Our Lawyers’ Profiles

The lawyers of Nathens, Siegel are: • Ken Nathens, partner • Brahm Siegel, partner • Barbara Kristanic, partner • Audrey Ngo-Lee
	Ken Nathens Ken Nathens is the founding and managing partner of Nathens, Siegel. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1994. Ken holds both a Civil Law degree and a Common Law degree from McGill University where he graduated in 1992 with Upper Class Honours.Ken takes a practical, solution-oriented approach to family law. He understands that the financial and emotional issues that arise from family law matters are unique for each client and advises each client in accordance with his or her own needs and financial budget. He has experience in all areas of family law, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and court litigation. He has the necessary credentials and experience to represent clients in collaborative negotiations. He enjoys advising clients in relation to domestic contracts, such as marriage contracts, cohabitation agreements, and separation agreements.Ken has extensive litigation experience and has been involved in trials relating to such issues as child custody, the mobility rights of parents, imputing income under the Child Support Guidelines, and the rights of adoptive parents under child welfare legislation. Ken has recently appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal arguing on behalf of clients in relation to property and financial disclosure issues.He has also written extensively on family law issues, including articles published in Divorce Magazine dealing with such issues as the Potential Perils of Collaborative Family Law and vacations in the family law context. He has offered frequent lectures on family law issues for members and staff of the Ontario Federation of Labour.In 2010, Ken was certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in the practice of family law. He was also appointed a Dispute Resolution Officer of the Ontario Superior Court (Family Division) in Newmarket where he assists litigants to narrow or resolve issues in the early stages of court proceedings.When not practicing law, Ken spends time with his family that includes two children. He enjoys spending time at the gym whenever time allows and tinkering with his 1996 Miata. He has a prized coton du tulear dog named Oskar.
	Brahm Siegel Brahm D. Siegel is certified by the Law Society as a Specialist in Family Law. He has written extensively in the area of family law and divorce. He is the founder and consulting editor of the McCarthy Tetrault Guide to the Family Law Courts in Ontario, co-author of McLeod’s Ontario Family Law Rules Annotated and the consulting editor of the Consolidated Ontario Family Law Statutes and Regulations, both published by Carswell. He is also the author of the chapters on divorce, procedure and alternative dispute resolution for the family law Licensing Process at the Law Society where he was an instructor for six years.Brahm is a regular speaker at various conferences and seminars in family law, most notably at the Law Society of Upper Canada and Canadian Bar Association. He has also been published in the Canadian Family Law Quarterly and is the founder of the Nathens, Siegel Award, a scholarship for first year law students at Queen’s University. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Bench & Bar at the Ontario Court of Justice in North York.Brahm is fully trained as an arbitrator and has been providing services as mediator/arbitrator since 2006. He offers very reasonable rates as mediator/arbitrator. He is also trained and enjoys representing clients in collaborative family law.In March 2009 Brahm was appointed as a Dispute Resolution Officer in the family court of the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. As a DRO, Brahm will attempt to settle lawsuits involving motions to change child support, spousal support and custody/access cases by providing a neutral evaluation and suggestions for settlement.Brahm received his Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours from McGill University in 1990 and his Bachelor of Laws from Queen’s University in 1993. He articled with McMillan Binch in Toronto in 1994 and was called to the Bar in 1995. Both at McGill and Queen’s, Brahm received numerous awards and prizes including the Frank Carrell Scholarship and the Osler Hoskin Harcourt Prize in Securities Law.Further details of Brahm’s career can be found by clicking here.
	Barbara Kristanic Barbara Kristanic completed her undergraduate Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Sociology at the University of Toronto. She obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2003, and was called to the Bar in 2004.Barbara has practiced exclusively family law since her call to the Bar, articling with a sole practitioner in Toronto and then practicing with a boutique family law office prior to her arrival at Nathens, Siegel LLP. Barbara has experience in all aspects of family law including: custody, access, support and property division. Though she prefers to settle matters for her clients on mutually agreed upon terms, Barbara will not hesitate to vigorously represent her clients’ interests in court.Barbara is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Toronto Family Lawyer’s Association.
	Audrey Ngo-Lee Audrey Ngo-Lee completed her undergraduate Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Political Science and Semiotics & Communication Theory at the University of Toronto in 2004. While obtaining her undergraduate degree, she also spent a year on an exchange to the University of Glasgow. Audrey obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2007. She received three scholarships from the University of Toronto and a scholarship from Osgoode Hall Law School for highest standing in Immigration Law.Audrey was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2008. Audrey has practised exclusively family law since her legal career began, having completed her articles with the Family Responsibility Office before joining Nathens, Siegel LLP. Audrey has appeared frequently in family courts across the Greater Toronto Area and is committed to representing her clients in court with tenacity.However, Audrey’s approach to family law is also one that encourages negotiation and resolution based upon agreement between the parties, whenever possible. She will strive to assist parties reach agreements that meet their needs and the needs of their families.Audrey has particular interests in family law cases that deal with children’s issues, same-sex issues, and support and support enforcement.Audrey is a member of the Ontario Bar Association. She also volunteers as an editor for an online law review that showcases superior academic writing by law students.