Spiteri & Ursulak LLP

02/23/2023

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that our Managing Partner, Chris Spiteri, provides the following message.

A tremendous loss both personally and professionally. John MacDonell was a friend for nearly 30 years, and my law partner for the last 6 years. A loyal friend with a terrific sense of humor and a mighty legal mind. We spoke daily of politics and law, family, and of course, his greatest love, his son, Jack.

I will miss our morning and afternoon talks, his laugh, his wit and his sage advice.

John was a gentleman, generous, considerate and kind. Well rounded, well read and well versed. A big heart and a big brain side by side with humility. We have lost a remarkable man.

It is with deep sorrow that the family of John MacDonell announces his death in Gatineau QC; on February 17, 2023, at the age of 56. John was kind, competent, of brilliant intellect and wit; the keeper of confidences and quiet change-maker; a proud Nova Scotian and Canadian who worked to uphold demo...

02/01/2021

We are honoured to congratulate our very own, Crystal Gareau, for being voted the Best Legal Assistant by FACES Magazine. We are thankful to all of those who voted!

Congratulations, to all others who were nominated and the winners of the various categories.

#2021

04/24/2020

We are very pleased with the response. The first batch of Wills/PoAs are being sent out this week, and we have been seen by over 20 thousand people. As an exciting development, we have been contacted by another law firm who wants to offer the same program in their city. Please help spread the word.

04/17/2020

Spiteri & Ursulak LLP wants to say thank you!

03/17/2020

Further to the current situation surrounding COVID-19, we would like to inform our clients that there should be little, if any, impact on real estate closings in Ontario.

Our provincial electronic system Teraview, a secure one-stop solution to accessing data in the Government of Ontario's land records database, remains operational. There is no indication that banks will be closed. These two entities are essential for the purchase and sale of properties in Ontario. Registrations are now electronic.

We at Spiteri & Ursulak LLP remain open and it's business as usual for real estate transactions. We value our relationships with each and every agent and our clients.

For more information please feel free to contact our office and speak to one of the many real estate lawyers at Spiteri & Ursulak LLP or visit our website at http://www.sulaw.ca.

Please remain diligent in social distancing and maintain proper hygiene and continue to follow Ottawa Public Health for any updates regarding COVID-19.

Spiteri & Ursulak LLP Here for you. Contact Us

03/12/2020

On Saturday, February 29, one of our partners, Chris Spiteri, attended the 23rd Vienesse Winter Ball. An evening dedicated to helping raise funds to foster young people's knowledge and appreciation for music.

Mr. Spiteri and Ms. Micheline Saikaley co-chaired this year's charity event, which was hosted at the Trillium Ballroom of the Shaw Centre in downtown Ottawa. Twelve debutantes and their male counterparts performed a polonaise processional and a waltz, to music played by the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra.

The 2020 Viennese Winter Ball returned to the Shaw Centre on Saturday, February 29, 2020, to raise funds for causes that help expose more children to music.

02/18/2020

Gabriela Kratchanov, an Associate with our firm, had the pleasure of taking part in the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Engineering Design -..., UOttawa 2020 Entrepreneurship Concept Competition as a judge this past week. She had the opportunity to judge alongside two other seasoned professionals.

The competition included pitches from six different companies, who were all vying for the top prize of $5,000.

It was an absolute pleasure to hear from so many dedicated entrepreneurs who are focused on solving real problems through reducing our carbon footprint, saving money in new ways and helping to modernize the tools used by the visually impaired. The future is incredibly bright

07/31/2017

John Edward MacDonell obtained his Laws degree from Dalhousie University, class of 1994. He received awards for excellence in Constitutional Law and Insurance Law, along with the Dickson Medal for Distinguished Advocacy at the Gale Cup Moot Court Competition.

John has an extensive legal background and involvement with the Government of Canada. He has served various roles within the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, including being president. He served as Chief of Staff to the Honourable Peter MacKay, working in the portfolios of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Most recently, in 2014, John became a member of the St. John Ambulance Federal District Council Board, which offers first aid training and community service in Canada. John presently serves as the vice chair of the federal district.

From 2000 – 2004, John was a member of the Board of Directors of Phoenix Youth Program, a non-profit, voluntary agency providing aid and service to at-risk and homeless youth. From 2004 – 2006 John was a trustee of the charitable foundation. In 2012, John was inducted into the Order of St. George as a Knight Commander and was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, valuing service to our country. John has been commended by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal for providing legal services on a pro bono basis.

07/26/2017

Tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm, our very own Chris Spiteri will be co-hosting CBC Radio ALL IN A DAY with Alan Neal. A large thank you goes out to Ottawa Jazz Festival for this opportunity.

07/24/2017

This past Thursday, as a part of Spiteri and Ursulak's commitment to physical fitness, a self-defense boxing session was delivered by Ottawa's Patrick McGinn at the Firm's summer team building retreat. Here is the staff in action.

07/17/2017

Christopher S. Spiteri is the founder and managing partner of Spiteri & Ursulak LLP. His practice focuses on business and corporate law, corporate governance, residential/ commercial real estate, and debt recovery. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University Law School, class of 1994, and has been practicing as a lawyer in Ottawa since 1996.

Chris served as a Chair of the Canada pension plan review tribunal for 10 years. He also served as a director of the Board of TARION, the Ontario New Home Warranty Program, for 10 years, 6 of which he was vice chair and in his final year, Chair of the Board.

Christopher encapsulates the community spirit that we strive for. Since 2016, he has been on the board of directors of the Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation. He has also been the chair of MUSIC & BEYOND, a classical music festival that pursues the links between various art forms, cultural disciplines, and music, since 2011. The organization also pursues connections between today's youth & classical music.

Christopher has been involved with many other charities in Ottawa. From 2012 – 2014, was the corporate chair of the Light the Night Walk, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. He was also on the board of directors for the Ottawa Humane Society. Chris has also participated in 4 marathons and countless half marathons internationally, as well as raising funds for various charities through fundraising for those races.

07/10/2017

Michael A. Crystal is a lawyer at Spiteri & Ursulak LLP and is a Criminal Law Specialist. Michael has appeared at all levels of trial and appellate courts in Ontario, including three appearances as lead counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada. He represents indigenous peoples and their organizations and is currently involved in the Energy East Pipeline Proceedings.

Michael has always been involved in his community. Presently, he is a legal advisor for privacy issues for Patients Canada, which is a national independent organization that advocates health care changes which matters to patients. This organization has pioneered the practice of bringing the authentic patient voice to health care decision-making, ensuring decisions reflect patient priorities.

Between 2014 and 2016, Michael presided as the Chair of the Board for MacDonald-Cartier Academy, a non-denominational junior high school in Ottawa. In 2012, Michael organized a fundraiser with the Guatemalan Ambassador to Canada, after an earthquake and hurricane devastated the country.

Michael Crystal's achievements in the community encompass what we at Spiteri & Ursulak LLP value in the workplace, ensuring a positive relationship with the community. Our firm takes pride in his volunteer and community activities.