Margie Primero-Pimentel

Junior Managing Associate Lawyer & Mediator

I am a Junior Managing Associate Family Lawyer, Collaborative Family Law Practitioner and an Accredited Family Mediator at Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers.

As a family law lawyer, I assist clients who are going through the breakdown of their relationship through the process of out-of-court negotiations or through the family law court system. I provide advice and guidance to clients that is focused on my clients and their children’s interests and needs.

After practicing as a family law litigator for over thirteen years, I felt compelled to focus my practice on providing clients with alternative dispute resolution options. I witnessed, first-hand, the financial and emotional cost of litigation on families, especially children. As such, I obtained my training to become a certified collaborative family law practitioner as well as certification and accreditation for family mediation. I am passionate about facilitating fair and reasonable settlements for my clients both as a collaborative family law practitioner and as a mediator.

Although my primary approach is to encourage, facilitate and assist my clients with reaching fair and reasonable settlements, I realize that there are a minority of cases that require the intervention of the Court. I have assisted and represented clients in court before the Superior Court of Justice, the Unified Family Court and Ontario Court of Justice throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including Toronto, Vaughan/Newmarket, Mississauga/Brampton, Milton, Oshawa, Hamilton, Collingwood and Barrie. I strive to advocate for my clients and to assist them in presenting their case in the most effective and persuasive manner. Throughout the process of litigation, I advise and assist my clients in determining the cost of the litigation versus the end result they will likely achieve.

I believe that, as a family law lawyer, I have a unique opportunity to provide emotionally-intelligent advice to clients that will assist them in moving forward with their lives in a better position. I view each file in a holistic manner, striving to provide my clients with the advice and assistance they need to make the most appropriate and informed decisions for themselves and their children.

My goal, in any case, is to assist my clients in reaching a fair and reasonable resolution to the issues arising from the breakdown of their relationship while minimizing the financial and emotional damage that are the inevitable consequences of separation.

Upon being called to the Ontario Bar in 2002, I worked as a paralegal at a civil litigation firm in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, for five years, where I assisted lawyers with mass tort cases. I returned to my hometown of Toronto, Ontario, after the birth of my first child. Prior to joining Russell Alexander, I was an associate at family law firms in downtown Toronto, North York, Vaughan as well as a principal lawyer of my own firm. I have been providing clients with practical and compassionate legal advice and assistance since 2002 and have experience as a family law litigator, negotiator and mediator, since 2007. I also serve as a Dispute Resolution Officer at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket and Toronto.

I was born in Manila, Philippines but grew up in Toronto, Ontario, when my family emigrated to Canada when I was 5 years old. I now reside in Vaughan, Ontario with my husband, Mark, our four children and our beloved English bulldog, Parker. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, trying out new recipes and travelling. I enjoy watching documentaries, crime shows, and horror flicks and reading novels written by my favourite author, Stephen King.

Testimonials

“I have been fortunate enough to retain the services of Margie Primero-Pimentel. She has been the utmost professional and compassionate lawyer for my Family Court matter. She has been there for me any time a situation arose in my matter. Her attention to detail and quality of work is excellent. I am very happy with her work and grateful to have found such a great lawyer.”

– J.G.