News

Giffen Lawyers is pleased to announce the admission of Nolan Downer to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2023.

Nolan has distinguished himself through hard work and dedication to our firm’s values of exceptional client service and professionalism, and his admission as partner ensures a bright future for our firm and our clients.

Nolan’s practice will continue to focus primarily  on insurance law (property and bodily injury liability defence, policy coverage analysis, coverage applications), as well as Plaintiff personal injury and employment matters.

Giffen Lawyers is pleased to announce the admission of Jorden P. Gregory to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1st, 2023. Jorden has distinguished himself through hard work and dedication to our firm’s values of exceptional client service and professionalism, and his admission as partner ensures a bright future for our firm and our clients.

Jorden’s practice will continue to focus on corporate and commercial matters (including financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters), estate planning (including Wills, Powers of Attorney, and creation of trusts) and estate and trust administration matters, and residential and commercial real estate.

After 36 years with Giffen Lawyers, Phil is retiring and stepping down as Managing Partner and will be Counsel to the firm starting January 1, 2023.

Phil joined the firm as an associate in 1987 and became a partner in 1991.  He invested over 36 years into building his practice and contributing to the growth of the firm and the local community.  He spent considerable time over the years involved with numerous local arts and minor sports organizations and played a key role in the creation of RIM Park and the Grey Silo golf course in Waterloo.  In addition, he devoted many years to leading the firm’s administration.  He oversaw the construction and planning for the firm’s relocation to new offices in Waterloo, accomplishing a seamless move in November of 2020. 

If you consider your career as a novel, Phil is grateful to have had so many wonderful chapters. Phil has had the privilege of practicing in many areas of law – from extensive personal injury and complex insurance litigation to family, corporate, commercial and criminal law.  Phil is thankful to have had the opportunity to represent many wonderful clients and to work with other legal professionals whose guidance, collegiality and humour made practicing law a rich and rewarding career.  Finally, Phil is grateful to his partners and team, both past and present, for their support, kindness and counsel along the way.  

As many of you already know, Phil has been providing services as a mediator for over 15 years. In this next chapter, he looks forward to focusing his time to his growing mediation and arbitration practice through his company, Peaceworks ADR.  Your choices for mediator are many.  Phil hopes you consider him as one of your choices for your mediation needs going forward.

The partners wish to announce that effective January 1st, 2023, Don Olson will step down as a partner in Giffen Lawyers and will become Counsel to the firm until June 30, 2023.

Don joined the firm in 1999 and became a partner in 2001. For over 2 decades, he has been a driving force in the tremendous growth and reputation of our corporate/commercial, wills and estates and real estate departments.  Don was on the Board of Governors of the K-W United Way and did extensive pro bono work for local arts organizations.  He was also a passionate leader of and participant in the firm’s annual Big Brothers/Big Sisters bowling event.  As a result, for many years Giffen annually raised more money than any other local law firm in support of Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Over the decades, Don has sat on numerous committees, contributed to the firm’s charitable events, and actively participated in the firm’s financial management.  His dedication, loyalty and efforts have culminated in the firm’s ongoing success and sustainability. 

As Counsel to the firm, Don will continue to wind down his practice, transition clients and mentor the firm's associates to assist with managing their files. 

We wish to congratulate Don on his many successes with the firm and thank him for his great contributions for the past several decades!

Giffen Lawyers welcomes Tyler Nivins as an associate lawyer.  Born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, Tyler earned his BA (Honours) from the University of Western Ontario in 2011 prior to receiving his law degree from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 2019.  Great to have you with us, Tyler!

To learn more about Tyler's practice, please go here. 

Giffen Lawyers LLP welcomes Jacqueline Fitzpatrick as an associate lawyer. Originally from Ariss, Ontario, Jacqueline earned her BA (Honours) from the University of Guelph prior to receiving her Juris Doctor from Lakehead University in 2017.  Great to have you with us, Jacqueline!

Giffen Lawyers LLP welcomes Emily Metcalfe as an associate lawyer in our Family Law department.  Raised in Waterloo Region, Emily received here undergraduate degree from the University of Regina, before graduating from Queen's University with her Juris Doctor in 2018.   Great to have you with us, Emily!