James B. C. Edney

First Year of Call
Ontario, 1993

Areas of Practice
Family Law

Description
The stakes in Family Law cases don’t get much higher: it takes a special lawyer to consistently win results at the highest level in Family Law. Jim Edney has been that kind of a lawyer for over 30 years, earning him recognition as a Certified Specialist in Family Law by The Law Society of Ontario.

Vision
Praised by clients for his ability to “put things in perspective” and described by them as “incredibly diligent, fair and intelligent”, Jim advises on complex Family Law cases in Toronto and throughout the G.T.A.

Marriage breakdowns can be emotionally overwhelming. Jim’s approach is to ‘de-stress’ every case with a firm but fair approach that utilizes negotiating skills honed on thousands of cases, backed up when required by an unwavering presence in the Courtroom.

Opposing lawyers describe Jim’s work as “excellent Family Law expertise of the highest nature, with admirable professional and personal integrity”. No game-playing, no unnecessary bickering with opposing lawyers; just a laser focus on obtaining results.

Jim’s work has earned him recognition by Chambers & Partners as a “Notable Practitioner” in the top tier in Canada for Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth, with peers describing him as “a tough litigator”; “very knowledgeable [with] good judgement”, and for being “strategic on how to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients, as well as being extremely experienced and intelligent.”

Deep Understanding – Trial Tested
Having done thousands of cases, Jim is at home at the negotiating table, in the courtroom and in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). He brings that experience to guide clients through the most efficient process to get their case resolved, whether by negotiation of a Separation Agreement, Mediation, Arbitration or taking a case to Trial in Court. This experience, coupled with his deep understanding of the law, means that Jim can achieve results when it counts for you. Most cases do not go to Trial; but when they do, you want Jim’s experience on your side.

Jim’s track record on Family Law cases and ‘real world’ experience give him the skills to analyze complex financial situations, properly assess Income for Support determination, value businesses, and deal with the complex intersection of Trusts Law and Family Law to get results. When it comes to money, he gets it.

Innovative Thinking
The application of the ‘traditional’ law can have its disadvantages when it comes to marriage breakdowns. There are more modern methods that can be applied to make this process into a potential ‘Win – Win’, rather than a losing proposition for both spouses.

Jim has taken advanced training in Mediation and Arbitration and Negotiation, and in addition to his work on cases Jim acts as a Mediator and as an Arbitrator. This training and experience help Jim achieve the best possible results as an advocate in the ADR process.

Jim is also interested in Process Improvement and Project Management. He obtained ‘Yellow Belt’ certification in Legal Lean Sigma (a ‘legal’ version of Lean Six Sigma).

Jim has more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of Family Law, including:

Separation Agreements
Family Trusts
Business Valuations
Income Determinations
Divorce Applications
Motions
Trials
Mediations
Arbitrations
Tax Implications of Divorce
Commercial Litigation Experience for “Family Businesses”:

Oppression Remedies
Shareholders’ Disputes