Richmond Hill Litigation Lawyer
Bilingual commercial, real estate, and cross-border counsel — 10 minutes from Richmond Hill, fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.
By Paul Starkman & Calvin Zhang | Starkman & Zhang Lawyers | 30+ years of trial experience
Richmond Hill is the GTA municipality with the highest concentration of Chinese-Canadian residents and the densest network of Chinese-Canadian SMEs along the Yonge Street and Highway 7 corridors. The community produces a steady stream of disputes that need bilingual courtroom counsel: shareholder buy-outs gone wrong, distributors that stop paying, family-held companies fracturing, real estate transactions where the seller hid latent defects, and landlords with rent arrears that exceed the LTB’s $50,000 cap.
Starkman & Zhang Lawyers is a litigation-only firm based 10-15 minutes from Richmond Hill, at 510-675 Cochrane Drive in Markham. Founding partner Paul Starkman has 30+ years of trial experience. Partner Calvin Zhang handles entire files in Mandarin or Cantonese without translation hand-offs. Our recent CanLII record — including a Court of Appeal win in Wei v. Ye-Hang Canada (2026 ONCA 180) and CIETAC enforcement in China Yantai v. Novalex (2024 ONSC 608) — is publicly verifiable.
Why Richmond Hill Clients Choose Us
Same-day in-person meetings
Richmond Hill clients reach our Markham office in 10-15 minutes by car — under 10 minutes from southern Richmond Hill (Bayview, 16th Avenue). For an urgent injunction or fraud matter, we can meet the same day.
Bilingual without translator hand-offs
Calvin Zhang handles your file in Mandarin or Cantonese end-to-end. WeChat communication, Chinese-language contracts, family business records, and bank statements are all reviewed directly — no translator middleman, no information loss, no extra cost.
Litigation track record at every level
Verifiable on CanLII. Court of Appeal: Wei v. Ye-Hang Canada, 2026 ONCA 180. Superior Court trial: 1579959 Ontario Inc. v. Sheikh, 2025 ONSC 185. CIETAC enforcement: China Yantai v. Novalex, 2024 ONSC 608.
Boutique pricing for Richmond Hill SMEs
Most Richmond Hill business disputes fall in the $200K-$5M range — the sweet spot where Bay Street firms’ $700-$1500/hour partner rates make litigation uneconomic. Our hourly rates and disciplined staffing keep costs aligned with the dispute value.
Disputes We Frequently Handle for Richmond Hill Clients
Richmond Hill’s mix — high-density Chinese-Canadian SMEs, large rental investment property base, established immigrant business networks, and steady real estate turnover — produces a recognizable pattern of litigation:
Shareholder oppression in family or community businesses
A 50/50 partnership between cousins, family friends, or community contacts where one side begins paying themselves an excessive salary, hiring relatives at inflated rates, or refusing to share financials. Oppression remedy under the OBCA.
Learn more →Real estate fraud and title fraud
Richmond Hill homeowners are heavily targeted by title fraud schemes. We handle urgent CPL registration, title-restoration applications, and damages claims against negligent parties in the chain.
Learn more →Failed real estate closings and deposit recovery
Buyer or seller default on Yonge-corridor condos, Bayview-corridor detached homes, or commercial properties. Specific performance claims, deposit forfeiture defences, and CPL on title.
Learn more →Landlord rent arrears above the LTB cap
Richmond Hill landlords with arrears above $50,000 (the new LTB cap as of October 2025) need to proceed at the Superior Court. Recent firm wins on point:
Ardabili v. Zak (2025 ONSC 176)Cross-border CIETAC and ICC enforcement
Many Richmond Hill SMEs trade with Chinese counterparties. When an arbitration award (CIETAC, HKIAC, ICC) needs enforcement against an Ontario-based debtor, we have a verifiable enforcement record.
Learn more →Commercial contract and franchise disputes
Distributor breach, franchise disclosure violations under the Arthur Wishart Act, supply contract disputes, and joint venture breakdowns common in the Yonge-Highway 7 commercial corridor.
Learn more →Logistics for Richmond Hill Clients
Drive time and meeting options
Our office at 510-675 Cochrane Drive (Markham) is 10-15 minutes from Richmond Hill by car. Free parking. For clients who prefer not to travel, we conduct intake and consultation by Zoom or WeChat video. Bilingual support both ways.
Courthouse
Richmond Hill matters proceed at the Newmarket Superior Court of Justice (50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket). For complex commercial cases, transfer to the Toronto Region Commercial List (330 University Avenue) is available by motion.
Two-year limitation period
Most Ontario civil claims must be commenced within two years of when the cause of action was discovered, under the Limitations Act, 2002. Construction lien preservation deadlines are much shorter (60 days). For real estate fraud cases, urgent CPL registration may need to happen the same day fraud is discovered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is your office from Richmond Hill?
Our Markham office at 510-675 Cochrane Drive is about 10-15 minutes from central Richmond Hill (Yonge Street and Highway 7) by car. We are at the Highway 404 / Highway 7 corridor; clients in southern Richmond Hill (Bayview / 16th Avenue) typically reach us in under 10 minutes.
Which courthouse handles Richmond Hill litigation matters?
Civil and commercial matters originating in Richmond Hill are heard at the Newmarket Superior Court of Justice (50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket). Our team appears there regularly. Complex commercial cases may be transferred to the Toronto Region Commercial List by motion.
Do you handle Chinese-language matters for Richmond Hill clients?
Yes — and Richmond Hill is the GTA municipality with the highest concentration of Chinese-Canadian residents (over 50% in many neighbourhoods). Calvin Zhang handles entire files in Mandarin or Cantonese, including initial consultation, document review, mediation, and post-trial enforcement.
What kinds of Richmond Hill cases do you commonly handle?
Common Richmond Hill matters: shareholder disputes among family or community-network businesses (the Yonge / Highway 7 corridor has a dense SME population), real estate fraud and title disputes (Richmond Hill is heavily targeted), landlord rent arrears above the LTB’s $50,000 cap (a large rental investment property base), and CIETAC enforcement involving Chinese counterparties.
A Richmond Hill Dispute? Talk to Bilingual Counsel.
For Richmond Hill businesses, landlords, and investors, we offer a 60-minute legal posture assessment — a litigation-focused diagnostic of your evidence, the most likely outcomes, and the realistic cost of pursuing or defending the matter. Conducted in English, Mandarin, or Cantonese.
Call: 905-477-3110
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