About Dresser Defence Professional Corporation

Dresser Defence Professional Corporation is a solo criminal and professional discipline practice in Toronto, led by barrister and solicitor Ashley Dresser. Before law school, Dresser studied biochemistry, earning an honours degree from the University of Windsor in 2006 and a master's degree from the University of Calgary in 2009. That scientific background led to a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia in 2012 and admission to the Ontario bar in 2013. The practice now covers criminal litigation from the initial bail hearing through to a post-conviction appeal, professional discipline matters for regulated professionals facing a regulator's investigation or hearing, and workplace or institutional investigations. In recent years the firm has built a particular focus on sexual assault litigation, describing its approach as trauma informed and noting it can act for either an accused person or a complainant. Dresser Defence is also a member of Legal Aid Ontario's Extremely Serious Criminal Matters panel.

The office is Courtyard Chambers on Adelaide Street East in Toronto. Dresser Defence practices across the Greater Toronto Area and will travel farther for the right case, offers a free 30 minute consultation, and notes it is reachable around the clock for emergencies.

Milestones & recognition

  • Ashley Dresser earned a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia in 2012 and was called to the Ontario bar in 2013.
  • Dresser Defence is a member of Legal Aid Ontario's Extremely Serious Criminal Matters panel, which covers the most serious category of criminal cases.

Good to know

A person using a wheelchairWheelchair accessibleA professional woman in a suit beside a briefcaseWoman-ownedA rainbow pride heartLGBTQ+ friendly

Fees & payment

A clipboard with a speech bubble and a no-charge dollar coinFree consultation

The neighbourhood

Dresser Defence's office, Courtyard Chambers at 258 Adelaide Street East, is a short walk from some of the city's oldest surviving buildings. A few doors down is the Bank of Upper Canada building, built in the 1820s and one of the few structures in Toronto that predate the city's 1834 incorporation, and nearby is Toronto's First Post Office, a National Historic Site built in 1833 that still operates as a working post office and museum.

For a criminal litigation practice, being close to the courts matters too. The firm's own site describes the office as within walking distance of the downtown Toronto courthouses and on convenient subway and streetcar transit lines, which fits a practice that follows a case from the first bail hearing through to any appeal.

Frequently asked questions

I've been charged with a criminal offence in the Toronto area, can Dresser Defence represent me?
Yes. Dresser Defence handles criminal and quasi-criminal charges of any seriousness, from the first bail hearing through to a post-conviction appeal, and practices across the Greater Toronto Area with travel available for the right case.
Does Dresser Defence handle sexual assault cases?
Yes, this is an area the firm has built particular experience in over recent years. Dresser Defence represents both people accused of sexual offences and complainants, and describes its approach to these cases as trauma informed.
I'm a regulated professional facing a complaint or investigation, can Dresser Defence help?
Yes. The firm represents professionals before their regulators or other professional bodies, aims to resolve complaints before a hearing where possible, and can act for a client facing both a criminal charge and a professional complaint at the same time.
Can Dresser Defence conduct a workplace or institutional investigation?
Yes. The firm interviews witnesses, reviews evidence, and produces a written report for organizations investigating a complaint against an employee or member, and separately represents people who are the subject of a workplace or campus investigation.
Does Dresser Defence accept Legal Aid?
The firm is a member of Legal Aid Ontario's Extremely Serious Criminal Matters panel, which covers the most serious category of criminal cases.
How do I get started or book a consultation?
Dresser Defence offers a free 30 minute consultation by phone or email, and the firm's site notes it is reachable around the clock for emergencies.

Where to find them

Courtyard Chambers, Suite 201, 258 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 1N1 · 647-460-9657

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