Drug charges” include allegations ranging from simple possesion for personal use and small-scale trafficking, and to large-scale conspiracies. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Acts (CDSA) encompass a wide range of substances, from illicit street drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy, GHB, ketamine and fentanyl, to prescription medications including OxyContin, and morphine.
At Bytensky Shikhman, our team of drug possession lawyers Toronto offer experience in acting for a diverse clientele, including individuals strugging with addiciton, individuals alleged to be involved in sophisticated criminal enterprises, and professionals such as doctors, nurses, and pharamacists.
Navigating drug charges in Canada demands a comprehensive understanding of the CDSA, particularly its entanglements with extradition, search warrants, gang-related activities, and Criminal Code offences such as possessing the proceeds of crime. At Bytensky Shikhman Barristers, our experienced team of drug offence lawyers in Toronto and Brampton are equipped to defend you against a broad spectrum of drug charges.
To successfully defend against drug charges, you must retain a criminal defence law firm that not only possesses extensive experience across a broad spectrum of related offences and regulations, but also demonstrates the ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving drug laws in Canada.
Despite a growing acknowledgement of addiction as an illness requiring treatment as opposed to punishment, even seemingly minor drug possession charges can carry significant consequences, potentially impacting professional licences and creating obstacles for international travel, particularly to the USA.
It is common for clients to be unaware that any record of minor drug possession charge could create significant travel obstacles for many years to come. The team of drug offence lawyers at Bytensky Shikhman Barristers are skilled in securing diversion for many drug offences, aiming to ensure that our clients leave court without a criminal record. If you are facing any type of drug charge, it is important that you contact a criminal defense lawyer who is familiar with drug prosecutions.
Additionally, professionals, including doctors, lawyers, teachers, and accountants, may be obligated to disclose even a minor possession charge to their regulatory bodies, which can directly affect their ability to practice. At Bytensky Shikhman Barristers, our team drug possession lawyers focus on mitigating the impact of a single drug charge on an individual’s career.
In high-level import/export cases, it becomes vitally important that you retain a lawyer with a strong understanding of international law and a deep network of lawyers around the world that can be called on to assist in cross-border or out-of-province cases. Our lawyers are recognized around the world as trusted professionals who can handle the most complex defences for people charged in Canada. Similarly, our blackberries are filled with contact information for equally talented lawyers outside of Ontario who we can call upon when a case crosses jurisdictional boundaries.
Beyond the criminal charges themselves, we act for clients whose homes become the subject of seizures due to the discovery of grow ops.
The days of soft sentencing for the cultivation of marijuana are in the past. Commonly referred to as “grow ops,” police forces across Canada are using new police powers and search techniques in combination with strict new sentencing terms and proceeds of crime legislation to attack residential marijuana cultivation.
The lawyers at Bytensky Shikhman are well versed in all the latest law, including unique search and seizure issues such as hydro warrants and FLIR (forward-looking infrared) aerial photography. We know the police techniques, and we understand how crown attorneys build their cases. We are meticulous in our review of disclosure and tenacious in uncovering every possible defence available to our clients.
Trafficking, and Conspiracy to Commit Drug Offences Whereas the criminal law has become increasingly sympathetic to the plight of individuals suffering from addiction, penalties for those found guilty of trafficking have seen a corresponding increase in recent years. Accordingly, the stakes are extremely high for individuals charged with trafficking and conspiray offences.
At Bytensky Shikhman Barristers, our team of drug offence lawyers understands what is at stake, and will challenge every aspect of the Crown’s case, focusing on the legality of the investigation, including any search warrants and wiretaps that were authorized, and the veracity of any purported police observations during surveillance. If you are looking for a drug offence lawyer you can trust to fight your case until the very end, contact Bytensky Shikhman Barristers today.
A project is a large-scale police investigation into suspected criminal activity. Drug projects often begin with a tip from a confidential informer alerting police to a suspected drug trafficker. The police then spend months or even years working to uncover the suspected trafficker’s network through extensive investigation including physical and electronic surveillance of multiple people. These cases involve multiple co-accused, huge volumes of disclosure, and complex legal issues.
Since project cases usually involve multiple search warrants and wiretap authorizations, a common way to defend the charges is to challenge the validity of the search warrants and wiretap authorizations. This can be done, for example, by challenging the reliability of the information police provided to the justice who authorized the warrant or wiretap. If your lawyer can demonstrate an issue with the validity of the warrant, he or she can then argue that the evidence ought to be excluded from your trial. This is a highly complex area of law, and it is important to have the expertise of experienced counsel.
Proceeds of crime is any property or money that is derived directly or indirectly from the commission of an offence. Oftentimes, when police execute search warrants in drug cases, they locate money they believe is tied to drug trafficking. Where police have seized suspected proceeds of crime in connection to charges that were laid, the Crown may bring a forfeiture application under the Criminal Code or under Ontario’s Civil Remedies Act.
Under s. 462.34(4), you can apply to a judge for an order releasing some or all of the seized funds to pay for your legal counsel. You will need to demonstrate that:
Under the same section, you can similarly make an application for the release of funds to meet your reasonable living or business expenses.
