Addario Law Group

Frank Addario

Founder

William Thompson

Partner

Samara Secter

Partner

Leadership

Frank Addario is the founder of Addario Law Group. He has a wide-ranging national litigation practice and has tried more than 150 cases to conclusion. He regularly appears before appellate courts, including the Ontario Court of Appeal, and has appeared more than 40 times before the Supreme Court of Canada, where he has one of the country’s leading practices. He is an advisor to the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute and is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Addario is consistently ranked by Chambers Canada and is frequently retained in high-stakes disputes and crisis matters. He is a director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and a former president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association (Ontario). In 2016, he received the G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal.

Founder

Frank Addario

William Thompson is a partner at Addario Law Group with a broad trial and appellate practice. He appears regularly before all levels of court in Ontario, defending clients charged with a wide range of criminal offences, including impaired driving and other motor vehicle offences. He is frequently retained in complex litigation where his ability to simplify issues is a key asset. Thompson has a particular interest in mental health law and has assisted many individuals navigating the criminal justice system. He is active in the legal community, serving as chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section and as a member of the Canadian Bar Association Criminal Justice Section. He holds degrees from the University of Toronto and Queen’s University and was called to the bar in 2005.

Partner

William Thompson

Samara Secter is a partner at Addario Law Group whose practice includes constitutional, commercial, and criminal litigation. She defends individuals and organizations in regulatory proceedings and at trial and is regularly retained in urgent, complex disputes and crisis matters. She also represents professionals, including lawyers, in disciplinary proceedings. Prior to joining ALG in 2016, Secter practised at a leading commercial litigation boutique and clerked for Justice Louis LeBel at the Supreme Court of Canada. Her experience spans both public and private law matters, with a strong focus on high-stakes litigation requiring strategic judgment and precision.

Partner

Samara Secter

Lynda Morgan

Partner

Lynda Morgan is a partner at Addario Law Group with a criminal and regulatory law practice, with particular expertise in search and seizure issues. Before joining ALG, she spent nine years at a leading criminal and regulatory boutique in Toronto and also worked as an assistant crown attorney with the Guns & Gangs Unit. She has acted as duty counsel for the Law Society of Ontario and the Pro Bono Inmate Appeal Program. Morgan earned her law degree from the University of Ottawa, graduating at the top of her class, where she received multiple academic awards. She is a regular speaker on search and seizure law and co-chairs the annual Osgoode Tech Crime Conference.

Partner

Lynda Morgan

Andrew Max

Partner

Andrew Max is a partner at Addario Law Group, where he represents institutions, executives, and professionals in complex commercial litigation, regulatory disputes, and high-stakes investigations. He is frequently retained in matters requiring senior judgment, urgency, and discretion, particularly where business risk and reputation are at stake. Max is ranked nationally by Chambers for commercial litigation, white-collar crime and government investigations, and crime and is also recognized by Lexpert and Benchmark Litigation. His practice includes fraud, misrepresentation, injunctions, and crisis-driven disputes. He teaches trial advocacy at Osgoode Hall Law School and has served in leadership roles with the Ontario Bar Association and The Advocates’ Society. He clerked at the Ontario Superior Court and holds degrees from the University of Toronto.

Partner

Andrew Max

Addario Law Group is dedicated to solving legal problems and fighting for its clients. Its team of exceptionally smart and creative lawyers understands that every case demands a tailored approach. Frank Addario founded the firm in 2012 with the goal of building a small practice dedicated to excellence and public service. Now in its second decade, it has grown, but its commitment to its core values has remained unchanged. Its culture – legal excellence, courage, independence, and a commitment to public service and professionalism – is its greatest strength.

“Our culture is built on a single principle: every client deserves the strongest possible defence”

Hilary Dudding, Daniel Brown Law LLP

Kathleen Ferrell

Associate

Jason Dos Santos

Partner

Scott Young

Director, Accounting and Business Advisory

Simon Williams

Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955

Kathleen Farrell is a criminal defence lawyer at AGP LLP who brings a strong foundation in criminology and a thoughtful, client-focused approach to her practice. Called to the Ontario Bar in 2025, she maintains a full trial practice and advocates for clients facing a wide range of criminal charges. Farrell holds an Honours Bachelor of Social Science in Criminology with a minor in Sociology from the University of Ottawa, where she later earned her law degree. During law school, she was active in the Criminal Law Student Association. Known for her careful preparation and attention to detail, Farrell approaches each case with precision, compassion, and a commitment to justice.

