Blackburn Lawyers
10 lawyers · Established 1975 · York Region
One of 141 law firms listed in Richmond Hill, and one of 24 handling Personal Injury.
About Blackburn Lawyers
Blackburn Lawyers is a law firm in Richmond Hill, Ontario, founded in 1975 by Bob Blackburn and Alf Stong. The two lawyers wanted York Region to have the same level of legal service available in downtown Toronto, and they built a practice that combined practical advice with courtroom advocacy. Bruce Machon, a real estate lawyer, joined soon after, and the firm was renamed Stong, Blackburn & Machon. Ron Bohm joined in 1988 and grew the firm's civil litigation practice, and the name changed again to Stong Blackburn, Machon Bohm. In 1995, Alf Stong left the firm after being appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, having earlier served as a Member of Provincial Parliament. The firm later operated as SBMB Law before taking its current name, Blackburn Lawyers, which honours co-founder Bob Blackburn.
Today the firm has nine lawyers, supported by 20 staff members, with each lawyer focused on a single practice area rather than a general mix of files. Its practice spans personal injury, insurance and disability claims, medical malpractice, wills and estates, real estate, business law, dental and healthcare transactions, civil litigation, family law, and employment law. The firm has occupied its own building at 10800 Yonge Street in Richmond Hill since 2006, after outgrowing rented office space nearby. Blackburn Lawyers marked its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Bob Blackburn and Alf Stong founded the firm in Richmond Hill in 1975, starting with a small office and a handful of desks.
- Bruce Machon, a real estate lawyer, joined soon after, and the firm was renamed Stong, Blackburn & Machon.
- Ron Bohm joined in 1988 and built up the firm's civil litigation practice, and the firm became known as Stong Blackburn, Machon Bohm.
- In 1995, Alf Stong was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, after earlier serving as a Member of Provincial Parliament.
- The firm later operated as SBMB Law before adopting its current name, Blackburn Lawyers, in honour of co-founder Bob Blackburn.
- The firm moved into its own building at 10800 Yonge Street in Richmond Hill in 2006, after outgrowing rented office space nearby.
- Blackburn Lawyers marked its 50th anniversary in 2025.
- A senior partner at the firm is dually certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in both Civil Litigation and Health Law (medical malpractice), and is a past president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.
- A litigator at the firm received the H. Bruce T. Hillyer Award in 2024 and is listed in the 2026 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
In the community
- One of the firm's founders devoted many hours to Mackenzie Health and eventually served as chair of its board.
- A lawyer at the firm serves on the York Region Law Association's Family Law Committee and its Board of Directors.
- A lawyer at the firm sits on the Community Liaison Committee for the Newmarket Family Court and presents its Mandatory Information Program for separating parents.
- A lawyer at the firm is a board member of the Canadian Mental Health Association, York Region, and serves as president and board member of Mental Health Services of York Region.
- A lawyer at the firm serves on the Board of Governors of MacLachlan College.
- The firm's family law practice has been featured in the Toronto Star's Lawyer Up series.
- A lawyer at the firm is an Accredited Family Mediator with the Ontario Association for Family Mediation.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleLawyers 10
Adriana Totera
Family LawEmployment & Labour Law
Angela I. Marchese
Family Law
Bahareh (Rae) Shahangian
Business & Corporate Law
Danielle Gonyea
Real Estate Law
David Lee
Wills, Estates & TrustsCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
George Siotas
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
Louis Laskovski
Business & Corporate Law
Paul Veugelers
Family LawEmployment & Labour Law
Ron Bohm
Senior Partner
Personal InjuryWills, Estates & Trusts
Stephen Cohen
Wills, Estates & Trusts
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1989 · median 37 years in practice 1 of 10 lawyers
- Law schools
- Osgoode Hall Law School (2), Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Western University 4 of 10 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
Blackburn Lawyers' office sits on Yonge Street at Elgin Mills Road in Richmond Hill. It's the same stretch of Yonge the firm has worked from since it left its original rented suite at 10350 Yonge Street; the firm built the building at 10800 Yonge Street itself in 2006, after outgrowing the fourth floor of that earlier location.
The firm's family lawyers work with the Newmarket Family Court, sitting on its Community Liaison Committee and presenting its Mandatory Information Program for separating parents. Its real estate and business lawyers serve clients across the wider Yonge Street corridor, from Thornhill and Markham north through Aurora and King City.
Frequently asked questions
- How long has Blackburn Lawyers been practising in Richmond Hill?
- The firm opened its doors in Richmond Hill in 1975 and marked its 50th anniversary in 2025.
- What areas of law does Blackburn Lawyers handle?
- The firm covers personal injury, insurance and disability claims, medical malpractice, wills and estates, real estate, business law, dental and healthcare transactions, civil litigation, family law, and employment law, with each lawyer focused on a single practice area.
- Will I speak with a lawyer at my first meeting?
- According to the firm, the initial consultation is never delegated or outsourced elsewhere: you speak directly with a lawyer from the start.
- Can Blackburn Lawyers help with buying or selling a dental or healthcare practice?
- Yes. Dental and healthcare transactions is one of the firm's practice areas, and its business lawyers have advised on the purchase and sale of dental practices and other professional businesses.
- Does Blackburn Lawyers handle uncontested divorces?
- Yes. Once spouses have been separated for a year, either can apply for a divorce order, and if the application isn't contested, no court appearance is required.
- What areas does Blackburn Lawyers serve besides Richmond Hill?
- The firm lists Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Thornhill, Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, and King City as its areas of service.
Where to find them
10800 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3E4 · 905-884-9242
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Employment & Labour LawListing compiled from the firm’s public website in September 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