Strategic Criminal Defence represents clients in the Greater Toronto Area and throughout the province of Ontario.

Our national team of criminal defence lawyers have over 75 years of combined legal experience which has provided us with the opportunity to defend our clients in over 10,000 criminal cases.

Our firm is a full-service criminal defence law office, with a client-focused approach, which deals with practice areas of impaired driving, domestic violence, criminal driving, drug offences, assault and threats, property crime, youth offences and traffic offences.

A Top Rated Criminal Defence Firm

Our motto is 5-Star Rated, 5-Star Service, and 5-Star Results. We have a near perfect 4.9 rating on Google and over 75 reviews speaking to the quality of services you can expect from our firm.

Further, we have been featured in the Toronto Star and are the recipient of the Trust Analytica Top 10 Domestic Violence Lawyers in Toronto award.

Our Firm’s Philosophy

We appreciate that a strong lawyer-client relationship is formed on the basis of trust. As such, we work hard to ensure that we can foster that trust with our clients.

We adhere to our philosophy of trust by involving our clients through each step of their matter, which is strengthened by our efforts to always ensure that we are communicating regularly with our clients.

By adopting a client-centred approach to our legal representation, we are able to ensure that our clients understand and know that their needs come first. Additionally, we are committed to zealously advocating for our clients to ensure that they receive the best legal representation in a cost-effective manner. By acting proactively and understanding that each case will be different, we aim to provide sound legal advice to meet our client’s needs and secure the right results.

Conveniently Located In Downtown Toronto

Strategic Criminal Defence
100 Richmond St W Suite 414,
Toronto, ON M5H 3K6

If you are seeking criminal trial lawyers to provide a vigorous defence, contact our team at Strategic Criminal Defence today by calling 647-986-8077.

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A Strategic Approach To Criminal Defence

Strategic Criminal Defence Toronto Branch is lead by respected senior criminal lawyer Dylan Finlay. For over 10 years, Dylan has practiced exclusively in the area of criminal defence and has a particular passion for litigation that involves Charter rights.

A natural and persuasive advocate, Dylan’s objective is to craft a strategy that achieves the optimal outcome for my client.

Our team of lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence are guided by core values of service, results, integrity, teamwork, drive, and strategy. We share our collective experience, resources, and passion to help people and look for opportunities to add value to our clients through strategic thinking and creative solutions.

Our Toronto Branch has 3 criminal defence lawyers, and have defended clients in over hundreds of criminal cases.

Why Work With Us?

Our firm has over 500+ five-star Google reviews across Canada.

We are one of the largest criminal defence teams in Canada.

Our lawyers have over 75 years of combined legal experience.

We have defended clients in over 10,000 criminal cases.

We offer flexible payment structures and fee plans.

Our team is available 24/7 to provide help and support.

Successful Cases

Case Number: 75790038 

Our client was arrested after someone called police to report a suspicious vehicle parked at a gas station. When officers arrived, they noticed that our client’s vehicle was parked, its left tires were ripped and deflated, and our client was sitting on the passenger side looking around for something. When officers approached our client, he immediately admitted to having a few drinks, which prompted the officer to demand a breath sample. Our client complied but was unable to provide an adequate sample. After several failed attempts, our client was arrested for failure to provide a sample.

Upon being retained, we immediately requested disclosure and thoroughly reviewed the police body-worn camera footage of the arrest. In doing so, we noticed several violations of our client’s Charter rights and promptly filed a Charter application. As a result of our findings, the Crown Prosecutor stayed the charge and our client avoided a criminal record.

Successful Result: Charge Stayed; No Criminal Record 

Case Number: 55792555 

Our client was pulled over when a nearby police officer suspected that he was driving while impaired. The officer demanded a breath sample which our client did not refuse. However, his significant anxiety issues and resulting chest pains caused him to not be able to provide an adequate sample. As a result of this, our client was immediately arrested and charged with refusal to comply with a breath demand.

Upon being retained, we ordered and reviewed disclosure and discovered several Charter violations over the course of the investigation. We filed a Charter Notice on our client’s behalf outlining these issues and illustrating the improper police investigation. As a result of this Charter Notice and the medical documentation, all charges were withdrawn.

Successful Result: Charges Withdrawn; No Criminal Record  

Case Number: 1783724 

Our client was arrested for impaired driving after an officer noticed him idling in his truck on a side road late one evening. Despite our client’s contention that he had only one beer, the officer arrested him and took him to the police station where he was required to provide a breath sample. The sample showed that our client was intoxicated beyond the legal limit and as a result, he was charged with driving while impaired and operation of a vehicle over 80mg%.

