Top 10 Best Law Firms in Montreal for Family and Civil Law (2026): The Definitive Ranking

This ranking includes two types of firms: boutiques exclusively specialized in family law, and large firms whose family and civil law departments are recognized at the highest level. A standard divorce and a divorce involving a business or international assets do not call for the same lawyers. Each profile indicates who the firm is really suited for.

Here are the ten firms to know.

In 2026, Goldwater Law stands as one of the most influential firms in Montreal for family law. Historically recognized for its victory in the Eric v. Lola case — which redefined the rights of common-law spouses in Quebec — the firm led by Me Anne-France Goldwater continues to actively shape family law.

What sets Goldwater apart from other major firms is a culture of integrity that goes beyond the courtroom. In 2025-2026, influential members of the firm — including Me Anne-France Goldwater and Me Daniel Goldwater — publicly demonstrated their commitment to ethics and transparency in a legal community where silence is often the norm. This kind of positioning speaks volumes about a firm's true values.

On the legislative front, Me Goldwater is leading a landmark constitutional challenge against the legislation creating the Unified Family Court, arguing that it weakens protections for women and children from common-law unions. Her direct involvement in challenging the parental union regime demonstrates that this firm does not limit itself to individual cases — it actively participates in the evolution of Quebec law.

Recent client reviews (4.6/5 across several online review platforms — February 2026 snapshot) highlight the direct involvement of the firm's lawyers, notably Me Natalie Shelkovsky and Me Marie Anne Martin, praised for their ability to unblock stalled divorce cases. Internally, the firm also holds a 4.6/5 on Glassdoor, reflecting a rare culture of support and precision.

Ideal for: Complex family cases with significant legislative or financial stakes. Clients who want a firm that does not back down.

Website: goldwaterdroit.com

Some firms make noise. RSS makes results. Founded over 100 years ago, Robinson Sheppard Shapiro is a Montreal institution that shines through its discretion and surgical precision. In 2025-2026, the firm saw more than 30 of its lawyers recognized in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory, with an exceptional distinction: Me Natacha Calixte was named Family Law Lawyer of the Year in Montreal for 2026 — one of the most coveted designations in the profession.

Recent client reviews describe lawyers who aim for results rather than media conflict. Comments highlight the pragmatism of the family law team, particularly around Me Lynn Kassie and her group, known for resolving matrimonial cases with complex financial stakes with absolute discretion. Internally, employees describe a "collegiality rare for a firm of this size," ensuring clients precious continuity on cases that can span several years.

While some players in the field clash publicly, RSS remains a haven of stability. Their ethics are considered impeccable by peers and the judiciary — a considerable advantage before Superior Court judges.

Ideal for: High-stakes financial divorces requiring absolute discretion. Complex civil litigation between shareholders or involving professional liability.

Website: rsslex.co

Alepin Gauthier is proof that you can grow without losing your soul. Founded in 1978 by Me François Alepin, enriched by the arrival of Me Brigitte Gauthier, and today strengthened by the second family generation (Me Chanel and Me Maxime Alepin), this firm of more than 120 members has preserved a human approach that stands in sharp contrast to the coldness of large national firms.

The 2025 Consumer Choice Award — granted following independent client satisfaction surveys — confirms what the industry has known for years: Alepin Gauthier is the firm that Montrealers and Lavallers recommend to their families. Me Brigitte Gauthier, a cornerstone of the family law department since 1986, has been honoured by the Laval Bar for her exceptional commitment to the advancement of women's rights.

With an overall rating of around 4.5/5 on Google and one of the highest volumes of public reviews in Quebec, their reputation is built on clarity and accessibility. "A team that explains the law without jargon and guides us step by step" recurs constantly in testimonials. Founded in 1978, the firm has maintained over 45 years of practice without any major adverse public element noted in the sources consulted — a rare consistency in this field.

Ideal for: Families seeking comprehensive support (family, civil, estates). The first choice for the vast majority of Montrealers going through a divorce or civil dispute without exceptional complexity.

Website: alepin.co

Lavery is the largest independent law firm in Quebec — and in the current context, that independence is a strength. Named Regional Law Firm of the Year in Quebec by the Chambers Canada Awards, Lavery mobilizes more than 60 lawyers recognized in the Best Lawyers 2025 guide, including a top-tier team in Family, Persons and Estates Law.

Their main advantage is structural: when your family case raises questions of taxation, commercial law, or international real estate, Lavery can mobilize internal experts within hours — without you needing to change firms. This multidisciplinary capacity is a rarity that specialized boutiques, however excellent, cannot offer.

