McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

Heather Hansen is a partner at McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP. She is a Certified Specialist (C.S.) in Family Law by the Law Society of Ontario, a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.

Heather is recognized and ranked (Band 2) in Chambers & Partners – Family / Matrimonial: High Net Worth, “Consistently Recommended” in Lexpert and is recognized in the Best Lawyers in Canada for Family Law. She is a past recipient of the Lexpert Rising Stars Award Leading Lawyers under 40 Award (Canada).

Heather represents and advises clients on all issues related to divorce, spousal and child support, division of property, separation agreements, domestic/marriage contracts, religious marriage contracts, parenting issues, child protection, and cross-border/international family law issues (including Hague Convention matters).

A significant portion of her work involves advising high net worth clients. Heather frequently works closely with family office advisors, corporate counsel, valuators, tax advisors and accountants at the complex intersection of family law and business. Heather has significant trial experience and appears at all levels of court across Ontario. She also represents clients in complex negotiations, mediation and arbitration proceedings.

She is a frequent speaker at continuing education sessions and conferences and for several years taught trial advocacy at the University of Toronto (Faculty of Law). Heather also regularly provides media commentary on current issues in family law.

Heather has also authored or co-authored a number of articles and book chapters on topics ranging from evidence in family law, to estates and trust matters.

In addition to an active pro-bono practice involving child related matters, Heather also represents children in domestic and child protection matters as a member of the panel for the Ontario Government’s Office of the Children’s Lawyer and is a participant member of the Crown Wardship No-Access Pilot Project and the Child Advocacy Project.

Heather is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Family Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association, The Advocates’ Society, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto (Hon. BA) and the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law (LL.B) where she was the recipient of a number of academic awards and prizes. She lives in Toronto with her husband, two children, and a big loveable rescue dog.