THERE ARE NO UNBEATABLE CASES™
FOUNDING PARTNER
MANAGING PARTNER
ASSOCIATE
ASSOCIATE
STUDENT
COORDINATOR OF INVESTIGATIONS & PARALEGAL SERVICES
Devin Bains is the founding partner of Bains Partners, which he built into one of the most successful criminal and quasi-criminal boutique law firms in Canada. Under the management of Hedy Epstein, it acquired a robust and dynamic civil litigation department.
Mr. Bains has been in private practice for many years, passionately defending his clients and leading his firm to continuing success. Prior to private practice, Mr. Bains was an Assistant Crown Attorney in downtown Toronto where he was assigned the city’s controversial cases. These included prosecutions of police officers and public officials.
Mr. Bains obtained an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario. He also holds a Masters Degree from the University of Toronto.
Hedy Epstein is the managing partner at Bains Partners LLP and heads the firm’s civil litigation group. Ms. Epstein has practiced as a litigator in downtown Toronto since her call to the Bar in 1988. Ms. Epstein earned her LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario after graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science.
During her legal career, Ms. Epstein has worked with esteemed law firms and lawyers, as well as practiced on her own. She is recognized for representing individuals against government and policing authorities throughout Ontario on tort actions for assault and battery, wrongful arrest and detention, negligent investigation, malicious prosecution, and Charter breaches. She has been Counsel in ground-breaking cases, which have resulted in significant judgments and settlements against police authorities. This includes a jury trial in which Ms. Epstein’s client obtained one of the highest reported awards in Canadian history. She also often represents police officers in lawsuits when their rights are violated.
Ms. Epstein is equally respected for her achievements as a litigator in other areas of law, such as commercial litigation, partnership and shareholder disputes, professional negligence, employment law, and real estate litigation.
Ms. Epstein has been lead Counsel on numerous jury and non-jury trials in the Superior Court of Justice. In addition, she has appeared before the Court of Appeal for Ontario and various tribunals, including the Human Rights Commission and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
Natalie Simpson is an associate at Bains Partners. Her practice focuses on criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings. Ms. Simpson completed her articles at Bains Partners and joined the firm as an associate after being called to the bar in 2018.
Ms. Simpson obtained her LL.B. From the University of Edinburgh in 2015. During law school, she was a member of the University of Edinburgh Mooting Society where she competed in both the Junior and Senior Mooting Competitions and also won the Hastie Stable Best Orator Shield, awarded to the mooter who displays the best Advocacy Skills. Prior to law school, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Royal Holloway, University of London.
She is currently completing an LL.M. in Public International Law with a specialization in Human Rights at the University of London.
Ms. Simpson is a member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, the Canadian Bar Association and the Toronto Lawyers Association.
Jennifer Earle has been a member of the Bains Partners team since 2005. During her first 12 years with Bains Partners, she was Mr. Bains’ personal legal assistant, administrative manager, and an instrumental member of the courtroom team where she assisted in numerous jury and judge alone trials.
In 2017, she commenced law school at the University of Kent, in the United Kingdom, where she is an outstanding student. She expects to graduate in 2020. Throughout her time at law school, Ms. Earle both summers with the firm and works remotely during the school year, continuing to be an integral member of Bains Partners.
Ms. Earle is a member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.
Monika Patel is a Law Clerk at Bains Partners. She has been a dedicated member of the firm since 2012. Ms. Patel holds a Honours Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from York University.
Ms. De Sousa is a legal assistant at Bains Partners and is the newest member of our support staff. She is currently in the process of completing a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society and expects to graduate in 2020.
Cliff Lewis is a licensed paralegal with the Law Society of Ontario. Mr. Lewis has been with the firm since his retirement in 2001, after an acclaimed career as a Detective with Toronto Police Services. He was educated at the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto and spent three years as a certified school teacher years prior to joining law enforcement.
Mr. Lewis has lectured police officers at a number of colleges including Ontario Police College, C.O. Bick Police College and Canadian Police College in Ottawa. He has been on the Faculty of Seneca College as an instructor in crisis management and criminal law.
