Shawn Hamilton, Barrister-at-Law
First and foremost, Shawn Hamilton is an advocate and his experience in boardrooms and courtrooms makes him an indispensable ally to have on your side.
Shawn is a barrister and uniquely qualified and suited to the courtroom environment, unlike other lawyers, known as solicitors, who prefer behind-the-scenes legal work of real estate and wills. If your legal situation is headed for, or already in court, you�ll want an experienced trial lawyer on your side.
Shawn does very well in high-conflict matters and thrives on being a champion for clients who are in a vulnerable and difficult position. He works long and hard for his clients to obtain the most favourable result in a cost-effective manner. He engages his clients, works with them, works for them, and takes pride in taking their matters to trial and, if necessary, beyond. He is, first and foremost, an advocate and his experience in boardrooms and courtrooms makes him an indispensable ally.
Highly respected by bench and bar, Shawn loves to advocate for his clients in the courtroom. He has an acute sensitivity to the difficulties faced by clients navigating the complex court system at a difficult time in their lives. He is thoroughly empathetic and dedicated to serving his clients so that they obtain the best possible result.
Member of the Bar of Ontario 2001
Born and raised in North Bay, Ontario, in 1995, Shawn attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, where he obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in American History and Political Science. After graduation, Shawn returned to Ontario to study Law. In 1998, he obtained his Juris Doctor from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. After taking some time to travel, he completed his articling requirement with the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2001.
Shawn practised criminal law with a litigation firm in Toronto for a period of time but decided he had more travelling to do. To facilitate this goal, he obtained a number of positions in the corporate governance and compliance sectors of Bank of Montreal, Toronto-Dominion Bank, and in 2006, with the Royal Bank of Canada where he became an executive member of the bank�s global compliance function.
After many years of travelling the globe as a Regulatory Compliance professional with RBC, and learning about other cultures and customs, and meeting many wonderful people, Shawn decided it was time to be closer to family, friends, and a familiar and friendly place, and returned to his roots in North Bay. He established a practice at Valin Partners LLP, where he conducted litigation with a focus on family and criminal law, and regulatory and appellate work. In 2014, with extensive experience as a trial lawyer, Shawn decided to open his own litigation practice.
When he isn�t practicing law, Shawn enjoys quiet time at the lake fishing, reading, watching Major League baseball, or listening to old vinyl on his McIntosh Hi-Fi system. He loves spending time with his children, Shannon and Matthew, and travelling with his partner, Mary.