Meet the Team

Our team of experienced lawyers provide the knowledge and support to stand with you through significant transitions in your family structure, whether it is a divorce or a custody agreement.

Karissa Stiles - Managing Director

Karissa Stiles serves as both Managing Director and Senior Paralegal at Phypers Law, a dual role perfectly complemented by her impressive academic journey. Karissa not only graduated at the top of her business and marketing class in 2019 but also earned an Honours Paralegal Diploma from an accredited college in 2021. This combination of business acumen and specialized legal training ensures exceptional leadership and paralegal expertise for the firm and its clients.

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Laura Phypers - Founding Partner

Laura began her career as a criminal defence lawyer. She is a fierce advocate for her clients and has fought diligently to protect her clients' rights against false allegations. Laura's skill set is a combination of determination, dedication, and loyalty to her clients, as well as her ability to understand the intricacies of the law. She continues to learn the law and its application as it develops and changes and uses it to get the best results for her clients.

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Emmanuel Oyesomi - Associate Lawyer

Emmanuel's experience has proven invaluable in family law, where he excels at complex negotiations and, when necessary, tenacious trial advocacy. He consistently achieves favourable outcomes for clients in matters of property division, child custody, spousal support, and other complex family law issues.

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Ozan Guzel - Associate Lawyer

Ozan is a family lawyer whose unique career path bridges the worlds of law and finance. Before entering legal practice, he built a strong foundation in banking, corporate loans, and compliance, as well as with one of the Big Four auditing firms. A recipient of the prestigious Jean Monnet Scholarship of the European Commission, he completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in financial law in Germany before pursuing his Juris Doctor. Ozan also holds international certifications in anti–money laundering (CAMS) and global sanctions (CGSS), bringing a depth of financial insight to family matters such as property division, support, and financial planning.

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Harshel Doshi - Student-at-Law

Harshel is currently articling with Phypers Law, bringing over five years of international experience in commercial and civil litigation, arbitration, and teaching. He has appeared before courts and tribunals in India and Canada, including the High Court of Mumbai and the Ontario Court of Justice. Passionate about working closely with people, he values clear communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving to help clients achieve the best outcomes

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Desiree Friesen - Legal Assistant

Desiree is an exceptional assistant who brings a decade of experience in the customer service industry to her role. She has quickly become a strong contributor to our team, demonstrating excellent communication skills and determination in the legal realm. Desiree takes the time to truly understand the needs of both our lawyers and our clients. In addition to her legal support, she is also our interior designer, passionate about creating beautiful spaces and brightening our office with her positive attitude every day.

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Michaela Rutherford - Paralegal 

Michaela is an experienced family paralegal and the owner of Rutherford Paralegal. As an independent contractor with Phypers Law, she focuses on Family Law supporting the lawyers and clients on complex matters including high-conflict cases and domestic violence

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Kirena Barr - Legal Assistant 

Kirena is a highly motivated legal assistant with a strong background in family law. Having worked in busy family law firms, she brings both technical expertise and heartfelt dedication to her role at Phypers Law. She provides essential support to clients and lawyers by organizing case files, coordinating communication, and ensuring every detail is handled with accuracy and care.

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Melody Deleeuw - Client care Specialist & Health Representative

With over 20 years of experience in reception, administration, and legal assistant roles, Mel is the calm and steady presence clients and colleagues rely on. She spent more than a decade at the Outreach Centre supporting individuals through sensitive family matters with care and professionalism, before moving on to Advocate Law where she ensured smooth daily operations. At Phypers Law, Mel continues to combine empathy, precision, and organizational excellence—welcoming clients with warmth while keeping the office running seamlessly.

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Holly Dressel - Booking Consultant

As Booking Consultant at Phypers Law, Holly Dressel is often the very first voice clients hear—and she makes that first step feel reassuring and clear. With several years of experience in the legal field, she brings both empathy and precision to her role, carefully listening to each person’s situation and thoughtfully matching them with the lawyer best suited to their needs. Holly knows the entire legal team well—their strengths, communication styles, and approaches—which allows her to guide clients toward support that feels both legally sound and personally aligned.

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