Face Uncertainty with Confidence, Precision, and Ingenuity

Tyler’s interest in criminal defence began while working with Community Legal Services at Western University. Representing people who could not otherwise afford counsel showed him how quickly an individual can feel overwhelmed by the justice system—and how much careful, committed advocacy can matter. After that, he had no doubts about why he was becoming a lawyer and how he would spend his legal career. In the almost 20 years of criminal defence work since those early days, the complexity of the cases that Tyler handles and the stakes that the clients face have grown exponentially. He has faced this tide by adapting, innovating, relying on his team, and persistently focussing on undestanding and utlilizing all of the evidnece that a case presents.

Every client deserves to have the evidence tested, the law applied fairly and their defence prepared with care

In Tyler's experience, cases are often won by a willingness to outwork the other side. Extensive case preparation -- exploring every avenue of attacking and defeating the prosecution's case -- is the only feasible approach when the ​opponent (the government) has virtually unlimited resources. In the face of this, Tyler dedicates himself to knowing all the angles. That's the only way to put forward the best possible defence. It requires extensive time and effort, motivation, and intellectual curiosity.

The Relationship With Your Lawyer Should Be the Easy Part

Coming from a background of helping many people whose lives had already been been destroyed or upturned by the criminal process, and who had already been ignored or neglected at every turn by people in a position to help them, Tyler MacDonald quickly learned that there was value to making sure that the solicitor-cloent relationship was a safe harbour in rocky seas. Facing a criminal prosecution can put pressure on every aspect of your life. It makes everything harder. If there's one thing that shouldn't be hard and stressful during this process, it's the your relationship with the lawyer who is supposed to help you through it.

Tyler MacDonald works with you through every step of the proceedings, keeping you informed of what is happening, updating you about new developments in the case, and making sure that you have complete and accurate advice at every stage of the proceedings. He puts a priority on promptly returning your calls, making time for meetings at times that fit your schedule, and tailoring his overall approach to the case to your specific needs. You should never feel like you can't call to ask a question or to discuss something. Tyler MacDonald knows that going through the court process is extremely difficult, and believes that dealing with your lawyer should be the easy part.. 

Tyler's Firm: Rusonik, O'Connor, Ross, Hershberg, Ghebrai & MacDonald

Tyler is a named partner at a Toronto firm composed exclusively of criminal-defence lawyers. The firm's combined partners and associates add up to nearly 30 criminal lawyers. This provides access to substantial collective experience, consultation on unusual legal and evidentiary issues, and additional support when a large or urgent case requires it. Tyler nevertheless remains personally responsible for the strategy and conduct of the matters he accepts. The support of his firm ensures that he has the time and capacity to meet the individualized needs of each client's case.

The firm's culture is one of rigorous adherence to the priority of advancing and protecting the client's interests by any means available under law. Its membership is restricted to lawyers who are dedicated to this principle, and who demontrate the work ethic to match it.