Archana Medhekar (CS) (She/ Her)

B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M (DR), AccFM, CPMed

Admitted to the Law Society of Ontario in 2004

Certified Family Law Specialist | Accredited Family Mediator-Arbitrator | Harvard Trained Negotiator and Educator

With more than 25 years of experience in the field of law, Archana Medhekar is a trusted lawyer for families and children navigating some of life’s most emotionally complex transitions. Rooted in deep legal expertise, cultural sensitivity, and a trauma-informed approach, her practice serves clients across Toronto and the Peel Region. She appears before all levels of the courts in Canada and offers a broad range of alternative dispute resolution process options, in appropriate cases. Her practice frequently involves complex cases at the intersection of family and criminal law, youth criminal justice, immigration and refugee law, often addressing multifaceted issues related to substance abuse, mental health, Indigenous issues, cybercrime, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Archana employs a holistic approach to address these critical issues within the justice system, working collaboratively with community partners to ensure that victims receive comprehensive wrap-around services.

A Global Perspective, Locally Grounded

Archana’s legal journey began in India, where she earned her LL.B. and LL.M. in Constitutional Law before being called to the Bar in Ontario in 2004. She later completed a Master of Laws in Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School and received advanced negotiation training from Harvard Law School. Her diverse educational background shapes her uniquely global yet community-focused practice.

Client-Centered and Culturally Informed

Fluent in Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Marathi, Archana believes that cultural and linguistic fluency is essential in understanding the lived realities of her clients. This enables her to offer truly personalized services that respect traditions, family dynamics, and the nuances of identity while navigating the complexities of the judicial system and legal solutions.

Legal Expertise and Professional Engagement

As a Certified Family Law Specialist and Accredited Family Mediator-Arbitrator, Archana offers services in mediation, arbitration, and litigation. She is a panel lawyer for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer and serves on the Family Rules Committee of Ontario. Whether advocating for children’s voices or guiding families through separation, she balances firm legal strategy with empathy and insight.

Researcher, Educator, and Advocate

Archana is an educator and researcher whose work focuses on providing meaningful access to justice with a primary focus on cases involving high conflict, family violence, and child protection cases intersecting with immigration and criminal law. She has co-authored many works, including Domestic Violence in Immigrant Communities: Case Studies and Breaking the Silence, both widely cited and translated into multiple languages.

Currently, she is involved in an interdisciplinary SSHRC-funded research project, “Responding to Challenging Times: An Inflection Point for Family Justice in Ontario?” At York University's Family Mediation Program, she teaches complex topics such as gender-based violence and trauma-informed practice. At the University of Guelph-Humber, she teaches the course on Children’s Rights and Policy.

Leadership and Community Commitment

A tireless community leader, Archana is the President of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) and a member of the education and annual conference committee for the Canadian Institute for Administration of Justice (CIAJ). She is the Chair of the Women in Mediation Action Group through Mediators Beyond Borders International and contributes to the United Nations SDG 16+ agenda for peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2023 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award, the Champion for Social Justice Award from Indus Community Services, and the Volunteer Service Award from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO).

Life Beyond the Legal Profession