Upon being retained, we reviewed disclosure and our client’s medical history. The disclosure revealed significant issues with the investigation and the infringement of our client’s Charter right to legal counsel. The medical history revealed that our client had a salivary gland condition that he treated with mouthwash. At trial, these issues were brought before the court, and after a lengthy cross-examination of the arresting officer, the Crown Prosecutor withdrew all charges.

Successful Result: Charges Withdrawn; No Criminal Record 

Case Number: 55592585

While our client was in high school, he exchanged nude photos with a female classmate. The two decided to meet in a washroom in between classes where they engaged in physical acts. The complainant claimed to the police that she did not want to go through with it, but he persisted. Our client was subsequently charged with sexual assault.

Upon being retained, we worked through the allegations with our client and analyzed the disclosure to assess the evidence against him. The complainant stated that she never actually vocalized her lack of consent. We raised a defence that, based on this statement, our client had an honest but mistaken belief in the presence of consent. As a result, the Crown Prosecutor withdrew the charge against our client.

Successful Result: Charge Withdrawn  

Case Number: 44470290

Our client was charged with theft over $5000 and fraud over $5000 after his corporation held a deposit from a contractor. The deposit had been paid to the contractor by two individuals for a renovation project. It was alleged that our client used some of the deposit money for personal reasons.

Upon being retained, we immediately ordered and reviewed our client’s disclosure. We assisted our client in obtaining proof of where the deposit money had gone. We used this information in our negotiations with the Crown Prosecutor, and we were ultimately able to persuade the Crown Prosecutor to withdraw the charges against our client. As a result, our client avoided a criminal record.

Successful Result: Charges Withdrawn, No Criminal Record

Case Number: 3260042

Our client got into an altercation with his girlfriend in their home. The Police were dispatched to the scene and found a number of broken items on the floor, and our client in his home. His girlfriend told the police that he was intoxicated, and they noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the garage. The police checked their system to see if our client had any outstanding warrants, and noticed that he was on probation and had been ordered not consume any alcohol.

The police then arrested our client for breaching a condition of his probation. Upon retaining us, we immediately ordered disclosure and began canvassing possible resolutions with the Crown Prosecutor. During these discussions we were able to point out several weaknesses against our client that ultimately led to his charges being withdrawn.

Successful Result: Charges Withdrawn, No Criminal Record

Case Number: 55592538 

Our client’s husband had been having an ongoing affair with another woman for several years. Our client knew about the affair but felt helpless to stop it and afraid to end their 25-year marriage. One evening, the tension exploded into a physical fight between our client and the mistress when the mistress refused to leave the matrimonial home. The mistress contacted police and when officers arrived, our client was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm.

Upon being retained, we immediately requested disclosure and accumulated a significant amount of mitigating evidence including letters of support, counselling receipts, and our client’s statement regarding the circumstances of the incident. We met with the Crown Prosecutor and explained our client’s side of the story and the many reasons why this case should not be prosecuted. The Crown agreed with our submissions and as a result, the charge was withdrawn.

Successful Result: Charge Withdrawn; No Criminal Record  

Case Number: 758-190057 

Our client was charged when he solicited a sexual act from a woman who turned out to be an undercover police officer. The woman approached his vehicle and the two engaged in a discussion about her services. When they reached an agreement, three unmarked police vehicles approached his vehicle and quickly arrested him for solicitation of sexual services.

Upon being retained, we immediately ordered disclosure and reviewed it with our client. We learned that our client had never solicited sexual acts previously and it was his interaction with the woman that enticed him to do so. We reached out to the Crown Prosecutor and shared this background on our client and based on this, the Crown agreed to resolve the charges through the Alternative Measures Program. As a result, the charge was withdrawn, and our client avoided a criminal record.

Successful Result: Charge Withdrawn; Resolved with Alternative Measures Program; No Criminal Record 

Practice Areas

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving offences in Toronto are strictly prosecuted under the Criminal Code. Impaired driving offences include operating a Motor Vehicle while your ability is impaired or while over 80.

Domestic Violence

A domestic violence charge is a serious offence which can be complex. A charge is considered domestic in nature if it involves violence against a family member or a current or former romantic partner.

Assault Offences

A person can be charged with a simple assault charge when they, directly or indirectly, apply force a person without their consent. If proceeded by indictment, an assault offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years jail time.

Drug Charges

Drug charges are prosecuted seriously in Toronto and often result in jail time for even minor offences. Common drug charges include possession, trafficking, distribution, and importation of an illicit drug or substance.

Youth Offences

If the individual is between the ages of 12 and 17 and is charged with a criminal offence, then they will be prosecuted under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The primary goal of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is to rehabilitate young people and reduce youth crime.

