PRINCIPAL LAWYER

STEPHANIE OKOLA
Lawyer, Notary Public and Mediator

Stephanie Okola is a passionate litigator and advocate practicing in the areas of Family Law (including Fertility Law), Child Protection and Appeals. She is an experienced litigator who has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario), the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal. Stephanie is also a trained mediator, focusing her mediation practice on community-based mediations and contested decision-making and parenting time matters. Stephanie is a staunch advocate for access to justice and community legal education. She is active in several community outreach organizations, and volunteers her time as a legal educator in primarily low income and disenfranchised communities. Stephanie previously worked alongside Legal Aid Ontario and members of the Black community to establish a new, community-based organization to deliver legal services to Black Ontarians who experience anti-Black racism. She is a member of the Black Female Lawyers Network, The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, The Family Lawyers Association of Ontario and Ontario Association of Child Protection Lawyers. She is also a committee member of the North Toronto Family Court Education Committee, which provides high quality, affordable Continuing Professional Development for members of the Family Law Bar. In her spare time, Stephanie is a dedicated mother and partner, amateur home cook, and travel enthusiast.

Associates & Staff

 

SHALA MCDONALD


Senior Paralegal and Office Manager

Shala is a Licensed Paralegal, Partner, and Office Manager at Okola Law PC. Her primary practice areas are Employment Law, Contract Law, Human Rights, and WSIB matters.  Shala has extensive experience representing clients in Small Claims Court, and various Social Tribunals in Ontario. Those tribunals include the Humans Rights Tribunal, the Landlord and Tenant Board, and the Child and Family Services Board. Shala brings with her several years of both customer service and legal administration experience, in addition to her studies in psychology. She is also a staunch community advocate, assisting with several charitable endeavors in her spare time.

DENIESE MORRIS

Law Clerk

Deniese works closely with clients to ensure that they are well cared for through each stage of what can be an emotional family law process.  Deniese is compassionate, understanding, and is always willing to assist clients in a courteous and professional manner, and she is able to put clients at ease with her effective listening skills and calming personality.  

At Okola Law, Deniese is involved in all day-to-day aspects of the client file and manages it from start to finish with meticulous organization and care.  She has been involved in a wide range of matters from simple uncontested divorces to child-related litigation in all levels of Court. Deniese works with clients to collect information throughout the proceeding, she explains the legal process to clients, and prepares their court documents, and keeps their file organized and up to date.

GABRIELLE MALCOLM

Junior Paralegal and Legal Assistant

Gabrielle joined Okola Law in 2019 as a junior paralegal and legal assistant to both Stephanie Okolaand Shala McDonald. She is the first point of contact at Okola Law. Gabrielle is the organizational glue that keeps the office running smoothly. She also provides cost effective representation at Small Claims Courts across the Greater Toronto Area, and at the Landlord-Tenant tribunal.