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Posted on Kale HarrisonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the misfortune of having to retain legal counsel on two separate occasions and I have to say there is not a lawyer I would recommend more highly than Sonya Shikhman. Her and her team worked tirelessly on my cases and stood up for me during some of the most difficult times in my life. They were there to answer any legal questions I had and made sure I understood everything that was going on at all times. In the end I was acquitted of all charges in both cases and I can't thank her and her team enough. If you are in need of high quality top notch legal representation Sonya is who you want on your side!Posted on ChristinaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Retaining Sonya Shikhman at Bytensky Shikhman Criminal Lawyers was the most judicious choice I made during an exceedingly stressful time. During our initial meeting, Sonya demonstrated keen legal acumen and genuine empathy: she clarified each stage of the process, swiftly responded to my late-night questions, and consistently ensured my understanding of my options. Her courtroom advocacy is outstanding. I promptly noted her expertise in cross-examination, her position as an instructor in trial advocacy at Osgoode Hall Law School, and her recent recognition in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 for criminal defence. Her calm confidence and meticulous preparation inspired my trust and ultimately produced the desired result. Sonya's professionalism and integrity set a standard that transcends the courtroom. She perceived me as a partner rather than a mere identification number, and although she never made extravagant promises, she consistently exceeded all expectations. Her firm received the "Best Toronto Lawyers" accolade in NOW Magazine's Readers' Choice Awards, signifying its excellence. For assistance regarding criminal charges in Toronto, consult Sonya Shikhman. She serves as the necessary intermediary, situated between you and the state's authority.Posted on Mandy MTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. She was my lawyer and my goodness she’s amazing.she is very honest and upfront and doesn’t play around. I’ve referred her to a few people I know she got all of us off. She is very reputable and the bull dog of court (as the courts called her lol)Posted on mario kalemiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the pleasure of referring a client to Sonya Shikhman and I was thoroughly impressed with her expertise and dedication to his case. She handled the matter with exceptional professionalism, providing clear guidance and unwavering support throughout the process. Her strategic approach and strong advocacy led to Sonya achieving an outstanding result for the client who was extremely pleased. It’s clear she genuinely cares about her clients and goes above and beyond to achieve the best possible outcomes. I highly recommend Sonya Shikhman to anyone seeking a skilled and reliable criminal defense attorney.Posted on Tiki WaterTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend Bytensky Shikhman Barristers to anyone in need of top-tier legal representation. They are a powerhouse team who deliver results, and I am incredibly grateful for their support. If you're looking for a law firm that will fight for you with dedication and expertise, look no further than Bytensky Shikhman Barristers.Posted on murtadha almusawiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Shikhman – criminal Law I had the pleasure of working with Sonya Shikhman on a family law matter, and I couldn't be more impressed with her professionalism and expertise. From the very beginning, Sonya demonstrated a clear understanding of the legal complexities involved in my case, and her guidance was invaluable throughout the process. Sonya was always responsive, ensuring I was kept informed at every stage. She took the time to explain legal concepts in a way that was easy to understand, which was incredibly reassuring. Whether through email, phone or in person, I always felt that my concerns were heard and addressed promptly. Thanks to Sonya’s diligent work and expertise, the outcome of my case was exactly what I had hoped for. She worked tirelessly to ensure that all aspects were handled efficiently, and her attention to detail was impressive. Her fees were fair, considering the level of service provided. I truly felt that I received excellent value for the work done, and her advice was worth every penny. Beyond her legal expertise, Sonya is a compassionate and approachable individual. She made me feel comfortable and confident in the decisions we made together. Her empathy and professionalism were incredibly helpful during what was a stressful time. I highly recommend Sonya Shikhman to anyone in need of legal assistance. Her expertise, clear communication, and dedication to achieving the best results make her an outstanding lawyer. I would not hesitate to work with her again in the future.Posted on Veronika FutorianskyTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ms. Shikhman is a very professional and extremely knowledgeable lawyer. She knows exactly what needs to be done and executes flawlessly. She is straight forward about the possible outcomes and delivers on her promise to get a win. Overall, she is an outstanding trial lawyer with exceptional cross examination skills. Highly recommend.Posted on Rizwan Afzal MinhasTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was facing very serious and scary Criminal Charges and meet more than 29 different lawyers, but with the recommendation of my friend i get to know Barrister Sonya Sikhman. She is extremely professional, Hard Working and put all the efforts on my case, sometime i got e-mail questions very early morning. Her quality of work and attention to detail are top-notch. She is very confident, loud and great in Courts. She is a great tactician in the modern criminal justice court systems. Thank you for your hard work and for helped me to dismiss all the charges on me without any consequences.Posted on BanooTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sonya is absolutely amazing . She is so good at her job and knows exactly what she’s doing . Cannot say enough good things about her !!! So happy I found her :)Posted on Nunu CurvesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sonya is the best lawyer she took care of many of my cases and she was amazing everything was so smooth ! I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking into her . She is amazing amazing amazingVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more