Giffen Lawyers LLP
12 lawyers · Established 1981 · Waterloo Region
One of 58 law firms listed in Waterloo, and one of 23 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
About Giffen Lawyers LLP
Giffen LLP is a full-service law firm in Waterloo, Ontario, and it has practised in the region since 1981. The firm was founded by Peter Giffen, and it has grown to more than a dozen lawyers, which it describes as one of the largest locally based firms in Waterloo Region. Its work spans civil litigation and advocacy, corporate and commercial law, business and financial services, real estate, wills, trusts and estates, estate litigation, family law, employment, construction, insolvency, insurance, and personal injury. Clients range from large corporations and financial institutions to small businesses and individuals, and the firm takes on matters throughout Ontario.
Peter Giffen was called to the Ontario bar in 1963, appointed Queen's Counsel in 1975, and certified by the Law Society as a specialist in civil litigation before retiring in 2006, and that litigation grounding still runs through the practice. The firm sits in Waterloo's north end, in what it calls the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, and it earned Platinum and Gold certifications in the 2025 Regional Choice Awards for Waterloo Region.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Founded in Waterloo in 1981 by Peter Giffen.
- Founder Peter Giffen was called to the Ontario bar in 1963, appointed Queen's Counsel in 1975, and certified by the Law Society as a specialist in civil litigation.
- The firm received Platinum and Gold certifications in the 2025 Regional Choice Awards for Waterloo Region.
In the community
- Team Giffen took part in Hike for Heart 2024 at Laurel Creek Conservation Area, supporting St. Mary's Hospital Foundation and its Cardiac Centre.
- A lawyer from the firm joined a Careers in Law panel at Wilfrid Laurier University in March 2026, talking with students about family law and the legal profession.
- The firm runs a blog covering family, employment, and insurance law topics along with firm news.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleLawyers 12
Cynthia Davis
Managing Partner
Wills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate Law
Emily F. Metcalfe
Associate
Family Law
Jennifer L. Grensewich
Associate
Wills, Estates & TrustsConstruction Law
John P. Murray
Partner
Business & Corporate LawWills, Estates & Trusts
Jorden P. Gregory
Partner
Wills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate Law
Juliana Quan
Associate
Business & Corporate LawWills, Estates & Trusts
Kyle D. Cleaver
Partner
Real Estate LawWills, Estates & Trusts
Lorrie Stojni
Partner
Family Law
Nolan Downer
Partner
Personal InjuryEmployment & Labour Law
Richard (Ric) Noll
Counsel
Family LawWills, Estates & Trusts
Sofia Colley Aquino
Associate
Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Tyler Nivins
Partner
Real Estate LawBusiness & Corporate Law
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1985–2020 · median 16 years in practice 9 of 12 lawyers
- Law schools
- University of Western Ontario (2), University of Windsor (2), Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor, Queen's University, University of Alberta, University of Birmingham and 1 more 9 of 12 lawyers
- Languages on the roster
- Spanish
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm works out of 101 Randall Drive, a unit in a north Waterloo business park near Northfield Drive, the kind of low-rise glass-and-brick office cluster that grew up around the region's technology sector. The firm itself points to its spot in the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, and the setting fits a practice that does a lot of corporate, commercial, and business and financial services work for local companies. Parking is free onsite, which is a practical thing for clients driving in from Kitchener, Cambridge, and the surrounding townships. From here the firm handles files across Waterloo Region and out into the rest of Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
- What areas of law does Giffen LLP handle?
- It's a full-service firm. Its practice areas include civil litigation and advocacy, corporate and commercial law, business and financial services, real estate, wills, trusts and estates, estate litigation, family law, employment, construction, insolvency, insurance, and personal injury.
- How long has Giffen LLP been in Waterloo?
- The firm was founded in Waterloo in 1981 by Peter Giffen and has practised in the region ever since.
- Where is Giffen LLP located, and is there parking?
- The office is at 101 Randall Drive, Unit A, Waterloo, ON N2V 1C5, in a north Waterloo business park. Parking is free onsite. You can reach the firm at 519-578-4150 or toll-free at 1-866-688-4150.
- Can Giffen LLP help me buy or sell a home in Waterloo Region?
- Yes. Real estate is one of the firm's practice areas, and it runs a dedicated real estate line by email at realestate@giffenlawyers.com. It works with buyers, sellers, and lenders across the region.
- I'm starting or growing a business in Waterloo, can the firm help?
- Yes. The firm handles corporate and commercial law along with business and financial services, and its clients range from large corporations and financial institutions to small businesses.
- Does Giffen LLP handle divorce, separation, and custody?
- Yes. Family law is one of the firm's core areas, and its family lawyers have spoken publicly on separation and divorce through local media and university panels.
Where to find them
101 Randall Drive, Unit A, Waterloo, Ontario, N2V 1C5 · 519-578-4150
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