Liva Freeman Dent LLP
3 lawyers · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 369 handling Administrative & Regulatory Law.
About Liva Freeman Dent LLP
Liva Freeman Dent LLP is a small Toronto firm that practices almost entirely in professional regulation. Its three partners, Nadia Liva, Lisa Freeman and John Dent, bring more than 80 years of combined experience to defending, and at times prosecuting, regulated professionals. The firm represents lawyers, paralegals, doctors, nurses, practitioners of Chinese Medicine, naturopaths, social workers, massage therapists, pharmacists, condominium managers, professional engineers and real estate agents who are under investigation or facing a discipline hearing. It also acts as independent legal counsel to tribunals, regulators and professional associations, conducting investigations and prosecutions for them. It has appeared before the Law Society Appeal Division, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Each partner reached this niche practice by a different route. Nadia Liva built a criminal defence practice that grew to include professional regulatory work, and has appeared in more than 60 reported cases before the Law Society Tribunal. Lisa Freeman spent 16 years as Discipline Counsel at the Law Society of Ontario before starting an independent practice in 2017, and has taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law since 2009. John Dent clerked for judges of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, then practiced litigation at McCarthy Tetrault LLP, before founding what became Liva Freeman Dent LLP. The firm now works out of Courtyard Chambers on Adelaide Street East.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Partner Lisa Freeman spent 16 years as Discipline Counsel at the Law Society of Ontario before starting an independent practice in 2017.
- Partner Lisa Freeman has taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law since 2009.
- Partner John Dent clerked for judges of the Court of Appeal for Ontario and was called to the Ontario bar in 2002.
- Partner John Dent holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, an M.A. from York University and a B.A. from the University of Waterloo.
- Partner Nadia Liva has appeared in more than 60 reported cases before the Law Society Tribunal.
- Partner Nadia Liva has served as Independent Legal Counsel to the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario since 2018.
In the community
- The firm's office manager helps coordinate the Pre-Hearing Management Conference Duty Counsel Program at the Law Society Tribunal, a joint initiative with defence counsel that gives licensees facing a possible summary hearing free legal advice.
- Partner Lisa Freeman coaches for the Certificate in Adjudication program offered through Osgoode Professional Development and SOAR, and was a part time member of the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board for two years.
- Partner John Dent is on the coaching team for Osgoode Professional Development's Certificate in Adjudication and has trained volunteer adjudicators for Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.
- Partner Nadia Liva is a member of the Criminal Lawyers Association and has sat on its Smoking Gun Committee, and has published articles on professional regulatory issues in For the Defence.
Good to know
By appointmentLawyers 3
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2002 · median 24 years in practice 1 of 3 lawyers
- Law schools
- Osgoode Hall Law School, University of Toronto 2 of 3 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
Liva Freeman Dent LLP works out of Courtyard Chambers, a shared office space on the northeast corner of George and Adelaide Streets in Toronto, next door to Toronto's First Post Office. Clients arriving by car can use the Green P lot on Sherbourne just north of Adelaide or metered spots on Adelaide, George and Richmond. By transit, it's a short trip on the Yonge-University subway line to King Station, then an eastbound bus or streetcar to King and Jarvis.
Because the firm's work is almost entirely investigations, discipline hearings and tribunal appearances rather than walk-in matters, clients tend to arrive by appointment rather than off the street. The office has been part of the Courtyard Chambers arrangement since it began in 2017.
Frequently asked questions
- I'm a lawyer or paralegal and the Law Society Tribunal has opened an investigation into me. Can Liva Freeman Dent LLP represent me?
- Yes. The firm's practice is built around defending lawyers, paralegals and other licensees who are under investigation or facing a Law Society Tribunal proceeding, and one of its partners has appeared in more than 60 reported cases before that tribunal.
- Does the firm only act for lawyers, or does it represent other regulated professionals too?
- It represents a wide range of regulated professionals, including doctors, nurses, practitioners of Chinese Medicine, naturopaths, social workers, massage therapists, pharmacists, condominium managers, professional engineers and real estate agents facing complaints or discipline proceedings before their own colleges.
- My regulatory college has told me I'm under investigation but there's no hearing scheduled yet. Is it too early to call a lawyer?
- No. Liva Freeman Dent LLP represents professionals from the investigation stage onward, not only once a discipline hearing has been set.
- Can Liva Freeman Dent LLP act for a regulator or tribunal instead of the professional being investigated?
- Yes. Alongside its defence work, the firm acts as independent legal counsel and prosecuting counsel to tribunals, regulators and professional associations, and conducts investigations and prosecutions on their behalf.
- I'm a student facing an academic misconduct proceeding at my school. Does this firm handle that?
- Yes, the firm represents students in academic and non-academic misconduct investigations and prosecutions, as well as good character applications and hearings.
- What happens if my regulatory case doesn't end at the tribunal level?
- Liva Freeman Dent LLP represents appellants before the Law Society Appeal Division, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Where to find them
Courtyard Chambers, 258 Adelaide Street East, Suite 201, Toronto, Ontario M5A 1N1 · 416-613-9667
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