Associate

Kathleen Ferrell

Lindsay Board is a partner at Daniel Brown Law and one of Canada’s top criminal and constitutional lawyers, appearing at all levels of Ontario court and the Supreme Court of Canada. Her practice focuses on complex, serious charges with significant reputational consequences, with particular expertise in sexual offences. A best-in-class advocate, Board is the co-author of the forthcoming third edition of the Emond Criminal Law Series text, Digital Evidence, and previously taught advanced criminal law at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. She is a frequent conference panellist and media commentator on cases of public importance.

Partner

Lindsay Board

Scott Young is a director in accounting and business advisory at Hood Sweeney, bringing more than 30 years of experience with a strong focus on regional and agribusiness clients. Having grown up in a family livestock farming operation, he understands firsthand the challenges facing farming and regional enterprises, including seasonal variability and market volatility. As agribusiness relationship partner, Young oversees the delivery of professional services to regional and farm-related businesses across South Australia and Alice Springs and advises SMEs nationwide. He is highly regarded for his expertise in accounting, taxation and tax planning, succession planning, business planning and cash flow management.

Director, Accounting and Business Advisory

Scott Young

Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.

Partner

Kimi Shah

maintaining an in-house team of more than 20 programmers to facilitate fast improvements direct bill options to streamline the payment process for the agent and the insured providing IVANS policy downloads that enable up to 30 percent labor savings to independent agencies delivering online capabilities including rating, policy documents, payments, and claims reporting

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The firm’s practice extends well beyond individual defence work. Its lawyers are regularly retained by in-house and civil counsel to provide strategic advice and to defend individuals and corporate entities facing criminal or regulatory prosecution at all levels of court in Ontario and across Canada. With decades of combined experience as both defence counsel and former Crown prosecutors, the team brings a comprehensive and pragmatic perspective to each file. Discretion and strategic clarity are central to the firm’s appeal. Daniel Brown Law is often the first choice for clients unfamiliar with the justice system – professionals, public figures, and others whose reputations and careers may be at risk. The firm’s ability to manage sensitive matters with precision and confidentiality has become a defining feature of its practice. Appellate advocacy is another cornerstone. The firm has developed a strong presence before appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, where its lawyers regularly appear as counsel and intervenors in cases that shape the direction of criminal law. These matters frequently engage complex constitutional, evidentiary, and procedural issues with broader legal implications. The firm’s influence extends beyond courtroom litigation. Its lawyers are regularly invited to speak at continuing education programs for the judiciary and Crown and are frequently consulted by national and international media for insight on high-profile cases and emerging legal issues.

relationships and teamwork embracing and driving change holding teammates accountable pursuing excellence with humility giving back to the community

Internally, the firm operates on a highly collaborative model. Junior and senior lawyers work closely together on strategy, investigation, and trial preparation. A deliberate focus on recruiting and mentoring top young lawyers has strengthened the firm’s ability to manage demanding, high-stakes files. “Criminal cases demand more than legal expertise. They require creativity and strategy to shape how decision-makers understand what truly happened. We don’t just build defences – we construct compelling, strategic narratives that move judges and juries toward just outcomes,” says Hilary Dudding, partner. In recent years, Daniel Brown Law has focused on expanding its trial and appellate capacity while maintaining the agility and cohesion of a boutique practice. This approach allows the firm to deliver highly individualized representation while continuing to contribute to the development of criminal law in Canada. The result is a firm that combines depth of experience with a forward-looking approach to advocacy – one that continues to set the gold standard within the criminal defence bar. “Our culture is built on a single principle: every client deserves the strongest possible defence. That means collaborative thinking, meticulous preparation, and fearless, strategic advocacy from some of the most skilled criminal lawyers in the country,” says Daniel Brown, founding partner.

“Criminal cases demand more than legal expertise. They require creativity and strategy to shape how decision-makers understand what truly happened”

Hilary Dudding, Daniel Brown Law LLP