McKenzie Lake Lawyers Recognized for Excellence by Best Lawyers in Canada™ 2025

Announcing the McKenzie Lake Honourees

McKenzie Lake Lawyers is proud to announce that one of our lawyers has been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers®, while also being recognized among the Best Lawyers in Canada™ 2025. In addition, we have 13 lawyers named to Best Lawyers in Canada™ 2025 and two to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™ 2025 list.

Named “Lawyer of the Year” and one of the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025

Michael J. Peerless (London, ON) – Class Action Litigation & Product Liability Law  
With more than 30 years of experience as a lawyer, Mike has been named Lawyer of the Year in Class Action Litigation (London/Windsor). He has handled hundreds of class actions and representing both plaintiffs and defendants across all levels of court. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers each year since its inception in 2006, and is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Class Action Litigation and Product Liability Law. 

Named Best Lawyers in Canada 2025

David C. Arntfield (London, ON) – Corporate Law 
David is a business and real estate lawyer with more than 20 years of experience who focuses on secured lending, acquisitions and sales of private companies, corporate reorganizations and other transactional work in the corporate sector. David is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Corporate Law. 

Matthew Baer (London, ON) – Class Action Litigation 
Matt has more than 20 years of experience and has worked on leading Canadian class actions — particularly those involving pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2021, and is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Class Action Litigation.

James Elsley (London, ON) – Corporate Law 
Jim has practiced real estate development and business law for 13 years, advising on all aspects of real property transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, complex corporate restructurings, and secured lending transactions. He is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Corporate Law.

Lisa A. Fraser (London, ON) – Personal Injury Litigation 
For more than 20 years, Lisa’s practice has focused on plaintiff personal injury cases helping people who have been seriously injured. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2022, and is recognized among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in personal injury litigation.

Kyle Hampson (Guelph, ON) – Commercial Leasing Law 
Kyle has 12 years of experience with a substantive and ever-growing real estate and business law clientele. He regularly counsels clients on the acquisition or sale of properties, institutional and private financing transactions, leasing matters, and real estate transactions. He is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Commercial Leasing Law.

Michael Henley (Guelph, ON) – Corporate Law 
Mike is a business and real estate lawyer with 14 years of experience who advises on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, succession planning, bank financing, commercial real estate transactions, and agricultural industry matters. He is also a Certified Agricultural Farm Advisor. Mike is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Corporate Law. 

Alfred A. Mamo (London, ON) – Family Law  
Alf has more than five decades of experience in family law, assisting those in the middle of a separation or divorce to achieve a fair and reasonable solution to their differences. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers since its inaugural 2006 edition, and is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Family Law. 

Richard McLaren (London, ON) – Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law 
Richard has more than 40 years of experience in commercial litigation, and has expanded his perspective by cultivating relationships in the international commercial arbitration community. He is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law. 

Thomas Manes (Guelph, ON) – Commercial Leasing Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law 
With 25 years of experience, Tom provides help with a wide range of business matters, including leasing, mergers and acquisitions, and drafting and negotiating a variety of business agreements. He is recognized among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Commercial Leasing Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. 

Michael McCluskey (Guelph, ON) – Corporate and Commercial Litigation 
With 12 years of experience, Mike helps his clients resolve litigation disputes from the early stages of an issue all the way through to trial. He has experience with contract disputes, commercial and residential real estate disputes, construction disputes and liens. He is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Corporate and Commercial Litigation. 

Elisabeth Mullin (London, ON) – Corporate Law
With ten years of experience, Beth practices in the firm’s corporate, commercial and real estate groups. She services a broad range of clients, including institutional investors, corporations, lenders, commercial property owners, advisers, and developers. She is recognized among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Corporate Law.

David R. Nash (London, ON) – Health Care Law, Labour and Employment Law 
With more than 45+ years of experience, David has litigated in all levels of Ontario courts and in front of numerous tribunals. He represents insurance companies and has a special interest in fisheries, environmental law, indigenous law, health law, and employment law. He is recognized among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Health Care Law, Labour and Employment Law. 

Julie Zamprogna Ballès (London, ON) – Health Care Law 
Julie has 29 years of experience working primarily with health care organizations, and is an expert in the continually evolving field of law with respect to mental health, including consent and capacity and criminal responsibility, along with many other issues related to healthcare. She has litigated before various tribunals and all levels of Ontario Courts.  She is named among the Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 in Health Care Law

Named “Ones to Watch”

We are pleased to also announce that three McKenzie Lake lawyers have been recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2024. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to lawyers who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice.

Hilary Jenkins (London, ON) – Family Law 
For eight years, Hilary has been striving Hilary to achieve positive resolutions for her clients and their families, minimizing conflict and efficiently moving matters forward. She is recognized among the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2025 in Family Law.

Chelsea Smith (London, ON) – Class Action Litigation 
For seven years, Chelsea has helped provide access to justice for people who might otherwise be unable to pursue their claims, while also enhancing the bilingual (French/English) capacity of legal professionals in Ontario. Chelsea was called to the Ontario Bar in 2017 and the Québec Bar in 2024. She is recognized among the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2025 in Class Action Litigation.

Peer-Reviewed, Through and Through 

“Our methodology for determining these awards remains the same as it did when Best Lawyers was founded four decades ago: peer-review. Lawyers are the best resource to provide feedback on the caliber of work performed by their peers.” – Best Lawyers

In operation for more than 40 years, Best Lawyers employs a rigorous peer-review process to narrow down nominees and select lawyers for inclusion. Learn more about the Best Lawyers methodology. 

Congratulations to all the McKenzie Lake lawyers recognized.

Please join us in congratulating all 16 of our attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers this year, for their incredible achievements!