Pyzer Criminal Lawyers
2 lawyers · Established 2002 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
Free consultation
Free consultationAbout Pyzer Criminal Lawyers
Pyzer Criminal Lawyers is a small criminal defence firm based on Eglinton Avenue West in midtown Toronto. Jonathan Pyzer and Ian Kostman founded the practice in 2002 under the name Kostman and Pyzer, Barristers. It kept that name for fifteen years, until Kostman's retirement at the end of 2017 after 35 years at the Ontario bar, when the firm took on its current name. The practice handles criminal and quasi-criminal defence only, covering everything from impaired driving and assault to drug, fraud, weapons, and homicide charges at every level of Ontario court.
Jonathan Pyzer, the firm's founder, holds a B.A. with distinction from McGill University and an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario, plus certificates in peace and conflict resolution and journalism from American University in Washington, D.C. Articles followed at Lerner, Marzel and Associates before Pyzer moved into criminal defence full time. In R. v. Ferguson-Cadore, the firm argued a Charter violation for racial profiling that led to excluded evidence and dismissed charges. Jasmine Mann, who joined more recently, holds a dual Juris Doctor from the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit Mercy. During law school Mann held summer positions at firms in Brampton and Toronto focused on criminal and mental health law, then articled at the Law Office of Patricia Brown before joining Pyzer.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Jonathan Pyzer and Ian Kostman founded the firm in 2002 as Kostman and Pyzer, Barristers.
- The firm took its current name after Ian Kostman's retirement at the end of 2017, following 35 years of practice at the Ontario bar since 1983.
- In R. v. Ferguson-Cadore, the firm argued a Charter violation for racial profiling, which led to excluded evidence and dismissed drug charges.
- In a 2010 case that drew coverage from Global News, a client accused of pushing three teenagers toward the tracks at Dufferin subway station in 2009 was found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder, a defence argued by Ian Kostman.
In the community
- Jasmine Mann is a member of JusticeNet, a not for profit that connects lower and middle income individuals with legal help.
Fees & payment
Free consultationLawyers 2
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2002 · median 24 years in practice 1 of 2 lawyers
- Law schools
- University of Western Ontario, University of Windsor Faculty of Law 2 of 2 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits on Eglinton Avenue West at the northern edge of Humewood-Cedarvale, a Toronto neighbourhood bounded by Bathurst Street, Eglinton Avenue, Arlington Avenue, and St. Clair Avenue. Cedarvale Ravine and its park cut through the middle of the community, and enough local streets end in "wood" (Wychwood, Cherrywood, Valewood, and others) that residents nicknamed the area "the Woods." It's a residential stretch of midtown Toronto rather than a downtown court district, which fits a firm built to travel. Pyzer Criminal Lawyers appears in courts across the Greater Toronto Area and the rest of Ontario and keeps its phone line open around the clock rather than counting on walk in traffic.
Frequently asked questions
- What kinds of criminal charges does Pyzer Criminal Lawyers handle?
- The firm's practice covers Criminal Code and quasi-criminal matters only, including assault, sexual offences, homicide, impaired and dangerous driving, drug offences, weapons charges, theft and fraud, and young offender cases.
- I've been charged with impaired driving in Toronto. Can Pyzer Criminal Lawyers help?
- Yes. Impaired and dangerous driving, including refusal charges, are listed among the firm's practice areas, alongside other traffic related Criminal Code offences.
- How long has Pyzer Criminal Lawyers been practising?
- The firm was founded in 2002, first as Kostman and Pyzer, Barristers, and has practised under its current name since Ian Kostman's retirement at the end of 2017.
- Where is Pyzer Criminal Lawyers located?
- The office is on Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto's Humewood-Cedarvale area, and the firm can be reached at (416) 658-1818.
- Does Pyzer Criminal Lawyers offer a free consultation?
- Yes. The firm advertises a free, confidential case evaluation with no obligation, and says its phone line is staffed 24/7.
- Does the firm represent young people facing criminal charges?
- Yes, young offender defence is listed among the firm's practice areas, along with bail hearings and criminal appeals.
Where to find them
1396 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 100, Toronto, Ontario, M6C 2E4 · 416-658-1818
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