Karon C. Bales, T.E.P., C.S. is a founding partner of Bales Beall LLP. Her practice is centred on family law and estate planning plus their interrelated litigation, particularly in matters of significant assets, complex property protection, and interests in family businesses.
Karon is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law and in Family Law.
Karon is a registered member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Worldwide), and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in Canada since 2006. Karon is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She speaks regularly at continuing education conferences for the legal profession on topics which involve the interrelationship of family law and estates matters.
She has wide-ranging counsel experience in trial and appellate advocacy in family law matters which involve partnerships, business corporations and commercial issues. Karon frequently prepares marriage and cohabitation agreements dealing with intricate and out of the ordinary property requirements.
Karon provides guidance with estate administration, estate planning, domestic and off-shore trusts, and succession planning for owners of family businesses. She has experience in many areas of estate litigation, and especially in its intersection with family law issues. In all litigation matters, Karon looks past protracted litigation in favour of mediation and settlement options.
Karon has been involved in community charities, including as a Trustee of The United Way of Greater Toronto, North York General Hospital Foundation (past chair), and North York General Hospital Board (past vice chair). She is currently chair and a board member of Nightwood Theatre, which seeks to promote Canadian women in contemporary theatre. Karon is also a trustee of The Seeing Eye Inc. (US) and Seeing Eye Organization (Canada), the oldest existing guide dog school in the world whose mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye® dogs. Karon is an avid traveller, and is a long standing patron and supporter of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
