Mel is a fighter for justice and a champion of the underdog. Does that make him sound like a superhero? Well, maybe not, but some of Mel’s clients have probably thought of him that way. He has long been a strong legal advocate for parents whose children have been taken by child welfare authorities and patients who have been involuntarily confined to mental hospitals.

After 34 years in the field, Mel’s credentials are even of near superhero proportions. (Maybe he should wear a big “L” on his shirt!) He graduated from York University with Honors, then taught at York University for eight years and also at Seneca College. Other lawyers sit down and listen to what Mel has to say, too. He has conducted panels and presentations for colleagues on family law topics and has written articles on family law for Ontario Real Estate Journal. He was also a member of the executive committee of the Bench/Bar Committee for the North York Family Court.

Mel has handled civil and criminal cases at all levels in the Ontario courts and now handles all aspects of family law. One of his early cases was precedent-setting, deciding whether or not professional licenses could be added as property in the calculation of a spouse’s assets in a divorce case. As someone who came from a poor family and went through a divorce himself, Mel has found that family law is perfect for him because he understands well the problems that his clients face – both from their perspective and the legal perspective.

Besides his professional achievements, Mel helps out in the community as well. He has served as an advisor to teens and as a child care worker for Hincks Institute. (That superhero label seems more appropriate all the time.) But when he isn’t fighting injustice or donning a cape, Mel enjoys more relaxing pursuits like bowling, fishing, and crossword puzzles. And before knee surgery sidelined him, he was an avid organized baseball player for 34 years.

While Mel considers himself to be a bit on the quiet side, he was a debating champion and international public speaking champion while in school. Plus, he represented York University on Pierre Berton’s Under Attack television program not once, but twice. Quiet or not, Mel is tenacious when it comes to getting his clients what they deserve. He’ll only give in if it’s in the best interest of his client because he knows all too well the financial and emotional cost of fighting, especially when children are involved.