Family Law

Jeff obtained his law degree from the University of Victoria in 1983. He then articled with a major downtown Vancouver law firm. He has now been practicing law for more than 30 years. He opened the firm of Thorsteinsson & Company in 1992 which he ran until 2019 when he joined Clark Woods LLP.

Jeff has extensive experience in all areas of family law including custody/guardianship issues, child and spousal support and division of property.  He has training and many years of experience as both a negotiator and litigator. He has appeared on numerous occasions before the Provincial and Supreme Courts of B.C. and has, in past, acted as a mediator. Many of the cases he has handled have been highly complex and have involved not only family law issues but also related issues such as taxation and tax planning, corporate commercial issues, real estate transactions etc.

Jeff is a firm believer in the importance of attempting to find out-of-court solutions to issues arising from separation. Experience has shown him the financial and emotional costs of a marital breakup and, as a result, his first goal is to identify solutions which will avoid the trauma and cost of a court battle. However, Jeff also recognizes that, regrettably, it is not always possible to avoid the involvement of the Courts and, where necessary, Jeff is able to utilize his many years of courtroom experience to advance the claims of his clients.

Ashley graduated from the University of Leicester in 2019. During law school, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Leicester Student Law Review where she reviewed academic articles and led a committee in publishing the 2019 Law Review Journal. She further volunteered with the Litigants in Person Project at the local courthouse in Leicester by assisting self-represented litigants navigate the legal process.

Ashley joins Clark Woods LLP as an articling student with particular interest in family law. With her previous experience as a paralegal at a family law firm, she brings a wide range of skills and knowledge to her articling position and is interested in pursuing a career in this field. Her primary focus is to advocate for vulnerable women in high conflict family law cases and have their voices heard.

Out of the office, Ashley loves spending time with her family and friends, trying new coffee shops and travelling. She is fluent in Punjabi and English.

Martina graduated in 2001 from the University of British Columbia Law School. After completing her articles and being called to the bar in 2002, she relocated to California where she married and had two children. She stayed home with them until 2008, when she decided to return to British Columbia and begin her law career.

Martina worked with Thorsteinsson & Co. from 2008 until 2019 when she joined Clark Woods LLP. Helping clients navigate their marital issues has been, and continues to be very, rewarding to her. Every client that comes across her threshold can expect direct and clear communication from her. She is flexible with her time and strives to be available when needed. She has helped many clients resolve high conflict parenting issues, inclusive of assisting clients in addressing parental alienation.  Where litigation is needed, her strength is her solid preparation of her client’s case. Whether litigation has started or not, Martina always attempts to negotiate a solution that meets the needs of everyone involved. She stresses to her clients, who are often – and understandably so – emotional, the benefits of resolving their situations without relying on a judge to make a decision for them. She believes it is important for people to be aware of the costs of litigation, including the “hidden” costs of litigation, which are largely emotional, for both parents and often the children.

Originally from BC, Anisha graduated from the University of Alberta Faculty of Law in 2019. During law school, Anisha served as the Co-Chair for the Women’s Law forum, completed a Practicum at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre in Civil Law for low-income individuals and volunteered with the Student Legal Services. Prior to law school, she worked as a crisis worker and peer advocate for women escaping violence in Vancouver B.C., while completing her Bachelor of Arts at Simon Fraser University.

Anisha joined Clark Woods LLP after she was called to the Bar in British Columbia in January 2021. She has a keen interest in conflict resolution, particularly in family law. Her focus is to provide interest-based advocacy for her clients, while educating them about their legal matters.

Outside of the office, Anisha loves spending time with her family, exploring beautiful BC, and cooking. She is fluent in French and spoken Gujarati.

Stephen’s love of people naturally drew him to family law, where he enjoys getting to know his clients, commiserating with them and celebrating their successes. Before joining Clark Woods LLP, Stephen worked at a boutique firm in Vancouver for eight years, exclusively practicing family law for seven. With combined experience in criminal law, Stephen is well versed in courtroom proceedings.

<p>Stephen studied law at Western University after graduating from McGill with a degree in anthropology and international development. He was born and raised in Vancouver where he attended Point Grey Secondary. When he’s not in the office (or court), Stephen is out hiking with his wife and small children, going to concerts, playing hockey and daydreaming about his next travel adventure.Stephen provides free advice to prospective new clients and pro bono services on a case by case basis.

Harry attended law school at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. During law school, Harry became a published author and had his Indigenous Law paper, discussing the mistreatment of Indigenous women in the health care system, published in the Sovereignty Symposium. This piece also won the second-place prize in the Chief Justice Doolin Writing Competition. While at T.R.U. Harry also volunteered on the elections committee and hosted a weekly show on the student radio station.

Harry primarily practices family law and civil litigation and has achieved success as a well-versed litigator in both the Supreme Court and Provincial Court of British Columbia. Harry has conducted trials in Provincial Court and has attained successful outcomes for clients in highly contentious matters. He has also set aside a default judgment for a client under the Judicial Review Procedure Act. Harry has advocated for clients before the BC Human Rights Tribunal, Civil Resolution Tribunal, and the Residential Tenancy Branch. Harry takes a compassionate approach and provides clients with efficient and cost-effective solutions as they navigate through their legal matters. 

Harry was born in North Vancouver and raised in Surrey. In his free time, Harry enjoys listening to his favorite podcasts, stargazing, playing hockey, and watching his beloved Canucks. Harry is also fluent in Punjabi.