Law Office of Oksana Romanov

03/06/2026

NOTICE OF PRACTICE CLOSURE

March 6, 2026

Dear Colleagues, Clients, and Friends,

As of March 27, 2026, I will be closing my practice due to a change in my employment status. As a result, I will be unable to continue representing any private or Legal Aid Ontario clients.

If you require assistance in finding a criminal defence lawyer in Ontario, the following organizations may help you identify a suitable legal representative:

Criminal Lawyers’ Association – Lawyer Directory
https://lnkd.in/g6x8HZjM

Legal Aid Ontario – Find a Lawyer
https://lnkd.in/gXcSF2UK

Women in Canadian Criminal Defence (WiCCD)
[email protected]
https://linktr.ee/wiccd

Law Society of Ontario – Law Society Referral Service
1‑855‑947‑5255 or 416‑947‑5255
https://lnkd.in/gqWN2cfd

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve the legal needs of the Toronto/GTA community. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me before March 27, 2026.

Sincerely,

Oksana Romanov, BA (Hons), MA (Comm), JD (with Distinction)
Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public

01/31/2026

Pre-trial Advocacy: Crown Pre-trials & Judicial Pre-trials

Pre-trial advocacy is essential to moving your criminal matter forward and engaging in resolution discussions with the Crown, which is called a Crown Pre-trial (CPT). It is a confidential meeting between the Crown and defence counsel. Typically, these resolution discussions centre around finding a middle ground between the Crown’s screening position and the defence position, which may include the withdrawal of charges, guilty pleas on certain conditions and to certain charge(s), or diversion options to specialized courts and programs.

If your matter is not resolved at the CPT stage, in most circumstances, a Judicial Pre-trial (JPT) is required. It is the next step to explore resolution options, streamline the issues before trial, and case manage the proceeding. A JPT is a confidential meeting between the Crown, defence, and a judge.

CPTs and JPTs are distinct legal services provided at different times, each requiring diligent preparation by your lawyer.

Some trials may involve greater complexity. Once the trial time estimate is determined and the legal issues are identified, additional steps—such as a pre‑trial motion or application—may be required.

Visit https://www.oksanaromanovlawyer.ca/services-store

01/09/2026

Application of the ‘Consensual Fight’ Defence in the Context of Domestic Assaults

Does the common law allow for the defence of “consensual fight” to excuse domestic assaults? This question has concerned defence counsel contemplating potential defences to their clients’ assault charges, Crown counsel trying to prove the accused guilty of the alleged unlawful conduct, as well as trial and appellate judges considering specific policy reasons for vitiating consent in an intimate partner violence context...

Read more at:

Does the common law allow for the defence of “consensual fight” to excuse domestic assaults? This question has concerned defence counsel contemplating potential defences to their clients’ assault charges, Crown counsel trying to prove the accused guilty of the alleged unlawful conduct, as well...

01/05/2026

Section 117.05 Fi****ms Hearing: A Challenge to Firearm Possession in Dupree

If a gun owner faces criminal charges and is released on bail with conditions — such as a prohibition on possessing any weapons, including fi****ms — or experiences a mental health crisis or struggles with addiction, the chief fi****ms officer typically issues a Notice of Revocation of a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL). The PAL holder is then required to surrender his licence, fi****ms and ammunition. Next, the fi****ms are seized by the police. Last, the Crown applies for the disposition of the fi****ms under s. 117.05(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46. Each of these steps requires its own detailed explanation. This article, however, neither constitutes legal advice nor expresses an opinion about gun ownership. The goal is to explore the legal test used when the Crown mounts a challenge to firearm possession. [...]

The test for disposition of fi****ms pursuant to an application under s. 117.05(1) of the Code was recently clarified in R. v. Dupree, 2025 ONCJ 18.

Read more at:
https://www.oksanaromanovlawyer.ca/blog/section-11705-fi****ms-hearing-a-challenge-to-firearm-possession-in-dupree

Disclaimer: This was originally published by Law360 Canada (www.law360.ca), a division of LexisNexis Canada.

