Who we are
Everyone at Graham Stephenson Kennedy LLP works hard to provide maximum value to our clients at every interaction.
Get acquainted with our team, and see for yourself.
CORPORATE, COMMERCIAL & EMPLOYMENT LAW
Gary D. Graham, partner
Direct line: (905) 512 2958
Gary Graham is an award-winning business lawyer with extensive corporate management experience. He has been actively advising clients in the manufacturing, energy and broader public sectors for over 25 years.
For five years in the 1990s, Gary served as president of Westinghouse Canada Inc. He is experienced in the resolution of commercial disputes, and has been involved in takeover bids, lock-up agreements, major international share and asset transfers and a broad range of customer, supplier, employee, inventor and other contracts across a wide variety of businesses, including the defence, energy, I/T and broader public sectors of the economy.
His experience includes serving as a board member of two different local distribution companies, advising multinationals interested in participating in Canada’s nuclear energy program, completing a multi-site power generation project financing transaction, advising on community energy projects, waste-to-energy projects, renewable energy projects, the purchase and sale of electrical and electronic equipment, government procurement, construction contracting and a wide variety of commercial agreements and contentious matters.
BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT, LITIGATION
D. Jared Brown, partner
Direct line: (416) 302 2963
D. Jared Brown is a lawyer from Toronto and Lead Counsel at Brown Litigation, who served as a Bencher (Governor) of the Law Society of Ontario from 2019 to 2023. Jared began his association with Graham Stephenson Kennedy LLP in February 2022.
Jared sits on Advisory Boards for both legal organizations and businesses.
Jared’s practice is restricted to advising on and managing the risk profile for organizations, institutions, and businesses, including contracts, employment matters, and mission-critical litigation.
Jared regularly appears before all levels of Courts and Tribunals in Canada, including the Superior Court and Court of Appeal.
As a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, Jared sat on the Professional Development and Competence, Tribunal, and Professional Regulation committees.
Jared has testified on legal issues before the Canadian Senate Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and is regularly sought by mainstream media, legal publications, and interest groups for comment and opinion on legal matters. His commentary can be found online at www.brownlaw.ca, including blog posts, youtube broadcasts, podcasts, and speaking engagements and through his Twitter handle @litigationguy.
To reach Jared, call 416 302 2963, send him an email, or DM.
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW
Curtis VanVliet, associate
Direct line: (905) 379 6865
Curtis is an associate at Graham Stephenson Kennedy LLP who was called to the Bar in 2023. He summered with our firm in 2021 and we are very pleased to welcome him back as a lawyer.
Curtis has gained experience in commercial litigation and corporate/commercial law. He has appeared in the Ontario Superior Court and represented clients before Mediators on Superior Court of Ontario matters. He brings a strong academic background and real world small business experience to the service of our clients.
To reach Curtis, give him a call or text him at 905 379 6865 or send him an email.
CIVIL LITIGATION, REGULATORY, FRANCHISING
Philip J. Kennedy, of counsel
Direct line: (905) 979 2366
Philip Kennedy is a versatile litigator and legal advisor, who delivers top-level, high-quality client service at an economical rate. A former partner with Graham Stephenson Kennedy LLP, Phil is now a partner in the advocacy department of Gowling WLG in Hamilton, Ontario, but remains available to GSK LLP as a trusted advisor.
FOUNDER
Sandra Stephenson, founder
Sandy Stephenson, a co-founder of our firm, brought her clear thinking, her client service orientation, and her superior legal research and analytical skills to our practice.
Effective January 1, 2021, Sandy has decided to retire, we hope ‘just for now’. We’d welcome her back anytime and our clients should know that she and we will ensure we are well-briefed on the continuing matters she was handling. Our loss will be her grandchildren’s gain!
CORPORATE LAW
Janis Cain, law clerk
Janis Cain is a savvy corporate law clerk with diverse experience.
She has provided corporate maintenance services to multinational corporations with Canadian subsidiaries, and to many other large, medium and small business clients across a wide spectrum of businesses operating in Canadian jurisdictions.
She is also an experienced corporate transactions clerk. Her experience includes assisting clients and their lawyers with: the purchase and sale of a business whether by transfer of shares or assets or in some deals a mixture of both; debt and equity financing transactions; incorporations of business corporations, professional corporations and Private Real Estate Corporations (PREC); amalgamations; dissolutions; and all manner of governmental authority registration and compliance issues.