Gary Gottlieb ranked as one of the Toronto’s Top Rated Divorce Lawyers

Gottlieb Law Firm is proud to announce that Gary Gottlieb has been featured as one of Toronto's top five divorce lawyers. Gary was placed third in the article, "Toronto's Top Rated Divorce Lawyers in 2026," published on July 29, 2026 by FamilyLLB, a Canadian publication focused on family law and divorce-related legal issues. The article was written by Russell Alexander, Founder and Senior Partner of Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers.

The feature recognized five respected family law professionals serving clients throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Gary's inclusion reflects his extensive family law experience, strong courtroom advocacy, and commitment to helping individuals and families navigate challenging legal matters.

Recognized for Courtroom Advocacy and Parenting Cases

The FamilyLLB article specifically highlighted Gary's successful track record in the courtroom, particularly in parenting and child-related family law matters.

The feature noted his ability to represent clients confidently when litigation becomes necessary while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes that protect the interests of children and families.

Gary was recognized for his:

• Extensive family law litigation experience

• Strong courtroom advocacy

• Experience handling complex parenting disputes

• Knowledge of child-related family law matters

• Commitment to protecting the interests of children and families

Parenting disputes can be among the most difficult and emotional issues arising from a divorce or separation. These cases may involve important decisions about parenting time, decision-making responsibility, mobility, and a child's future well-being.

Effective representation requires detailed preparation, sound legal judgment, and a clear understanding of the family's individual circumstances. These qualities have remained central to Gary's approach throughout his legal career.

Decades of Family Law Experience

Gary Gottlieb has practised law since being called to the Ontario Bar in 1987. His practice focuses on family law, divorce, child protection litigation, mediation, and arbitration.

Throughout his career, Gary has represented clients before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. He has also acted as counsel in numerous mediation and arbitration proceedings.

Gary's family law practice includes matters involving:

• Divorce and separation

• Parenting time

• Decision-making responsibility

• Child and spousal support

• Property and asset division

• Child protection proceedings

• Family law litigation

• Separation agreements

• Mediation and arbitration

Gary also has significant experience handling high-conflict family law cases and complex proceedings that require careful preparation, strategic advocacy, and effective cross-examination.

His experience in both litigation and alternative dispute resolution allows him to assess family law cases from multiple perspectives and help clients understand the options available to them.

Extensive Experience in Children's Law

Parenting and child-related disputes require a careful understanding of both family law and the emotional effects that legal proceedings may have on children.

As a longstanding panel member of the Office of the Children's Lawyer, Gary has developed substantial experience in children's law and the social-science principles connected to children's emotional well-being.

This experience can be especially valuable in cases involving:

• Parenting arrangements

• Parenting time disputes

• Decision-making responsibility

• Child protection concerns

• Mobility and relocation

• High-conflict parenting disputes

• Allegations affecting a child's safety or well-being

Every family law matter is different. Gary's approach is based on understanding the circumstances of each family, identifying the legal and practical issues involved, and developing a strategy suited to the client's individual needs.

Litigation When Necessary, Resolution When Possible

Not every divorce or family law dispute must proceed to trial.

Depending on the circumstances, separating spouses may be able to resolve some or all of their issues through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or a carefully drafted separation agreement.

However, court intervention may be necessary when the parties cannot reach an agreement, when urgent issues must be addressed, or when the case involves complex parenting, financial, or child protection concerns.

Gary's experience includes both courtroom litigation and alternative dispute resolution. This combination allows him to help clients evaluate whether a negotiated resolution is possible while remaining prepared to advocate effectively in court when litigation becomes necessary.

The right legal process will depend on the circumstances of the case, the issues in dispute, and the willingness of the parties to work toward a resolution.

Recognition From Ontario's Family Law Community

The FamilyLLB article included a statement from Russell Alexander acknowledging the professionalism, advocacy, and expertise of the lawyers featured in the list.

He explained that choosing a lawyer with the appropriate experience and approach can make a meaningful difference when clients are navigating mediation, collaborative family law, or litigation.

Gary's placement among the top five lawyers featured is particularly meaningful because the recognition came from another experienced Ontario family law professional.

Gottlieb Law Firm is grateful for this acknowledgement and for the trust clients have placed in Gary and the firm over the years.

This recognition reflects the firm's continued commitment to providing knowledgeable advice, practical guidance, and strong representation to clients facing divorce, separation, and other family law matters.

Choosing a Divorce Lawyer in Toronto

Choosing the right divorce lawyer is an important and personal decision.

Prospective clients should consider several factors before selecting legal representation, including:

• The lawyer's family law experience

• Experience with the specific issues involved

• Courtroom and negotiation experience

• Communication style

• Approach to resolving disputes

• Understanding of parenting and child-related matters

• Ability to clearly explain legal options

A family lawyer should help clients understand their rights, responsibilities, and possible legal strategies while providing realistic guidance about the available options.

Speak With a Toronto Divorce and Family Lawyer

Gottlieb Law Firm Professional Corporation assists clients with divorce, separation, parenting disputes, child protection proceedings, support, property division, mediation, arbitration, and other family law matters.