Fi****ms hearing

12/11/2025

Driving this Holiday Season: Understanding Offences of Impaired Driving and Dangerous Driving

I am happy to share my latest article on the offences of impaired driving and dangerous driving. When I wrote it, I did not expect the wintry weather to arrive in our area so soon.

The holiday season is upon us. Every year, it feels as though everyone is trying to accomplish in one month what they set out to do in a year. The days of our lives and the roads grow busier. Then, factor in the holiday office parties, inclement weather and poor road conditions. Together, it is a re

12/03/2025

As of December 3, 2025, I am officially approved by Legal Aid Ontario to accept certificates and represent clients in criminal matters across Ontario. This milestone expands access to principled defence and trauma‑informed advocacy for clients who qualify for legal aid, whether their matters are in Toronto or elsewhere in the province. My practice remains grounded in dignity, strategy, and relentless commitment to client rights.

https://www.oksanaromanovlawyer.ca/services-store

Legal Services Bail Hearings – Pre-trial Advocacy & Applications – Criminal Defence –Criminal Trials – Trial Preparation – Legal Opinions & AdviceOksana Romanov offers a range of legal services, including criminal defence of the individuals charged with a crime, as well as the preparation...

12/01/2025

Right to Re-elect under s. 561(2) of the Criminal Code

In R. v. G.H., 2025 ONCA 667, the Court of Appeal confirmed that an accused has a right to re-elect another mode of trial under s.561(2) of the Code without the consent of the Crown strictly no later than 60 days before “the day first appointed for the trial”. Further, it provided the proper interpretation of that phrase. Notably, the date of a pre-trial application is included in that count, because it is “properly considered to be part of the trial, requiring the attendance of the accused.” ... Read more at:

Right to re-elect mode of trial, accused, OCJ, SJC, judge-along, jury, Toronto lawyer

12/01/2025

Dedicated to justice, equity, and inclusive advocacy for all clients. Read more at:

Dedicated to justice, equity, and inclusive advocacy for all clients

12/01/2025

Impaired Driving: Evidentiary Issues for “80 and Over” Clarified

R. v. Rousselle, 2025 SCC 35 (CanLII), is one of the two most recent decision from the Supreme Court of Canada on s. 320.14(1)(b), “80 and over”. There are several reasons why this case is important for defence counsel practising in the impaired driving offences area... Read more at: https://www.oksanaromanovlawyer.ca/blog/impaired-driving-dui-over80

Impaired Driving, Over 80, DUI, Toronto DUI Lawyer, GTA

12/01/2025

Young Persons and the Self-contained Bail Regime under the Youth Criminal Justice Act

The goal of this article is three-fold: to reflect on my non-profit work experience working with children and youth, share limited relevant information about the self-contained bail regime of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, S.C. 2002, c. 1 (YCJA), and briefly discuss how the proposed bail reform may affect youth bail hearings. As this goal is rather ambitious, I would only be able to scratch the surface of the last item. I leave the invitation to other counsel to contribute to this important discussion... Read more at: https://www.oksanaromanovlawyer.ca/blog/young-persons-youth-bail

Young persons, bail, bail hearing, Youth Criminal Justice Act, youth lawyer, Toronto, GTA

12/01/2025

My website is now live! https://www.oksanaromanovlawyer.ca/
If you know someone who may need legal support, feel free to share. I offer services in both English and Russian, and conduct litigation effectively in English in Toronto & the GTA.
Tel.: (416) 830-5120
Email: [email protected]

Bail Hearings – Pre-trial Advocacy & Applications – Criminal Defence — Criminal Trials – Trial Preparation – Legal Opinions & AdviceOksana Romanov is a relentless,  courtroom-savvy, client-focused, trauma-informed, criminal trial lawyer practising in Toronto and the GTA, including the ...