Melissa Salfi

Melissa Salfi stands out as a seasoned practitioner in both family and fertility law, blending her skills as a certified collaborative divorce lawyer and an accredited family law mediator. With a foundation in psychology, Melissa approaches her practice with empathy, aiming to empower her clients through the complexities of significant life changes. Her ability to offer both litigation expertise and out-of-court solutions showcases her versatility and commitment to meeting clients' diverse needs with sensitivity and practicality.

In her role as a legal coach, Melissa is dedicated to guiding those who choose to represent themselves in court, ensuring they understand their rights and the legal system. Her work in collaborative divorce encompasses a comprehensive support system, addressing the financial, emotional, and legal facets of separation, thereby offering a more holistic divorce experience.

Melissa's mediation style is marked by her accessibility, compassion, and quick grasp of various situations and viewpoints. Her international experiences, having resided in five countries and undergone dispute resolution training in Europe, enhance her mediation with a culturally informed perspective, enabling her to craft unique solutions for each family's specific circumstances.

Her family law services span a wide range, including mediation, collaborative divorce, and the drafting of various agreements such as separation, cohabitation, prenuptial, and postnuptial agreements, reflecting her broad expertise in the field.

Expanding her practice beyond traditional family law, Melissa has carved a niche in fertility law, advocating for donors, surrogates, and intended parents. Her work in this area is driven by a deep commitment to helping individuals and couples achieve their dreams of parenthood. This includes drafting donor and surrogacy agreements, providing legal advice on fertility contracts, and handling court applications for the declaration of parentage, as well as litigation concerning reproductive materials.

Her involvement in law reform, particularly as a member of the British Columbia Law Institute Project Committee reviewing parentage laws, underscores her commitment to shaping the legal landscape to better serve families in all their forms.

Beyond her professional life, Melissa's personal interests include yoga, exploring various cafes, and engaging with diverse cultures, reflecting her well-rounded personality and openness to the world. Fluent in Swedish and with a working knowledge of Spanish and Hebrew, Melissa's linguistic skills further complement her culturally sensitive approach to her legal practice.