Berkes Law
1 lawyer · Established 1993 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
About Berkes Law
Berkes Law is a small criminal defence firm at 144 King St. E. in Toronto, practicing since 1993. The firm defends individuals and corporations facing criminal and quasi-criminal charges at every level of court in Ontario. Its principal, Jody Berkes, is certified as a specialist in Criminal Law by the Law Society of Ontario.
Berkes articled and practiced with the criminal defence firm Smart and Williams in Vancouver before moving to Toronto in 1999. That year, Berkes became a partner at Heller, Rubel Barristers, practicing exclusively in criminal defence. In 2012, Berkes formed a new partnership that continued until 2019, when the other partner was appointed to the bench. Berkes holds a B.A. from Stanford University and B.C.L. and LL.B. degrees from McGill University's Faculty of Law, where classmates chose Berkes as valedictorian.
Outside the firm, Berkes has stayed active in the profession's own associations: a past chair of the Ontario Bar Association's Criminal Law Executive Committee, a current member at large of that section's executive, and secretary of the Canadian Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- In practice since 1993, defending individuals and corporations against criminal and quasi-criminal charges.
- Jody Berkes is certified as a specialist in Criminal Law by the Law Society of Ontario.
- Berkes holds a B.A. from Stanford University and B.C.L. and LL.B. degrees from McGill University, where Berkes was chosen valedictorian by the graduating class.
- Became a partner at Heller, Rubel Barristers in 1999, practicing exclusively in criminal defence after articling in Vancouver.
- Formed a new partnership in 2012 that continued until 2019, when the other partner was appointed to the bench.
- Past chair of the Ontario Bar Association's Criminal Law Executive Committee and a current member at large of its Criminal Justice Section executive.
- Serves as secretary of the Canadian Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section.
- A member of the Criminal Lawyers' Association and the Toronto Lawyers Association.
Good to know
By appointmentLawyers 1
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
Berkes Law's office sits in the Bank of Commerce building at 144 King St. E., a Beaux-Arts structure completed in 1907 by the architects Darling and Pearson. The building is protected within the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District, across the street from St. Lawrence Hall and on the same block as St. James Cathedral, in one of Toronto's oldest commercial districts.
The firm's own description of its bail and release work reaches well beyond that address. It describes handling police station releases and bail hearings not only in Toronto but in Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton, and other Ontario jurisdictions, reflecting a practice built around court appearances across the region rather than a single courthouse.
Frequently asked questions
- I've been charged with domestic assault, can Berkes Law help?
- Yes. The firm's practice includes domestic assault charges under section 266 of the Criminal Code, including release conditions, Crown and judicial pretrials, and resolutions such as charge withdrawals or peace bonds.
- A bank or a regulator like the Competition Bureau or the Ontario Securities Commission wants to interview me, do I need a lawyer first?
- Berkes Law's guidance on fraud matters notes that investigations often start with agencies like these rather than the police, and recommends getting legal advice before cooperating, since information given to an investigator can later support a criminal prosecution.
- Can Berkes Law help me get bail?
- Bail work is a core part of the practice. The firm describes handling police station releases and Superior Court bail review applications in Toronto and other Ontario jurisdictions, including Brampton, Mississauga, and Hamilton.
- What happens at my first meeting with a lawyer at Berkes Law?
- The firm starts by listening to the client's account of events, discusses bail conditions if they apply, and explains the retainer, fee structure, and payment options before outlining the stages a criminal case typically follows.
- How long has Berkes Law been practicing criminal defence in Toronto?
- The firm has been in practice since 1993. Its principal, Jody Berkes, has practiced criminal defence exclusively since becoming a partner at a Toronto firm in 1999.
Where to find them
144 King St. E., Toronto, ON M5C 1G8 · 416-738-4639
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Criminal DefenceListing compiled from the firm’s public website in July 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