Your Alternative
To Court.

Family, Civil and Estate Litigation.

ABOUT US

The Honourable R. John Harper graduated from Dalhousie University Law School in 1972. He was called to the Ontario Bar in March 1974. He was a sole practitioner from 1974 until 1997, when he formed the family law partnership of Harper Jaskot.

He was certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in family law until his appointment to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in September of 2006. Before his appointment to the bench, he was a part-time associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at McMaster University. In this position, he lectured psychiatry residents on topics at the intersection of the law and mental health.

During this time, he was also the legal advisor to the Child Advocacy and Assessment Program at McMaster University Hospital. He also served as a vice-chair of the Canadian Community Child Abuse Council.

When he practiced law and as a judge The Honourable R. John Harper was a frequent presenter at continuing education programs, both national and international. He often presented on the complexities of advocacy in family law. He was a member of the board of directors of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts serving three separate terms on that Board.

The Honourable R. John Harper was first appointed in 2006 to the Superior Court of Ontario, Family Court, at London, Ontario. In 2010, he was appointed as the Senior Family Judge of the Superior Court of Ontario. He served in that capacity until November 2013. During his tenure as Senior Family Judge, he oversaw the implementation of the Mandatory Information and Mediation Programs across Ontario and the Mediation. He also rolled out Dispute Resolution Officer Pilot Projects for motions to change in multiple court sites in Ontario.

In November of 2013, he was appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in the Central South Region, chambered at Brantford. Ontario. In this capacity he sat on all areas of law within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court.

The Honourable R. John Harper’s experience makes him well equipped to assist parties outside of the court process to find their own resolution to their problems. As a family law specialist lawyer, he tried many cases that involved complex financial issues, extreme abuse and high conflict parenting. As a sitting judge he continued to apply his skills with those same issues in order to allow the parties the best opportunity to achieve a fair process, just result and liveable solutions for the family.

The Honourable R. John Harper has a dedication to family law advocacy. In addition to presenting on the topic nationally, and internationally he was committed to assisting members of local legal associations in advancing their advocacy skills. When sitting in London and Brantford Ontario, he created “Advocacy Chats” with the local bar associations. Learning the highest traditions of advocacy by talking with and not at lawyers at all levels of practice.

He has been a frequent presenter at the Osgoode Hall Law School, Continuing Education section on advocacy in Family law and complex effective presentation of complex issues in family law.

The Honourable R. John Harper brings this dedication and passion toward excellence in Family Law Advocacy to assist those practicing in family law to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to assist parties in navigating their life issues.

The Honorable R. John Harper is well suited to assist parties in creating their own mediated solutions to their family disputes and if they remain unresolved to Arbitrate issues in an efficient, fair and timely manner.

The Honourable R John Harper is a member of a number of associations and organizations, including:

SERVICES

ARBITRATION

The Arbitration process is a way to resolve the issues in dispute without having to go to court.

An Arbitrator is an independent professional who will conduct a hearing outside of the court process where both sides of the dispute will have an equal opportunity to be heard. Each party will have the opportunity to present evidence and make submissions to the Arbitrator. Your Arbitrator will then make a decision that is often in the form of an Arbitral Award.

Some of the many advantages of Arbitration include:

Arbitration can be far less time consuming and costly than a lengthy court process.
You get to choose an Arbitrator you both have confidence in. A professional that the parties agree has the expertise, knowledge and character to provide them with an expeditious, thorough, and fair process.
Arbitration has a greater opportunity to provide input to the process itself.
Arbitration gives a greater opportunity to obtain a just result without having the systemic delays inherent in the court process.

To book this service, click here.

MEDIATION

A Mediator is a professional who assists you in arriving at an acceptable resolution of some or all of the issues in dispute. Choosing mediation allows you the opportunity to retain control of the solution.

Mediation involves creating and considering multiple solution options. This is a process of problem solving where your mediator facilitates discussion between the parties. It places the parties against the problem instead of the parties against each other.

Some of the many advantages of Mediation include:

The terms of the mediation may result in a confidential agreement.
Mediation can be more efficient and less costly way of resolving any dispute.
Mediation is more sustainable since it was created by the parties and it involves solutions generated by the parties.
Mediation is flexible and can be agreed upon and adjusted at any point during the process.

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ADVOCACY
CONSULTING

Often a lawyer has carriage of a matter that has complex components that may require additional consultation about the manner of preparation and continued presentation of the case.

This service will allow for case specific suggestions on how to more effectively prepare and present a particular case.

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ADVOCACY
TRAINING

This service can be an essential element for lawyers who want to excel in advocacy whether in the court process or within arbitration.

Training and education in advocacy, especially in family law, is few and far between. Law schools and law students to not have the resources and time required to create and participate in a program that will result in advocates who can stand alone in a court or arbitral setting with confidence.

Gone are the days in which lawyers could go through a junior/senior counsel period of learning a participating in trials and hearings over a time frame that would allow for the necessary incremental progression in all components of conducting trials and hearings.

Continuing education in this area requires participation and practice.

This service allows for either small group or individual hands-on participation and practice. It will allow for the advocate to enter a trial or hearing with confidence.

To book this service, click here.