Rudnicki & Company

About Rudnicki & Company

Rudnicki and Company is a criminal defence firm in downtown Toronto with three lawyers who take cases across Canada, not only in Ontario. Lead counsel Chris Rudnicki holds a law degree and an advanced Master of Laws degree with a specialization in criminal law and procedure. The firm's practice covers three areas: criminal trials, appeals, and bail hearings. Rudnicki has been selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada for criminal defence and appellate practice, and the firm ranks in Tier 1 for criminal defence in Best Law Firms in Canada.

The firm puts particular weight on appellate work, noting that few criminal trial lawyers also practice appeals. Rudnicki teaches Criminal Appellate Advocacy at Queen's University and Advanced Criminal Law at Toronto Metropolitan University, and writes the appeals chapter of McWilliams' Canadian Criminal Evidence. Senior associate Theresa Donkor argues conviction and sentence appeals at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada, while associate Ranya El-Sharkawi handles trial work, including bail hearings and Charter motions, after a clerkship at the Federal Court of Canada.

The firm describes its guiding belief as wanting a world without prisons, working to keep clients out of custody through bail hearings, Crown resolution discussions, and appeal work. Bail matters are handled around the clock through a dedicated line, with free consultations and flat fee billing.