Doyle Criminal Defence
1 lawyer · City of Toronto
One of 2,347 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
About Doyle Criminal Defence
Doyle Criminal Defence is a solo criminal defence practice in downtown Toronto, founded by Kathryn Doyle. The firm represents clients at every stage of a criminal case, from bail hearings through trial and appeal, and takes on charges ranging from sexual assault to drug, firearm, and other violent offence allegations. Doyle appears regularly in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, and the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Before opening the firm, Doyle was a partner at Bytensky Shikhman Barristers, a Toronto criminal defence firm, where the trial and appellate work that now grounds the practice was built. While still a partner there, Doyle spoke on a Criminal Lawyers' Association conference panel on bail and the tertiary grounds test, alongside lawyers from other Toronto defence firms. The practice describes its approach as client focused: reviewing the Crown's case closely, including the legality of any search or arrest, and building a defence strategy suited to each client's circumstances rather than a one size fits all approach.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Doyle spoke on a Criminal Lawyers' Association conference panel on bail and the tertiary grounds test, appearing alongside lawyers from other Toronto criminal defence firms while still a partner at Bytensky Shikhman Barristers.
- Doyle was a partner at Bytensky Shikhman Barristers, a Toronto criminal defence firm, before founding Doyle Criminal Defence as an independent practice.
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm's office sits at Front and Church Streets in Toronto's St. Lawrence neighbourhood, inside a heritage building dating to 1872. Built as a 19th century commercial warehouse with polychrome brickwork and stone detailing, it's designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and sits within the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District, directly across from the landmark Gooderham Flatiron Building.
St. Lawrence is one of Toronto's oldest districts, built up around the rail and market trade of the 1800s and now a mix of converted warehouses, the St. Lawrence Market, and small professional offices rather than glass office towers. It's a quieter, walkable corner of the downtown core, a short distance from the courts and Crown offices a Toronto criminal defence practice deals with routinely.
Frequently asked questions
- I've been arrested and I'm worried about being denied bail. Can Doyle Criminal Defence help?
- Yes. The firm handles bail hearings, working to assemble a bail plan quickly and present the case for release while the underlying charge moves through the courts.
- I was convicted at trial. Can the firm appeal my conviction or sentence?
- Yes. Doyle Criminal Defence reviews trial records for legal or procedural errors and handles appeals to the Ontario Court of Appeal aimed at overturning a conviction or reducing a sentence.
- I'm facing a domestic assault charge and there's a no contact order. What can the firm do?
- The firm represents clients on domestic assault, uttering threats, mischief, and harassment charges, and works through the practical impact of no contact conditions on a client's relationships and household while the case is ongoing.
- I was charged with impaired driving or refused a breath sample. Does Doyle Criminal Defence handle that?
- Yes. The firm defends impaired driving, over 80, refusal, and dangerous driving charges, which often carry mandatory minimum penalties and turn on close scrutiny of police conduct and testing procedure.
- My charges came out of a large police drug or gun investigation. Is that something the firm handles?
- Yes. The firm defends drug trafficking, possession for the purpose, firearm, production, and importation charges, and where a case stems from a larger police 'Project' investigation, it looks closely at the validity of the search warrants and the legality of the police conduct behind them.
- Where is Doyle Criminal Defence and how do I book a consultation?
- The office is at 65 Front Street East, Suite 300, in downtown Toronto. Clients can request a consultation by phone, toll free line, or email through the firm's contact page.
Where to find them
65 Front St E Ste 300 Office 4, Toronto, ON M5E 1B5
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Notary & Commissioner ServicesListing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