Twenty-nine years ago a blonde, newly Called lawyer with a degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, walked into an interview for a law job, instead was invited to start a law firm and she did. Since that start in 1993 Inga has been practicing exclusively in the field of Business Law. She describes her personal practice these days as 70% litigation and 30% drafting and Trademark work with a reputation for being aggressive, fair and professional. To make up for being a business lawyer Inga gives back by volunteering as the Chair of the Ontario Justice Education Network Halton Committee.  Inga hosts a periodic podcast @IngaTalk where she shares information helpful to everyone from students to seasoned lawyers.

Robin, who is part Ninja, joined our firm in June 2018 having escaped from the practice of Family Law into the more interesting area (sorry family law lawyers, you know it’s true) of Business Law.  Robin’s Law Degree is from the University of Ottawa, where she survived the cold winters in one piece before returning to the Center of the Universe Canada.   Robin volunteers her time judging High School Mock Trial Tournaments as well as participating in charity adventures, such as the very long Ride to Conquer Cancer.  When not fighting it out in the Courtroom or negotiating in the Boardroom, she plays beach volleyball and enjoys working through any work-related aggressions by spiking the ball on unsuspecting opponents. 

The most recent addition to our firm, Max joins us with experience in tax and business law (you’d think they are the same thing, but no.).   A serious history buff (you should listen to him and Robin nerd out on the topic) he made a point to get an undergrad degree in the field he enjoys and then went on to law school at the University of Toronto.  A connoisseur of excellent coffee, Max immediately fit in with the rest of our over-caffeinated crew and delivers effective results with a calm, aggressive demeanour.  

Our pit-bull paralegal litigator has been kicking butt and taking names in Small Claims Court since 2001. Murray wasn’t content to just learn by doing, he is a 2004 graduate of the Sheridan Court and Tribunal Agent Program and in 2012 he obtained his Law Clerk Associate Certificate. When the Law Society of Ontario began licensing paralegals, Murray’s experience was evaluated by the Law Society and he was licensed as a grandfathered paralegal. In keeping with the firm’s culture of only working with interesting people, Murray breeds show Guppies in his off time. Yes, it’s a thing – Google it.

While the firm is called Andriessen & Associates, everyone knows Christine is actually the one who runs the firm. Since joining our team in 2001 Christine, who graduated from Durham College in 2000 from the 3 year Legal Assistant Program (honour roll) and since 2006 has been an associate member of the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario, has risen up through the ranks from jr. legal assistant to Senior Law Clerk. Non-work Christine is a true hockey goalie Mom and we’re all glad she doesn’t use her goalie Mom voice in the Office!

Since 2018 Leah has been putting up with us, supporting our team in an administrative role.    Our firm’s passion for Business Law rubbed off on her and she triumphed over the very difficult Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO) exams to become an official Law Clerk in May 2022.  Leah has a flair for theatrics which proved valuable in our firm’s Crime Mystery game and she has not lived down the fact that her character was the thief since the game ended.  T’was her !  Non-work Leah enjoys gaming and long, long, long walks.   Thankfully, she always walks back in the door when the weekend is done.

We never realized we needed to know if one of our support staff fits in a box, but Meriam decided we did, talked Leah into it and well, now we know.  Meriam’s persuasive skills are as impressive as her excellent admin skills, which is no surprise given that Meriam is also working on the next steps in the process for her to use her Law Degree from the University of Leeds and become a licensed Ontario Lawyer.  Meriam leans heavily on her Starbucks habit to get her through work, licensing steps and to power through all episodes of the latest binge series in one go, which of course makes her “one of us”.