Criminal Driving

Criminal driving is a serious offence that includes a wide variety of multiple motor vehicle offences in the Criminal Code. Criminal driving offences under the Criminal Code are different from charges under the Traffic Safety Act of Ontario.

Sexual Assault

A Sexual Assault offence occurs when a person intentionally touches another person with a sexual nature and without their consent. Sexual assault offences include sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault causing bodily harm, and aggravated sexual assault.

Property Crimes

Property crimes are one of the most common crimes an individual can be charged with. They are serious charges in Canada which includes offences such breaking an entering, theft, mischief, fraud, trespassing, and arson.

Traffic Crimes

Traffic offences and violations are breaches of provincial legislation, such as the Traffic Safety Act. A traffic offence is usually considered a crime when it is punishable by imprisonment. However, traffic offences may also be punishable by fines or penalties.

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Meet Your Legal Team

Our Toronto office has 3 dedicated lawyers who are passionate about criminal defence work and work hard to ensure that their clients get a just outcome.

Dylan-Finlay-Toronto-Criminal-Lawyer

Dylan Finlay

Dylan Finlay is the Managing Partner of Strategic Criminal Defence’s Toronto Branch. He obtained his law degree from the University of Calgary and has over 6 years of experience. He is a natural and persuasive advocate who has exclusively practiced criminal law since 2016. During his time as a criminal defence attorney, Dylan has successfully defended hundreds of clients in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the Alberta Provincial Court. Dylan values a personalized client-centred approach to his legal representation as he works hard to ensure that he is accessible to his clients.

Lorant-Kiss-Toronto-Criminal-Lawyer

Lorant Kiss

Lorant earned his bachelor’s degree with High Distinction from the University of Toronto. While completing his law degree at the University of Windsor, Lorant spent multiple academic terms volunteering at Windsor’s Legal Aid Clinic, building his knowledge of criminal law. Since being called to the Bar in Ontario, Lorant has practiced exclusively in criminal defence. In so doing, Lorant has represented individuals accused of a wide range of offences, including but not limited to: assaults, drug offences, impaired driving, theft and fraud. Lorant always puts the needs of his clients before his own and works diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients.

justin-crop

Justin Marchand

I practice in all areas of criminal law, but I have spent significant time litigating drinking and driving (DUI) allegations. My approach to many DUI cases is to at first take a dispassionate look at your disclosure. Disclosure is the name given for all the documents the prosecution must disclose to the defence as part of a criminal proceeding. It is always helpful if I can review disclosure and expose errors in police investigations, such as errors in warrants or other forms of intrusive investigations. Ultimately, I will review your case and situation with a view to providing practical advice customized to your needs and wants.

Client Reviews

Dylan is the absolute Best out there, especially the way he has handled my case to bring the desired outcome. Dylan’s articulate, prompt, detailed and very transparent in his dealings including costs.

No hidden fees or charges, and knows his way through the legal system. It was a stressful time, happy to put it behind me thanks to Dylan.

R.M.

Lorant Kiss is a fantastic lawyer. He managed to smoothly get my charge dismissed in a matter of months. What impresses me most about him though, is how dedicated and professional he is. If I had a question or concern he would answer me right away and explain every legal process. Anyone who runs into trouble or hard times should definitely give him a call, at the end of the day there are good and bad lawyers and he won’t let you down..

E.S.

I can not recommend Dylan Finlay highly enough. He handled my case with exceptional professionalism, expertise, and dedication. From start to finish, Dylan demonstrated a deep understanding of the law and provided clear, thoughtful guidance throughout the process. His strategic approach and attention to detail ensured a successful outcome in court. Beyond his legal skills, Dylan was compassionate, responsive, and truly committed to my best interests. If you’re looking for a lawyer who will fight for you and deliver results, Dylan Finlay is the one to trust. Thank you for everything!

A.U.

The best lawyer would you ask for Mr Lorant you meticulously analyzed my case and your expertise is out of this world .I RECOMMEND YOU TO ANYONE who needs a lawyer and want to beat your case contact Strategic criminal lawyers you won’t regret….Thank you.

T.I.

Dylan Finlay is a great and strategic criminal defence lawyer. He has helped my family greatly in the resolution and achievement of a Peace bond! I’m recommending him to you too.

U.R.

I had the best experience and outcome working with Dylan Finlay. He had all of my criminal charges withdrawn and made sure I had my life back. He is in-depth, articulate, experienced, professional and positive result-oriented. Will definitely recommend anytime!

B.N.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! We offer a comprehensive consultation at no cost.

This consultation will be approximately 45 minutes to an hour in length and will consist of:

  • A review of the specific facts of your case
  • A discussion about the possible resolution strategies available
  • A perusal of any evidence you have
  • An explanation of costs and fee structures
  • Preliminary advice about the next steps

A consultation is helpful because it will provide you with a better understanding of the strength of your position and the possible outcomes that could result in your case.

