Michael Stangarone B.A. (Hons), LL.B.

Partner

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Michael Stangarone is a Family Law lawyer and passionate advocate for justice and fairness for families and Family Law litigants.

• Joined MacDonald & Partners LLP as an associate in 2005 and became a partner in 2011
• Practice includes all areas of family law including complex property and support matters, inter-jurisdictional support and custody/access issues, international abduction (Hague Convention) cases, mobility issues, appeals, and custody and access disputes
• Strong and leading litigator and advocate at all levels of Court in Ontario with many reported decisions
• Specific expertise in the area of international child abduction involving Hague and non-Hague Convention countries, with many reported decisions in this area including but not limited to Balev v. Baggott, Usmani v. Hassan, and Daji v. AlNaser
• Effective, strong and reasonable negotiator, invoking alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, (mediation and mediation/arbitration) to reach successful resolution of complex Family Law matters

Passionate Advocate

• Appears at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal
• Author of numerous articles for legal education programs and various publications
• Presented on the issue of International Child Abduction under the Hague Convention
• Contributing author to books written by MacDonald & Partners LLP including Handling A Family Law Matter and Family Law Arbitration in Canada

Notable Cases

• Mentioned in publications:
  • Judge slams woman for marginalizing kids' dad
  • 'A cautionary tale for inter-family advances'

Other Publications

• Court can compel drug and alcohol testing
• Determining presumptive income
• Step parents on hook for youth's pricey U.S. residential treatment
• Courts have wide discretion for noncompliance
• Is Ontario dropping the ball on international abduction cases?
• Tort Claims in Family Law