Deborah is pleased to be practising law with her son, in the areas of Wills, Estates and Real Estate. A lifelong resident of Thunder Bay, Deborah has a B.A. from Queen’s University and LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Thunder Bay Law Association. She has served on the federal Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee and the Justice of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee. She is a former President of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop and Thunder Bay Writers Guild. She is a member of the Postulancy Commission for the Anglican Diocese of Algoma and a former Warden of St. Michael and All Angels church.

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Johnny is happy to be practicing law in Northwestern Ontario. A graduate of both Hammarskjold High School and Lakehead University, Johnny is proud to be from Thunder Bay and has always been heavily involved in the community. He is the founder of the Ischkinakker Shaker, an annual Christmas fundraiser that has raised over $200,000 for local charities. Johnny is also the co-founder of I HEART TBAY, a local promotions business whose sole purpose is to spread city pride around the world. Johnny traveled to the UK and received his LLB from Cardiff University in Wales in 2010. After law school he articled at Dubinsky Law and was hired as an associate after his call to the bar in 2013 where he was in court advocating for clients on a daily basis. Johnny practices in the areas of Real Estate Law. Criminal and Quasi-criminal offences, Wills and Estates, and Corporate Law. In his spare time, John is the Past President of Thunder Bay Ventures, and Vice Chair of Roots Community Food Centre (Roots to Harvest),

Transplanting to Thunder Bay from Toronto in late 2012, Vlad is a passionate advocate dedicated to serving his clients through fair and responsible litigation. He acts for plaintiffs injured as a result of the negligence of others, including medical negligence, and helps individuals in breach of contract cases, including long-term disability denials and life insurance disputes. Outside of his injury law focus, Vlad is also retained in complex construction matters, including deficient construction cases, claims where lien rights are asserted, and actions for damages resulting from negligent misrepresentations. When not busy trying cases or otherwise litigating, Vlad is an avid sailor and sailboat racer.

We are excited to expand our client services and welcome Jennifer Hay, RCIC to our team. Jennifer comes with over a decade of immigration advising experience and will be meeting with clients to come and stay in Canada temporarily and permanently. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant is licensed with the College of Immigration Consultants of Canada to give immigration advice and represent/submit applications directly to IRCC on behalf of clients.

Services:

Temporary Residency Applications: Temporary Residency Visas (TRVS), Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTAs), Study Permits, Open Work Permits, Employer-Specific Work Permits.
Permanent Residency Applications: Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class), Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Rural Northern Immigration Pilot Program (RNIP), Family Sponsorship.

Derek Fox is from Bearskin Lake First Nation in Northern Ontario. He grew up in Thunder Bay and played hockey with the Thunder Bay AAA Kings Hockey Program, ultimately being drafted to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. When he was finished with hockey, he pivoted to post secondary education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2007 and a Juris Doctorate in 2012, both from the University of Manitoba. Derek was called to the Ontario bar in 2014 and began practicing in the areas of Civil Litigation, Aboriginal Law and Family Law. Derek was elected Deputy Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski-Nation in 2015 and Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski-Nation in 2021. Recently, he has returned to the practice of law, focusing on Criminal Law, Family Law, and Aboriginal law. He is passionate about serving and advocating for the people of Thunder Bay and surrounding areas.

Jessica first joined De Bakker Law as a placement student in the spring of 2023. She was called to the bar in Ontario in October 2023, and returned to the firm as an associate lawyer. During law school Jessica was an executive member of the Women in Law Society, a deans fellow for Tort Law, and a student caseworker at the LU Legal Clinic. She also completed her honours bachelor of commerce degree at Lakehead University.

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Jessica understand issues unique to Northwestern Ontario. Outside of the office, Jessica enjoys learning new skills, and spending time with her friends and family. 

Jessica’s areas of practice include Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning and Estate Administration.