The Lawyers at 551
5 lawyers · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
Accepts Legal Aid
Free consultation
Virtual appointments
Accepts Legal AidFree consultationVirtual appointmentsAbout The Lawyers at 551
The Lawyers at 551 is a collective of independent criminal defence lawyers who share an office at 551 Gerrard Street East in Toronto. Rather than operating as a single partnership, the firm's five lawyers, Fred Fedorsen, Adam Little, Richard Stern, Carolyne Kerr, and John Raftery, each run an individual criminal and quasi-criminal defence practice while pooling resources, support staff, and knowledge. Fedorsen founded Frederick S. Fedorsen Professional Corporation and works alongside Little, with a shared focus on driving related offences, while Stern, Kerr, and Raftery each maintain a separate solo practice from the same building.
Together, the lawyers bring decades of Ontario courtroom experience to cases involving homicide, drug offences, fraud, sexual assault, and driving charges. Fedorsen earned a law degree from the University of Toronto in 1976 and has practiced criminal law for close to 40 years. Stern was called to the bar in 1980, articled under Edward L. Greenspan, and has kept an office at 551 Gerrard Street East since 1992; the Law Society of Upper Canada has designated Stern a Certified Specialist in criminal law. Kerr, called to the bar in 1988, spent five years as an Assistant Crown Attorney before moving into defence work in 1993, and Raftery, called in 1985, also started out as a Crown prosecutor before moving to the defence side.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Fedorsen founded Frederick S. Fedorsen Professional Corporation after earning a law degree from the University of Toronto in 1976.
- Stern, called to the Ontario bar in 1980, has been designated a Certified Specialist in criminal law by the Law Society of Upper Canada and has kept an office at 551 Gerrard Street East since 1992.
- Kerr, called to the bar in 1988, appeared as duty counsel at Old City Hall the same year and later spent five years as an Assistant Crown Attorney in Toronto before moving into private defence practice in 1993.
- Raftery, called to the bar in 1985, represented Canada in international boxing during university and law school, earning bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup of Boxing.
In the community
- One of the firm's lawyers is a member of Legal Aid Ontario's panel for Extremely Serious Criminal Matters and its Gladue Court panel, which handles cases involving Indigenous accused, and has presented to the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Advocates' Society.
- One of the firm's lawyers has designed and taught educational programs for the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Advocates' Society, Legal Aid Ontario, and Osgoode Hall Law School, and serves on several Legal Aid Ontario committees.
- Two of the firm's lawyers have lectured at educational conferences for the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Criminal Lawyers' Association of Ontario.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Free parking
Virtual appointments
By appointment
In-person servicesFees & payment
Free consultation
Legal aidLawyers 5
Certified Specialists
A designation granted by the Law Society of Ontario, not a self-declared area of focus.
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1980–1988 · median 41 years in practice 3 of 5 lawyers
- Law schools
- Osgoode Hall Law School (3), Queen's University, University of Toronto Faculty of Law 5 of 5 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The office is located at 551 Gerrard Street East, Toronto.
Stern has practiced from this address since 1992, giving one of the five lawyers more than three decades of continuous history at the same Gerrard Street East location.
Frequently asked questions
- I've been charged with impaired driving. Can The Lawyers at 551 help?
- Yes. Driving related offences are a shared focus for two of the firm's lawyers, Fred Fedorsen and Adam Little, who have handled these cases together for years.
- Does the firm handle serious charges like homicide or drug trafficking?
- Yes. Several of the firm's lawyers list homicides, drug trafficking, criminal conspiracies, and white collar or fraud charges among the matters they've handled at trial and on appeal.
- If I contact The Lawyers at 551, who actually handles my case?
- The firm is a collective of independent lawyers rather than a single partnership. One lawyer takes on your file and represents you directly, drawing on colleagues in the office for support when it's useful.
- Can the firm help with a Gladue Court matter?
- One of the firm's lawyers sits on Legal Aid Ontario's panel for Gladue Court matters, which address cases involving Indigenous accused.
- Where is the office and how do I get there?
- The office is at 551 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 1X7.
- Can the firm represent someone facing charges outside Toronto?
- It depends on the lawyer. John Raftery, for instance, practices throughout Southern Ontario and Northern Ontario, not only in the Toronto area.
Where to find them
551 Gerrard Street East, Suite 1A, Toronto, Ontario M4M 1X7 · 416-816-4848
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