AveryLaw
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.1 lawyer · City of Toronto, Niagara Region
One of 2,276 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 307 handling Criminal Defence.
Free consultation
Virtual appointments
Free consultationVirtual appointmentsAbout AveryLaw
AveryLaw is the firm behind the Impaired Driving Defence Centre, and its whole practice is DUI-related offences, defended in courts across Ontario. Most of the people it represents have never been charged before: more than 90% of its clients are first-time offenders, and they include professionals, retirees, caregivers and people living with chronic conditions. Its starting point for every defence is respect, clarity and a solid plan. (Fees as of October 2026.)
The firm is led by Christopher A. Avery, who was already running trials in 1997 as an Osgoode Hall student and had completed more than 200 of them at CLASP, Osgoode's legal aid criminal clinic, before being called to the bar in 2002. Before turning entirely to DUI defence, Avery's early career took in homicide files, organized crime and complex drug cases. Avery is licensed in Ontario and Nova Scotia and has defended thousands of DUI cases.
Erica Champagnie has worked as a criminal defence paralegal at AveryLaw since 2017, entirely on impaired driving files, handling administrative court appearances, disclosure and contact with the courts and the Crown, and keeping clients prepared for each step. The firm takes a low-volume approach, giving each case close attention, and it's reachable around the clock in emergencies.
The head office is on Lawrence Avenue East in Toronto, and a second office at 21 Duke Street in St. Catharines covers the Niagara Region and the nearby border crossings. Avery also travels to clients in person wherever they are in Ontario. The first meeting is a free, hour-long assessment, and clients can spread fees over interest-free installments.
Practice areas
Alcohol, Over 80 and breath-demand charges
AveryLaw defends impaired operation, blood alcohol readings of 80 mg or more, refusing or failing to comply with a demand, and impaired boating. The firm has handled thousands of Over 80 cases in Ontario, and care and control allegations that come bundled with these charges get a layered defence to match.
Drug, cannabis and prescription medication charges
Each drug-impaired file is reviewed by a former DRE instructor, and the firm can draw on a former OPP chief trainer in the DRE program. Avery belongs to both the National College for DUI Defense and the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. The team has defended cases involving cannabis, prescription drugs and street drugs as well as alcohol.
Stunt, dangerous driving and charges laid together
Where a stunt or racing charge comes with an impaired charge, AveryLaw defends both together. On the stunt side it tests the accuracy of the speed reading and the officer's procedure, and weighs whether the charge could be negotiated down to something lesser, like speeding or careless driving. In dangerous driving cases the firm goes through dashcam video, witness statements and police notes, and consults accident reconstruction specialists when appropriate.
Drivers with more at stake
AveryLaw has helped many commercial drivers whose licence and livelihood are on the line, and it helps novice and under-21 drivers with both the provincial and the criminal side of a charge. Drivers from other provinces and American visitors charged in Ontario are a regular part of the practice.
Pardons, waivers and record destruction
A separate department, managed by law clerk Natasha Stojanoski, handles pardons, waivers and criminal record destruction.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Virtual appointments
By appointmentFees & payment
Payment plans
Free consultationHow AveryLaw works
AveryLaw builds every file as though it's headed for trial. That readiness is the point: a reputation for thorough preparation often gives the firm the leverage to reach a favourable resolution. Once retained, the firm gets the police disclosure and covers each set-date appearance, so clients don't lose time at work, and the whole team then sits down together to work through the disclosure, look for defences and research the legal and factual questions.
Avery puts discretion ahead of publicity. Avery has spoken to the media many times but keeps clients out of the spotlight, anonymizing even cases that are public so no one's personal difficulty turns into a headline. The same team stays with a client from the first call to the end of the case.
Milestones & recognition
- In 2026, Christopher A. Avery appeared in CTV News coverage of Saskatoon's move to mandatory alcohol screening at traffic stops, explaining the legal context and what the policy means in practice.
Affiliations & connections
- Criminal Lawyers' Association: Christopher A. Avery is a member of the Criminal Lawyers' Association.
- National College for DUI Defense: Christopher A. Avery is a member of the National College for DUI Defense in the United States.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Christopher A. Avery is a member of the American National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
- Ontario Bar Association: Christopher A. Avery is a member of the Ontario Bar Association.
- Canadian Bar Association: Christopher A. Avery is a member of the Canadian Bar Association.
Lawyers 1
Offices 2
The neighbourhood
AveryLaw's Toronto office sits at 1315 Lawrence Avenue East, and the firm acts for people charged anywhere in North York. Their criminal cases go to the Toronto Courthouse at 10 Armoury Street, just north of Toronto City Hall. The 17-storey courthouse opened in 2023 and brought six Ontario Court of Justice criminal locations from across the city under one roof. Because the head office is in Toronto, the firm appears there regularly and knows how the city's Crown attorneys handle impaired driving files.
In St. Catharines, the Duke Street office is a few minutes from the Ontario Court of Justice at 59 Church Street, and the firm also takes Niagara cases heard in Welland at 102 East Main Street. Clients from the U.S. can have the firm appear for many procedural steps, so they needn't keep travelling back to Canada.
Frequently asked questions
- I'm visiting from another province and was charged in Ontario. Can AveryLaw save me trips back for court?
- AveryLaw regularly defends drivers from other provinces and American visitors charged in Ontario. The firm appears for routine dates, and even at trial it can often arrange, with court approval, for the client to attend by Zoom.
- Can I spread AveryLaw's fees over interest-free installments?
- AveryLaw offers interest-free installment plans so fees can fit a client's budget while the charge is defended. The firm explains its fees before anyone decides to retain it, including what's covered and what extra costs could come up if the case goes further.
- What's covered in AveryLaw's hour-long free assessment?
- AveryLaw's first consultation runs a full hour with an impaired driving defence lawyer, at no charge. It covers what happened, how the client is coping, how the court process works, possible outcomes, defence costs and the client's most pressing questions.
- My DUI charge could affect my permanent residence. Will AveryLaw advise me on the immigration side?
- AveryLaw's role is the criminal defence; it doesn't practise immigration law or give immigration advice, and it recommends consulting an immigration lawyer about status. The firm defends the criminal charge itself.
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Criminal DefenceThis 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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