Karen Cunningham, Mississauga Lawyer

Ms. Cunningham holds an Honours Degree in Political Science graduating Summa Cum Laude, First-Class Standing, from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 1991. She then obtained her Doctors of Jurisprudence from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario in 1994. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1996. In 1997 Ms. Cunningham launched her law practice. She is the Senior Counsel at Cunningham Law Professional Corporation, a law firm situated in Mississauga, Ontario. She practices primarily in the areas of Family Law, Wills & Estate Administration and Litigation, Employment Law, and Corporate-Commercial Law. In addition to managing a successful law firm in Canada, Ms. Cunningham is also licensed to practise law in Jamaica, West Indies.

In 2011 Ms. Cunningham completed her training in mediation and arbitration and has obtained certificates in Conflict Management: Negotiation & Mediation Levels I and II from the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies' Certificate Program in Conflict Management, offered through the Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo, and in Arbitration from the ADR Institute of Ontario. In addition to practicing law, Ms. Cunningham is a Mediator and Director of Dispute Resolution at Global Mediation Network Inc. in Mississauga, Ontario.

Ms. Cunningham has appeared as the keynote speaker and as a panelist at many events, including at the Olive Branch of Hope Workshop - Fighting Breast Cancer (on Wills and Estate Planning); at the University of Toronto (Breaking Boundaries Conference - empowering minority students to pursue their dreams); the Annual University of Toronto High School Conference (to motivate high school students to pursue higher learning); and to at-risk youths presented by the Reachout Committee Inc. (the importance of education regardless of obstacles encountered). She has also appeared on CHRY Radio, G98.7 FM, and CHSC 1220 AM expressing her legal opinion on current issues of the day.

Ms. Cunningham is devoted to enriching the lives of our youths and has been a volunteer and avid supporter of such organizations as the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), a teacher with the Children's Church Ministry at the Praise Cathedral Worship Centre where she is also a member, the Spelling Bee of Canada where she has mentored and coached students as they prepare for spelling competitions, and she has also officiated as a Judge at the Regional Spelling Bee Competition level.

She is a donor and supporter of such organizations as the Reachout Committee, an organization devoted to addressing the problems of youths from all cultural backgrounds; DAM, a drop-in centre for youths; the Coldest Night of the Year Walk-a-Thon to raise funds for the homeless and people living in poverty in the Peel Region; Knox Past Student's Association (KPSA) - Toronto Chapter, dedicated to raising the levels of education for KNOX students in Jamaica and students at tertiary institutions in Toronto, and the Jamaica Visionaries Association, an organization dedicated to helping the poor and needy in Jamaica and elsewhere.

Through the law firm, Ms. Cunningham offers scholarships and placements to students in co-operative education programs, to articling (or law) students, paralegals, and volunteer opportunities for persons who have a genuine interest in the law regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, and culture. Her firm promotes inclusivity of all persons.

Ms. Cunningham is a member of good standing with the Law Society of Ontario and is a member of its Lawyer Referral Program. She is also a member of Family Mediation Canada, the Canadian Christian Business Federation, the Christian Legal Fellowship, a Director on the Board of Directors of the Peel Law Association, and a presenter at the Mandatory Information Program (MIP) at the Brampton Court House.

In 1991 the Law Society of Ontario (formerly Law Society of Upper Canada) honored her with the Law Society Education Equity Award presented to her by His Royal Highness Prince Charles of England and Wales, and in 2011 she received the Award of Achievement in recognition of her outstanding "Achievement in the area of Law" from the Malton Black Development Association.

Jurisdiction(s)

Ontario and Jamaica

Normal Geographical Limits to Practice

Greater Toronto Area, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Brampton, Orangeville

Additional Information

Notarizes Documents