Our lawyers will be able to provide you with timely direction and guidance so that a criminal charge does not upend your life entirely.

While it is not necessary to hire a lawyer for any criminal charge, it is recommended that you do if you do not have a legal background, or you are unaware of court procedure.

You should consider hiring a criminal defence lawyer especially if the charge is serious or there is an onerous penalty associated with the criminal charge in question.

For example, if it has been alleged that you have committed a crime that carries with it a potential jail sentence, it will likely be to your benefit to contact a lawyer who can negotiate with the Crown Prosecutor for a more reasonable penalty for you.

A criminal defence lawyer will be able to not only assist you in resolving your criminal law matter but also advise you about administrative details and legal conventions. For example, your legal counsel can inform you about court conduct and and how and when you should contact your parole or probation officer.

In retaining a lawyer, you will be armed with knowledge about criminal law and the Charter, which will make for a stronger defence case for you.

You will likely be able to resolve your case more quickly and with less trouble if you were to seek out legal advice from an experienced criminal defence lawyer, as opposed to representing yourself or having unqualified counsel present your case to the court.

At Strategic Criminal Defence in Toronto, our lawyers are dedicated to making your involvement with the criminal justice system as easy as possible. Our lawyers are able to rely on their criminal law backgrounds, which are vast and diverse.

The cost of a lawyer in Toronto will depend upon their years of experience. For instance, a junior lawyer with less than three years of experience in the professional field will have cheaper fees than a lawyer with over a decade’s worth of experience.

At Strategic Criminal defence in Toronto, we have a flat rate system. This means that we will provide you with a fee schedule that will outline the costs of our services. Thus, we do not charge on an hourly basis.

This system is designed to increase transparency about pricing so that you are aware and can predict how much you will be charged.

The fee schedule is standardized so you can expect uniformity across all of our locations.

Our firm is dedicated to taking into consideration the financial situation of our clients which is why we attempt to pair clients with a lawyer that suits their budget.

The steps of the criminal process can be summarized as follows:

  1. An Arrest or a Charge for a Criminal Offence

You may be arrested by police or notified of an outstanding warrant. Upon being charged, you can choose to retain legal counsel to represent you against the Crown.

  1. Entering in a Plea

After being charged with an offence, you will need to appear in court. At your first appearance, you will need to submit your plea.

If you choose to retain a lawyer, your lawyer will likely order disclosure so as to make an informed judgement about whether you should plead guilty or not. Disclosure is any evidence that the Crown Prosecutor may have regarding the criminal offence you have been charged with.

This evidence is given to the Crown by the police after they have laid a charge and consists of documents or video or audio recordings procured during the criminal investigation.

If you plead guilty to the offence you were charged with, a disposition will be scheduled, and you will be sentenced. If you choose to dispute the charge(s) against you, your case will proceed to trial.

  1. Preparation for Trial

To prepare for trial, a pre-trial conference or a preliminary inquiry may need to be held to resolve issues related to the proceedings and to determine whether having a trial is justified.

  1. Trial

During the trial, a hearing may be conducted to determine the admissibility of certain evidence. Your lawyer may also present Charter arguments to the court to defend you. To better understand what a Charter argument is, visit our FAQ page.

  1. Sentencing

The final step(s) of the criminal process involves sentencing and making submissions to the court regarding an appropriate penalty for the accused.

For greater detail regarding the stages of the criminal process, visit our ‘How a Criminal Trial Works in Canada’ page.

While we cannot guarantee that you will win your criminal case, at Strategic Criminal Defence, we can guarantee that if you retain one of our lawyers, you will have access to the experience and competency of our entire firm.

Winning a criminal case may not only be subjective but also dependent upon an array of factors, some of which may be outside of our control. However, our lawyers at the Toronto office are incredibly knowledgeable about criminal law and have successfully defended numerous individuals in court.

Whether it is negotiating with the Crown Prosecutor, reducing an accused’s jail sentence, making submissions to the Crown about mitigating circumstances or having an individual’s charges expunged altogether, our lawyers are experienced in winning criminal cases.

If you would like more information about the cases that our lawyers have successfully defended, visit our Successful Cases page.

It is helpful to have up-to-date knowledge about the law and the ways in which you can receive a criminal record. This is because ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse that is accepted by the court as a mitigating circumstance for committing an offence.

Yet another way that you can avoid a criminal record is by retaining a diligent lawyer who is knowledgeable about criminal law.

A criminal defence lawyer will be able to understand how you can avoid an entry on your criminal record and will negotiate with the Crown Prosecutor’s office to find a reasonable and appropriate penalty for you.