Barry is a respected member of both the Ontario and New York Bars.
With over 17 years of experience, Barry is a successful and proven advocate for family and divorce clients.
Barry represents clients in all areas of family law, including, divorce, child custody (decision-making), parenting time (access), child relocation and Hague Convention matters, support related matters, complex property division issues, domestic contracts (prenuptial, cohabitation, separation, and parenting agreements), and sensitive child protections matters with the Children’s Aid Society.
Company: Nussbaum Law
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Barry Nussbaum: I am Barry Nussbaum, the Senior Lawyer and founder of Nussbaum Law. My professional journey began with a combined JD and MBA from Osgoode Hall and the Schulich School of Business at York University. Before I dedicated my career exclusively to family law, I worked at an international consulting firm and KPMG where I specialized in tax consulting for Canadian companies. This background in finance and international tax allows me to provide a unique level of insight when I represent clients in complex property division or support cases. I am a member of both the Ontario and New York Bars, which gives me a broad perspective on the legal landscape.
Nussbaum Law was established in 2008 to provide accessible and transparent legal support to families across the Greater Toronto Area. We now operate out of seven locations including offices in Brampton, Hamilton, and Mississauga. My team and I focus on all areas of family law such as divorce, child custody, and domestic contracts. We also represent parents in difficult matters involving the Children’s Aid Society. We believe that legal advice should be easy to understand, so we prioritize plain language over confusing jargon.
How do you personally define success, and how has that definition evolved throughout your career?
Barry Nussbaum: I define success as the ability to provide clarity and peace of mind to people who are going through the most chaotic moments of their lives. In the early years of my career at a global consulting firm and KPMG, I viewed success through the lens of financial precision and professional accolades within the Ontario and New York Bars. However, as I transitioned into family law and grew Nussbaum Law over the last eighteen years, my definition shifted toward the human impact of my work. Success today means successfully helping a mother reunite with her child in a CAS matter or ensuring a fair property division that allows a client to move forward with financial security. It is about being a steady hand for my clients and providing a service that is both elite in quality and accessible in price.
What lasting impact do you hope to leave through your business, and what steps are you taking to build that legacy?
Barry Nussbaum: The lasting impact I hope to leave is a shift in how family law is practiced across the Greater Toronto Area to make it more transparent and less intimidating for the average person. I want my legacy to be a firm that proved high level legal expertise from Osgoode Hall and Schulich could be delivered without the gatekeeping of complex jargon or unpredictable billing. To build this legacy, I am focusing on mentoring the next generation of lawyers at our seven locations to prioritize empathy and plain language in their practice. I want Nussbaum Law to remain a fixture in communities like Brampton and Hamilton as a place where families can always find straightforward and honest support.
Beyond financial success, what initiatives—whether in mentorship, sustainability, or social responsibility—are you most proud of?
Barry Nussbaum: Beyond financial success, I am most proud of our commitment to diversity and the social responsibility of making legal help accessible to a multicultural population. Our team speaks seven different languages, which I believe is essential for a firm serving the diverse families of Toronto and the surrounding regions. I am also proud of my work in child protection matters where I have fought to ensure that the rights of parents and the best interests of children are balanced fairly against state intervention. By offering free consultations and maintaining a presence in local communities, we are fulfilling a social mission to ensure that professional legal guidance is not a luxury reserved only for the wealthy.
What lessons have you learned about leadership that you wish more entrepreneurs understood early on?
Barry Nussbaum: One lesson I wish more entrepreneurs understood early on is that your business is only as strong as the trust you build with your team and your clients. In the legal profession, it is easy to get caught up in the technical details of the Ontario or New York Bars, but true leadership is about clarity and consistency. My JD and MBA training taught me that systems are important, but my eighteen years at Nussbaum Law have taught me that people are the priority. You must be willing to admit when a traditional model is not working and have the courage to simplify your approach even if it goes against industry norms. Leadership means being the person who answers the phone and returns the call the same day because you value the client’s time as much as your own.
Looking ahead, how do you see your industry evolving, and what role do you hope to play in shaping its future?
Barry Nussbaum: The legal industry is currently evolving toward a more tech-integrated and consumer-focused model where clients demand more than just a lawyer in a suit. I see a future where families expect the same level of digital accessibility and price transparency from their legal team that they get from other professional services. This evolution will likely involve more virtual appearances in the Superior Courts of Justice and the use of better tools to manage property division and support calculations. As someone with a background in both finance and law, I hope to play a role in shaping this future by advocating for the use of plain language and predictable flat fees as the new standard for the profession.
I want Nussbaum Law to be at the forefront of this change across our seven locations in the Greater Toronto Area. We will continue to expand our reach to families in Brampton, Mississauga, and beyond while staying committed to the idea that high-quality legal advice should be accessible to everyone regardless of their budget. By focusing on mentorship and transparency, I hope to influence other firms to move away from the “black box” of hourly billing and toward a more honest relationship with the public. We are building a practice that respects the financial reality of our clients while providing the elite advocacy they deserve.
