Biography

Al Pace is the Founder and Principal of Pace Law Firm. He has practiced law for more than 30 years and has earned a stellar reputation for skill and outstanding client service. After completing his studies at the University of Toronto and the University of Windsor where he received his LL.B., Al was called to the Bar for the province of Ontario in 1980. Initially, Al developed his law practice in the areas of personal injury and civil litigation. In subsequent years, Al expanded the firm’s practice areas to include corporate and commercial litigation and immigration law and related services.

As CEO of Pace Law Firm, Al takes a personal interest in all of the firm’s cases to ensure the highest standards of service excellence are met consistently across the firm. In addition to his legal practice, Al supports community involvement, and has taken an active and prominent role in the Lithuanian community and the Trillium Health Centre.

Biography

Donald R. Fiske joined Pace Law Firm in April, 2008, in order to establish and head the firm’s Civil and Commercial Litigation department. The team which he has assembled addresses a variety of issues relating to corporate recovery, insolvency, partnership disputes, construction litigation, civil fraud, wrongful act conspiracy, Aboriginal commercial claims, breach of contract and claims against the Crown.

Don is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School and was called to the Ontario bar in 1977. In 2007 he was called to the bar in British Columbia. Don established his own litigation firm in 1982 and, over the course of the next 26 years, he specialized in matters pertaining to corporate collections, complex debtor/creditor litigation, insolvency, bankruptcy, and construction litigation matters.

Don’s roster of clients has included multinational corporations representing the manufacturing, financial, and communications sectors. In addition, he has also acted on behalf of numerous small business owners and entrepreneurs regarding various types of civil litigation, with a particular emphasis on debtor/creditor disputes. Recently he has also represented First Nations people in commercial disputes and currently provides consulting services with respect to First Nations commercial issues for members at Akwesasne, near Cornwall, and Whitesand First Nation in Northern Ontario.

Don has received his accreditation as a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation from the Law Society of Ontario. With over 40 years of experience in commercial litigation, he possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with a proven record of success, on which he draws in offering clients his unique expertise. Don is frequently consulted by lawyers in other law firms to provide advice as to approach and strategy and also to assist in ongoing litigation. He has extensive experience as a trial lawyer and also has conducted appeals at the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Two lawyers who worked with Don on trial matters have obtained their Certified Specialist status in Civil Litigation and another lawyer who worked with him has appeared as lead Counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada. Don possesses a unique skill set and resources to aid other lawyers who may wish to make a referral as a result of a conflict, or are seeking assistance in proceeding with an action which may require a more experienced hand. He often works with other law firms in preparing for trial and will assist at trial, if called upon.

The Civil Litigation Department believes in the words of retired Justice Joseph W. Quinn that “Trial lawyers try cases. Trial lawyers who settle their cases are social workers”.

Biography

Allan Chapnik is a Toronto litigation lawyer. Mr. Chapnik received his BA from York University in 1989. Three years later, he graduated as a Bachelor of Law from the University of British Columbia and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1994.

Allan’s focus has been in representing the injured and disabled; his areas of special interest and experience include brain injuries, catastrophic impairments, fatalities, and claims regarding Long Term Disability insurance.

Allan also maintains an active role in other practice areas including contract disputes, shareholder disputes including oppression remedies, real estate matters including mortgage enforcement, and applications for injunctive and other relief.

Allan has a wide ranging trial, application, arbitration and appeal practice, appearing in the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the CPPRT, the CCRB, WSIAT, and in Federal Court.

Biography

Elaine brings a background in both law and social work to her practice. Following her call to the Bar in 1989, Elaine practiced administrative and criminal law. She has appeared before a variety of administrative tribunals, before all levels of court in Ontario, and before the Federal Court of Canada. Currently, she brings Pace Law Firm’s extensive resources to assist clients throughout Northwestern Ontario as well as Southern Ontario.

Elaine's practice focuses on all aspects of personal injury, with a special emphasis on representing victims of sexual assault, and indigenous clients.
You can find Elaine Bright’s blog posts here.

Biography

Umair Shaikh is a junior lawyer who initially articled with Pace Law and was hired back. He graduated from the University of Leicester in 2015 and was called to the bar in 2018. Umair’s practice has been devoted to civil and commercial litigation. He has advocated and appeared on motions and hearings before the Superior Court of Justice, Small Claims Court and tribunals.