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
ASSOCIATE
Cara’s practice encompasses all areas of family law, from complex property division and income disputes to support issues and custody matters. Her client-first approach has led to success at all levels of Court in Ontario including the Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. Cara also regularly resolves cases through alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.
Following her Call to the Ontario Bar in 2017, Cara practised as an associate at a leading family law firm. 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 attended Queen’s University where she studied psychology and history.
Cara is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Italian Advocates Organization.
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.
SARAH MOHIUDDIN
ASSOCIATE
sarah@normandinchris.com
416.840.4788 ext. 987
Sarah’s practice is dedicated to all areas of family law, including parenting matters, child and spousal support issues, separation and divorce, property division, and domestic contracts. Sarah was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2024 and returned to Normandin Chris as an associate lawyer after completing her articles with the firm.
Sarah received her law degree from Queen’s University, where she developed a passion for family law through assisting self-represented family law litigants at the Queen’s Family Law Clinic and PBSC’s Family Justice Centre. Before law school, Sarah attended McMaster University. She holds an Honours Bachelors in Arts & Science with a Combined Honours in English & Cultural Studies.
Sarah recognizes the inherent vulnerability of her clients’ family law matters, and addresses their concerns with respect, empathy, and compassion. She has a diligent and unwavering commitment to her clients throughout the legal process and strives to deliver practical and personalized solutions to meet her clients’ needs.
AINSLEY DOELL
ASSOCIATE
ainsley@normandinchris.com
416.840.4788 ext. 800
Ainsley was called to the bar in 2024, after receiving her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Ainsley is both tenacious and empathetic in her advocacy. She is developing a practice that encompasses all areas of family law, including support and property issues, parenting disputes, as well as the negotiation of domestic contracts.
During law school, Ainsley worked as a research assistant exploring the relationship between compassion and judicial decision-making as well as the efficacy of unbundled legal services. She served as the Director of Technical Training for the Osgoode Hall Law Journal and the Managing Editor of Obiter Dicta.
She also holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, where she studied English with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric.
Ainsley’s writing has appeared in the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, the Law Society of Ontario’s CPD materials, and the Ontario Family Law Monthly.
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.