Dallas Criminal Defence
6 lawyers · Established 2008 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
About Dallas Criminal Defence
Dallas Criminal Defence is a criminal law firm in downtown Toronto, founded in 2008 by I. Loui Dallas as The Voice of Urban Representation. The firm takes cases through every stage, from bail hearings through pretrial resolution to trial, and its practice spans violent crime, drug offences, driving offences including impaired driving, sexual offences, youth criminal justice matters, and Ontario Review Board fitness hearings for clients with mental health issues. It also raises Charter of Rights challenges tied to search, detention, and delay, and it takes on both legal aid certificates and private retainers.
Before law, Dallas spent five years teaching in Toronto's inner city high schools. Osgoode Hall Law School granted a J.D. in 2006, and Dallas was called to the Ontario bar in 2007, then built a small team of associates around that practice. One associate practiced tax law before moving into criminal defence, another articled under Dallas directly, and between them the team speaks English, French, Mandarin, and Farsi. The firm calls its approach to clients CRED, for compassion, respect, empathy, and dignity, values it says apply the same way whether someone is paying privately or on legal aid.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- I. Loui Dallas was called to the Ontario bar in 2007 after earning a J.D. at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2006, and established Dallas Criminal Defence in 2008.
- An associate at the firm was called to the Ontario bar in 2019 after earning a scholarship as an undergraduate at the University of Toronto and a prize in international law during their J.D. at Osgoode Hall, and practiced complex corporate and competition litigation before moving into criminal defence.
In the community
- The firm has sponsored King of the Dot, described as Toronto's largest rap battle league, since 2010.
- It has supported Downtown Soccer Toronto, a community soccer league, since 2012.
- The firm backs the Reach Out Committee, a youth rehabilitation and community development group, since 2012.
- Former articling students at the firm founded the Osgoode Society against Institutional Injustice in 2013, a student led group opposing institutional and systemic discrimination in the justice system, and the Mobile Access to Justice Clinic in 2016, which provides free legal advice to at risk populations across the GTA.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
By appointmentLawyers 6
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2007–2026 · median 3 years in practice 5 of 6 lawyers
- Law schools
- Osgoode Hall Law School (4), University of Ottawa, University of Sussex 6 of 6 lawyers
- Languages on the roster
- English, Farsi (Basic), French, Greek (basic), Hungarian, Kurdish, Mandarin, South-Slavic Languages, Turkish
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
Dallas Criminal Defence's office sits at 120 Carlton Street, right at the corner of Carlton and Jarvis in downtown Toronto, directly across from Allan Gardens, an indoor botanical garden. That park gave the surrounding blocks their name: Toronto's city council formally designated the Garden District in 2001, after a local residents association chose the name in recognition of the gardens across the street.
The Garden District runs from Carlton Street south to Queen Street and from Yonge Street east to Sherbourne, putting the office on the district's northern edge. It's a dense downtown stretch of older apartment buildings, converted rowhouses, and small storefronts.
Frequently asked questions
- What kinds of criminal charges does Dallas Criminal Defence handle?
- The firm's practice covers violent crime, property offences, drug offences, driving offences, youth criminal justice matters, sexual offences, mental health related matters including Ontario Review Board fitness hearings, and administration of justice offences such as failing to comply or appear.
- I've been charged with impaired driving. Can Dallas Criminal Defence represent me?
- Yes. The firm's driving offences practice covers impaired driving and over 80 charges, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, and failure to provide a sample.
- Does the firm take legal aid clients?
- Yes. The firm says its approach to clients is the same whether someone is on legal aid or paying privately, and it takes both legal aid certificates and private retainers.
- What languages does the team speak?
- Across the team, lawyers speak English, French, Mandarin, and Farsi.
- Can the firm help with a youth criminal justice matter?
- Yes. The firm's youth criminal justice work includes case conferences, extrajudicial sanctions, pre sentence reports, and section 34 assessments.
- Where is Dallas Criminal Defence located and how do I reach it?
- The office is at Suite 210, 120 Carlton Street, Toronto, at the corner of Carlton and Jarvis across from Allan Gardens. The firm can be reached at (647) 344-2084 or by email.
Where to find them
Suite 210 - 120 Carlton Street, Toronto, Ontario M5A 4K2 · 647-344-2084
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