Meet Jeff Rechtshaffen

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Jeff Rechtshaffen

Jeff Rechtshaffen is the partner who handles all of the traditional family law cases which are referred to us.

Jeff can be reached at jeff@torontofamilylaw.com.

Mr. Rechtshaffen received his B.A. in English from York University in 1989, followed by his LL.B. from the Faculty of Law, University of Western Ontario, in 1991. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1993.

Over the past 18 years, Jeff has acquired expertise and gained a dynamic perspective through his experience handling thousands of family law cases involving challenging situations at all court levels. His qualifications include:
• Established Rechtshaffen, Breitman with partner
   Rosanna Breitman in 1996, after working for
   another firm and then as a sole practitioner from
   1993 to1996
• Received advanced certification in Collaborative Family Law
• Member and past Board member of Collaborative Practice Toronto; member
   of Canadian Bar Association-Ontario, and member of Family Law Association of
   Ontario
• Serves as a regular presenter for the Ministry of the Attorney General at mandated
   Family Law Information Sessions
• Has successfully argued cases throughout the Ontario Court system right up to the
   Ontario Court of Appeal
• Has been successful at numerous trials involving complex family law issues

Jeff would be happy to speak with you about your legal issues. He will listen carefully to your unique concerns and ensure that you understand the various legal and procedural options available to you. He understands that it can be overwhelming to embark on a legal separation or divorce process, and will take the time to ensure that you are supported, respected, and represented with skill, professionalism, and expertise throughout your process.


Meet Rosanna Breitman

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Rosanna Breitman

Rosanna Breitman handles all family mediation cases referred to our firm. She has been a partner in the firm since 1997. Her practice is limited exclusively to mediation and conflict management consulting.

She can be reached at rosanna@torontofamilylaw.com.

Rosanna received her B.A. in Honours Psychology from the University of Western Ontario in 1992 and her LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1995. She completed the Ontario Bar Admission Course in 1996 and was called to the Bar in 1997. She is has completed all of the academic requirements for an LL.M in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School and will receive this degree in Spring 2012.

Rosanna has held the designation Acc.F.M. (Accredited Family Mediator – Ontario Association for Family Mediation) since 2004 In order to earn this designation, candidates must meet stringent training requirements, including the completion of basic and advanced family mediation courses, training in domestic violence, and a 100- hour supervised internship. In order to maintain their accreditation, Accredited Family Mediators must also abide by the OAFM rules of professional conduct and maintain a minimum of $1M of professional liability insurance to protect their clients.

Rosanna has been a member of the roster of Supervising Mediators at Peel Family Mediation Services since 2007, and has trained and mentored dozens of aspiring mediators during the process of their completion of the OAFM internship requirement.

Currently, Rosanna is a roster mediator with mediate393, which is the on-site family mediation service located at the Superior Court of Justice in downtown Toronto, and is also a roster mediator with Peel Family Mediation Services, the on-site family mediation service located at the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice in Brampton. She spends 2 days per week mediating high-conflict litigation cases at these on-site court mediation clinics, and continues to supervise interns. She also serves as an off-site mediator for both services.

Rosanna also maintains a busy private practice and is available three days per week to conduct private mediations at her offices at the Madison Center in the Yonge and Sheppard area of Toronto.

Rosanna has been a presenter at the Mandatory Information Programme for family litigants which is mandated by the Ministry of the Attorney General. She has also presented numerous workshops and given free legal clinics at various social service organizations over the years.

While most of Rosanna’s mediations involve separating spouses who wish to negotiate comprehensive settlements of all their legal and parenting issues, she mediates all kinds of disputes – for example, disputes between adult siblings involved in conflict over a family business and disputes between adult children and their parents who wish to repair damaged relationships. She has also coached individuals who are simply overwhelmed by navigating the logistics of a separation and need help making sense of it all. The possibilities of mediation and conflict resolution coaching are endless. Rosanna enjoys helping her clients arrive at win-win solutions in the context of a respectful and goal-oriented relationship between the parties.