Goldmans LLP
4 lawyers · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 794 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Virtual appointments
Virtual appointmentsAbout Goldmans LLP
Goldmans LLP is a small commercial litigation firm based in Toronto's financial district at 18 King Street East. The firm was previously known as Goldman Hine LLP. Some of its own practice area pages online still carry that earlier name, a leftover from the rebrand to Goldmans LLP. Managing partners Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston and Stephen Barbier lead the practice. Barbier earned a law degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2003 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2004. Mesiano-Crookston is a registered patent and trademark agent for both Canada and the United States and has been ranked by Lexpert in multiple years.
The firm's practice centers on corporate and commercial litigation, construction disputes and liens, franchise law, and intellectual property. It acts for both franchisors and franchisees in disputes over disclosure, rescission, and terminations, and for owners, developers, contractors, and insurers in construction lien and defect claims. Of counsel Niki Kanavas spent eight years teaching law at Seneca College before joining the firm and has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- The firm was previously known as Goldman Hine LLP before adopting the Goldmans LLP name; some of its own practice area pages still carry the earlier name.
- Partner Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston received the IPIC Educational Prize for the highest placement in the Canadian trademark agent examination and is a registered patent and trademark agent for Canada and the United States.
- Mesiano-Crookston has been ranked by Lexpert in multiple years, including 2016 and 2018 through 2023, and was named a FranchiseTimes Legal Eagle in 2018 and 2019.
- Stephen Barbier was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2004.
- In 2708320 Ontario Ltd. v. Jia Development Inc., the firm secured removal of a construction lien from a client's property, with the lien registrant's officer and director ordered to pay the costs of the motion personally.
- The firm defended franchisees' trial win on appeal in 2355305 Ontario Inc. v. Savannah Wells Holdings Inc., 2025 ONCA 505, a case involving Wild Wing franchise disclosure claims.
In the community
- Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston serves on the Medical and Scientific Committee of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, sits on a nonprofit childcare board, and is on the executive of the Ontario Bar Association's Franchising Law Section.
- Niki Kanavas spent eight years teaching law at Seneca College, publishing materials for the college's Paralegal Program and editing examination materials for two business law textbooks published by McGraw Hill Canada.
- Kanavas is a board member of the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers' Association.
- Mingyan Hu has done pro bono work with the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and with If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
LGBTQ+ friendly
Virtual appointmentsLawyers 4
Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston
Partner, Goldmans LLP
Intellectual PropertyCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Kyle MacDonald
Associate
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionConstruction Law
Niki Kanavas
Of Counsel
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionConstruction Law
Stephen Barbier
Managing Partner
Construction LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2004 · median 22 years in practice 1 of 4 lawyers
- Law schools
- University of Western Ontario (2), University of Toronto 3 of 4 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm's office at 18 King Street East is an 18 storey building in Old Toronto's financial core, a short walk from St. Lawrence Market and the King East design district. It's a stretch of downtown where older commercial buildings sit alongside finance and design firms, a fitting setting for a practice built around business and construction disputes.
One of the firm's lawyers has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court of Appeal, keeping much of the caseload tied to Toronto's court system even though clients come from across the GTA and Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Goldmans LLP represent both franchisors and franchisees?
- Yes. The firm's franchise law practice acts for parties on both sides of franchise relationships, including disclosure and rescission claims, terminations, and Wishart Act matters.
- Can Goldmans LLP help get a construction lien removed from my property?
- The firm's construction practice handles lien, delay, and defect claims for owners, developers, contractors, and insurers, and has acted in reported lien cases such as 2708320 Ontario Ltd. v. Jia Development Inc.
- I'm in a dispute with a business partner or fellow shareholder. Does the firm handle that?
- Yes. Partnership and shareholder disputes, including oppression remedy claims, are part of the firm's corporate and commercial litigation practice.
- Does Goldmans LLP handle trademark or patent matters?
- Yes. The firm's intellectual property practice covers trademark and patent filing and litigation, copyright, and industrial designs, and appears before the Federal Court and the Trademarks Opposition Board.
- How long has Goldmans LLP worked in franchise law?
- The firm's franchise law page notes that partner Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston has two decades of experience litigating, and the practice acts for both franchisors and franchisees in disclosure, rescission, and termination disputes.
- Where is Goldmans LLP and how do I book a consultation?
- The firm is at 18 King Street East, Suite 1220, in Toronto's financial district. Consultations can be booked through the firm's website.
Where to find them
18 King Street East, Suite 1220, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5C 1C4 · 416-867-9700
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