Contact Information

Address: 365 Bloor Street East, Suite 1010,

Toronto, Ontario M4W 3L4, Canada Phone: +14162271653

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Professional recognition, past experience, and previous results do not guarantee the outcome of any future legal matter.

Is a mediated divorce the right option for my family?

A mediated separation or divorce can be an effective way for former spouses to resolve their family’s legal issues, but it’s vital that both parties buy into the idea for it to be successful, says Toronto family law lawyer and mediator Gary Gottlieb.

Mediation allows former spouses or common-law partners to settle their differences outside of court, either by working directly with a mediator or with the assistance of counsel. Couples can work out agreements on all relevant issues, such as custody, access, child and spousal support, property division, debt management and the matrimonial homes. The resolutions they generate in mediation will ultimately form part of the separation agreement.

“Many couples opt to formally end their relationship without going through what can often be a time-consuming and expensive litigation process,” Gottlieb says. “Mediation is a great tool that can help them save money and devise a plan tailored to the needs of their family.”

Mediation is designed to help separating couples and families reach agreements without the time, expense and stress of having to go to court,” says Dakota Murphey in a column for Mediate Canada.

“A specially trained mediator has a variety of techniques at his disposal to encourage communication and cooperation between couples, to help them sort out arrangements between them and to enable them to move forward,” she writes.

Legislative changes encourage alternate dispute resolution

The Ontario government is proposing new legislation to make resolving family legal matters easier, faster and more affordable. Bill 207, Moving Ontario Family Law Forward Act, 2020, also includes stronger language that encourages alternative dispute resolution.

“To the extent that it is appropriate to do so, the parties to a proceeding shall try to resolve the matters that may be the subject of an order under this Part through an alternative dispute resolution process, such as negotiation, mediation or collaborative law,” the bill states.

Gottlieb supports the idea and says it may help stem the backlog of cases in family law courts around the province.

“Many family lawyers and mediators are already on board with the idea of providing more efficient access to justice for people involved in family legal matters,” he says.

How does mediation differ from court?

In his more than 33 years serving as legal counsel in family law mediations, and cases where he is the mediator, Gottlieb says almost any matter can be mediated as long as there’s no history of domestic violence. Roughly one-third of his clients choose the less adversarial route, which enables them to address issues typically outside the court’s scope.

“In many of my mediated cases, we’ve been able to sort out issues that the courts won’t deal with, such as how grandparents and step-parents will be involved in the children’s lives,” he notes.

Gottlieb says it’s important to understand that mediators are neutral third parties; they do not advocate for either side but rather help facilitate discussion and negotiate an agreement on the issues in dispute.

Benefits of a mediated divorce

Beyond being a faster and more cost-effective alternative to court, Gottlieb says mediation can also reduce the amount of stress associated with ending a marriage or long-term union.

“The parties have more control over the process,” he says. “If you go to court, which is often what happens with high-conflict couples, you have to live with the order the judge imposes.

When both parties are committed to the mediation process, Gottlieb says it’s successful 99 per cent of the time. But if one person doesn’t buy into the idea or views the mediator as a quasi-judge who will lay down the law, it may be doomed to fail, he adds.

“A lot depends on the parties themselves and their desire to reach a compromise. When there’s a sense that one party has not been forthcoming with disclosure or is hiding something, trust equity is lost, and there will be no deal.”

DIY mediation or lawyer-assisted?

Separating couples have two options if they decide to mediate: they can hire a mediator both agree on to help them come up with a plan, or they can each be represented by legal counsel in mediation, Gottlieb explains.

“There are pros and cons to both approaches, and much of it depends on the people involved,” he says. “If the parties are both represented by lawyers who are familiar with and supportive of mediation, they can be very helpful. If emotions are running high, as often happens, counsel can take their clients into a separate breakout room to decompress, so the process stays on track.”

But if one or both lawyers don’t see the value of mediation or aren’t interested in creating a deal, Gottlieb says it will torpedo the negotiation efforts.

Strategies for selecting a mediator

Different mediators have distinctive styles: they can facilitate a conversation between the parties, or they can use a more directive approach, providing their opinions as to what would make the most sense in a particular situation.

“In my view, the more directive the mediator, the better your chances are for a successful mediation,” Gottlieb says. “I have found over the years that litigants who choose mediation rather than litigation are extremely cost-conscious and prefer to commit to the one or two days it takes to complete the mediation process.”

While facilitation is often a more organic process, and from a theoretical perspective, more productive, it will usually take much longer than the parties are prepared to withstand, he adds.

Just like preparing an application for a court-processed divorce, parties will have to produce financial statements and disclosure briefs outlining their interests before the mediation. Unlike court, they will have an opportunity to ask the mediator any questions they might have about what’s required in the paperwork.

“By providing the information to the mediator ahead of time, we can concentrate on the real issues and refocus the dialogue away from emotion to the practicalities of separating,” Gottlieb says.

Photo Credit: Jacob Lund via Adobe Stock