, including personal and small business loans, financing contracts, HELOCs and credit cards. James Butson's litigation experience includes power of sale enforcement, bankruptcy proceedings, construction lien claims and landlord and tenant disputes, and a collections team handles each file from assignment until it's satisfied.
Our guide: Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Toronto
Post-judgment enforcement
Ryan McConaghy's practice includes extensive post-judgment recovery proceedings, using remedies such as sheriff sales.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleHow Agueci Calabretta works
Clients of Agueci Calabretta deal with its lawyers directly, senior partners included, and the firm commits to keeping bureaucracy out of the way. Staff use real-time information systems so clients get answers as soon as they're needed. With borrowers in distress, the firm's policy is to act with sensitivity while staying firm about protecting the lender's interests, and it runs strict security protocols over all communications and stored information.
Milestones & recognition
- James Butson joined the firm in 1993. Beginning in 1988, James taught in the Law Society's Bar Admission Course, covering civil procedure, advocacy, creditor and debtor law, bankruptcy and insolvency, and professional ethics.
- James Butson has lectured at the Law Society's annual Real Estate Summit.
- Frances Agueci has lectured on the Substituted Decisions Act, 1992 and related legislation.
- Ryan McConaghy, at the firm since 2016, is licensed in both Ontario and the State of North Carolina.
In the community
- James Butson regularly mentors law students who are getting ready for the bar admission exams.
- Lee Guarino has served on the boards of the Liberty Village Business Improvement Area and the York Community Services Legal Clinic.
Affiliations & connections
- Ontario Bar Association: Lee Guarino of Agueci Calabretta is a member of the Ontario Bar Association.
- Canadian Bar Association: Lee Guarino is a member of the Canadian Bar Association.
- Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association: Lee Guarino belongs to the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association (CIBPA).
Lawyers 8
The neighbourhood
North American Centre fills the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue: two towers, 21 and 23 storeys tall, joined by a retail concourse. Finch TTC station connects to the complex underground, TTC buses stop right outside, and more than 2,000 parking spaces sit below ground. The complex is close to Highways 401 and 407 and to Vaughan and Markham. Across the street from the firm's office are the TTC parking lot and the GO bus terminal.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Agueci Calabretta take on judgments acquired through an Assignment of Judgment?
- Agueci Calabretta routinely advises and acts on judgment enforcement, including judgments a client has inherited by assignment. The firm can also take on that work on a time-engaged or block-fee basis.
- Which secure systems does Agueci Calabretta use to exchange files with lenders?
- Agueci Calabretta sends and receives secured communications through DRN, Litigation Highway, NRS and Techcom. The firm keeps its systems maintained and upgraded and invests in technology that links them with its clients' own.
- Does Agueci Calabretta handle estate work alongside its lender practice?
- Agueci Calabretta's John Calabretta practises estate administration as well as corporate, commercial and leasing work, and Frances Agueci's practice also covers estate planning and estate administration.
- Do Agueci Calabretta's litigators appear at the Court of Appeal for Ontario?
- Agueci Calabretta's Aaron Boghossian has appeared before the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Ontario Court of Justice, and appears regularly before the Superior Court of Justice in several parts of the province.
Where to find them
North American Centre, 5700 Yonge Street, Suite 1110, Toronto, ON M2M 4K2 · 416-250-5700
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Personal InjuryThis listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on the firm’s own website. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗
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