Our Team
Our team of trusted legal professionals are always ready to find a collaborative and effective solution to your situation. Contact our family law firm in Toronto for the expert advice you deserve.
KRISTEN NORMANDIN
PARTNER
Kristen Normandin was called to the bar in 2004. After articling for a downtown Toronto civil litigation firm, Kristen started her practice in the area of family law at Niman Zemans Gelgoot and then continued at Goldhart & Associates. After 12 years in practice, Kristen started her own practice. Kristen frequently appears before all levels of court including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Kristen’s practice also includes representing clients in mediations and arbitrations. Kristen is actively involved in the legal community. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Advocates’ Society and she is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Kristen is a volunteer for the Family Law Amicus Duty Counsel program for the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Kristen participates in continuing legal education and speaks at programs of various associations, including the Law Society of Ontario, Law Society of Manitoba, Osgoode Professional Development and the Advocates Society. Kristen has also written articles for Lawyers Weekly and the Law Times.
ANDREW CHRIS
PARTNER
Andrew Chris is devoted to all aspects of family law, including divorce, custody and access, child and spousal support, property division, separation agreements, marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements. In addition to representing clients, Andrew is a mediator who completed the Mediating Disputes program at Harvard Law School.
Andrew was called to the Bar in 2007. He commenced his legal career practicing corporate and securities law at Heenan Blaikie LLP, following which, he spent several years practicing family law at Epstein Cole LLP.
Andrew holds an H.B.A. from the Richard Ivey School of Business and an L.L.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School, where he was the recipient of the Dominic Carinci Memorial Prize for high standing in the subjects of Business Associations and Real Estate, and the Kenneth Gibson Morden Memorial Prize for standing highest in the subject of Evidence.
Andrew has served as a contributing author of the Income Tax and Family Law Handbook, published by LexisNexis Canada, and as an adjunct professor of the “Lawyer as Negotiator” course at Osgoode Hall Law School. Andrew is also a regular presenter at programs put on by associations including the Law Society of Ontario and Osgoode Professional Development.
JOANNA HUNT-JONES
PARTNER
Joanna Hunt-Jones practices all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody and access, child and spousal support, property division, separation agreements, marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements. She represents family law clients engaged in all forms of family law dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation
Joanna was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2015. She completed her articles Epstein Cole LLP, where she then practiced as an associate from 2015 to 2017 before joining Normandin Chris.
Joanna holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Global Development Studies), a Masters of Public Administration and a Juris Doctor degree from Queen’s University. She was the winner of the 2014 Nicholas Bala Award for Excellence in Children and Family Law from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Ontario and the 2015 John E. VanDuzer Scholarship Award for Family Law. She has published articles on family law issues in the Canadian Family Law Quarterly.
Joanna is a member of the Advocate’s Society and also serves on the Board of Directors of Young Women in Law.
CARA SIVRY
PARTNER
Cara’s practice encompasses all areas of family law with a particular focus on complex property division and income disputes, separation and divorce, spousal and child support, and parenting matters. Her expert advocacy and client-first approach has led to success at all levels of Court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal. Cara also regularly resolves matters through alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and arbitration.
Following her Call to the Bar of Ontario in 2017, Cara practiced as an associate at a prominent family law firm before joining Normandin Chris in 2019. She holds a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Kent. Prior to law school, she studied psychology at Queen’s University. Cara lectures and presents on current family law topics and is a co-author of “Expert Evidence, Assessments and Judicial Notice: Understanding Children and the Family Context” in the publication Evidence in Family Law. She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, the Toronto Lawyers’ Association, and The Advocates’ Society.
VENESSA SECTAKOF
ASSOCIATE
Venessa’s practice touches all areas of family law, including domestic contracts, parenting disputes, support, property claims, and divorce.
Venessa obtained her law degree and her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto. She began her career at a family law boutique in Toronto before joining Normandin Chris. Venessa enjoys written and oral advocacy. In her final year of law school, Venessa won first place at the AFCC Ontario Walsh Family Law Moot and was awarded Best Appellant Factum.
Venessa recognizes that each family is different. After discussions with the client, Venessa will advise on whether alternative dispute resolution or litigation will best advance the client’s matter. Venessa has regularly attended mediations and has appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice and Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Venessa is an avid language learner. In addition to fluency in English and French, Venessa is also fluent in Turkish and speaks conversational Macedonian and Spanish.
HANNAH LANK
ASSOCIATE
Hannah is a compassionate and professional advocate who strives to provide practical and creative advice for her clients. As an associate lawyer, Hannah’s practice encompasses all areas of family law, including complex financial and parenting matters. Prior to joining the firm, she summered and articled at a leading family law and estates boutique in downtown Toronto.
Hannah received her law degree from the University of Toronto and was called to the bar in 2023. While in law school, she founded and led the U of T Law Family Law Club and was selected to participate in the Walsh Family Law Moot, where she won second top oralist and top overall team. She was also published in the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review on a topic in family law.
Prior to law school, Hannah studied English, Physiology, and Classical Civilization at U of T as a Loran Scholar and graduated with high distinction.
Hannah also volunteers at The 519 Legal Clinic providing free summary legal advice and serves on the Board of Directors of SummerWorks Festival.
Nevada Fenton
ASSOCIATE
Nevada Fenton practices exclusively in the area of family law. Her practice encompasses all aspects of family law, including divorce, custody and access, child and spousal support, property division, separation agreements, marriage contracts, and cohabitation agreements. She represents clients engaged in all forms of family law dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
Nevada was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2018. Since her call to the bar, she has practiced before the Unified Family Court in the jurisdiction of Ottawa and the surrounding areas. Prior to joining Normandin Chris LLP in 2026, Nevada practiced at Johnson Family Law and Bell Baker LLP in Ottawa, where she focused exclusively on family law matters.
Nevada holds an Honours Degree in Linguistics from York University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa.
HELENA RIMANDO
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Helena attended York University in 2013 to obtain her Biomedical Science degree before obtaining her honours degree in International Business at Humber College in 2019. During her studies, Helena managed various pediatric clinics while also assisting patients with their care. Helena’s compassion for helping others led to her interest in family law. She has worked with family law lawyers since 2017 and joined the team at Normandin Chris in 2019.
As Normandin Chris’ operation’s manager, Helena is involved in all aspects of the firm’s management and works with all members of the team. Helena’s hands-on approach to the firm’s management is integral to optimizing clients’ needs and the firm’s successes in and out of court.