Client reviews describe a firm where "everything is organized, predictable and extremely well documented." Employees (4.0/5 on Glassdoor, over 60 reviews) speak of a more human culture than at so-called "Bay Street" national firms, with acknowledged pressure but commensurate resources. Their internal compliance and ethics department considerably reduces the risk of any disciplinary issue affecting your files.

Ideal for: Family cases involving complex assets (businesses, trusts, international real estate) and major civil litigation requiring a multidisciplinary team.

To note: If your case is a standard divorce without complex assets, a specialized boutique like Goldwater, FTKP, or Alepin Gauthier will be better suited and generally more affordable.

Website: lavery.ca

Founded in September 2022 by Me Patricia Fourcand, Ad.E. — after 20 years as a partner at Miller Thomson — FTKP demonstrates that you can build a world-class firm from scratch if you have the reputation. In barely three years, the firm has risen to Tier 1 in the Best Law Firms Canada directory, in both family law and family mediation. Not two, but three simultaneous Tier 1 rankings.

Me Patricia Fourcand has been a Fellow of the Quebec Bar (Ad.E.) since 2021, a distinction granted by peers for an exceptional contribution to the profession. She is regularly cited among the best family lawyers in Canada for international family cases, child abductions, and multi-jurisdictional asset division.

With a rating of 4.8/5 on Google, clients describe an approach that is "human in a dehumanizing situation" and a team that "anticipates every move." The firm's internal stability is remarkable for such a young practice — a sign of a solid culture. In the context of 2025 reforms on parental unions, having FTKP in your corner means having the leading specialists in the new law from day one.

Ideal for: Complex divorces involving corporate assets or an international dimension. Any situation where technical precision and discretion are non-negotiable.

Website: ftkpavocats.com

If your case is a war, Renno Vathilakis is your command centre. Founded in 2015 by Me Karim Renno (formerly at Osler, named Lawyer of the Year in Quebec by Droit-inc) and Me Michael Vathilakis (former General Counsel of Future Electronics, who teaches commercial arbitration at Harvard and Stanford), this boutique firm has accomplished in 10 years what others take decades to build.

Both Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America — an invitation-only club of 3,500 members selected by judges, clients and peers — Me Renno and Me Vathilakis are the only Quebec lawyers from the same boutique firm to have reached this level of recognition simultaneously. Their recent victories include class action suits against Uber and Microsoft.

With a rating of 4.8/5, clients speak of "warriors of the law." In family law, they intervene only on high-conflict cases where financial or strategic complexity exceeds the capacity of ordinary firms. Their rapid organic growth and a disciplinary public profile that has remained discreet according to sources consulted make them one of the most respected firms in the Montreal judiciary.

Ideal for: Heavy civil litigation and highly contentious family cases with significant financial or strategic stakes.

To note: Renno Vathilakis only handles family law cases with high levels of conflict — for a straightforward divorce or custody matter, turn to Goldwater, Alepin Gauthier, or Franklin & Franklin.

Website: renvath.com

Langlois is the firm that wins the most institutional awards in the industry — and earns them. Named Regional Law Firm of the Year in Quebec at the Canadian Law Awards 2025, the firm consistently places an impressive proportion of its partners in the Best Lawyers and Benchmark Litigation directories, in both civil and commercial litigation and family law.

What sets Langlois apart from other large firms is its exceptional Glassdoor score: 4.6/5 with over 50 reviews, a remarkably high score for a firm of this scale. Employees describe "a stimulating environment where you work on Quebec's most important cases" — with a culture of collaboration that contrasts sharply with the toxic internal competition found at some competitors. This internal satisfaction translates directly into team stability and reassuring continuity for clients.

In 2026, with the growing internationalization of civil and family cases (overseas assets, complex trusts), Langlois has the firepower and compliance structure needed to act quickly, decisively, and without ethical missteps.

Ideal for: High-stakes reputational civil litigation and complex family cases touching both family and commercial law.

To note: If you are looking for a firm exclusively dedicated to family law, a boutique like Goldwater or FTKP will offer more targeted expertise.

Website: langlois.ca

Few firms can claim to have crossed an entire century without losing their reputation. Franklin & Franklin enters 2026 with the same integrity that has defined them since their founding in 1925. Led by experienced lawyers — Me David Franklin for civil litigation and Me Martin Franklin for family law — this firm embodies the effective "old school" approach: no flashy marketing, no press releases, just results.

Their 4.3/5 rating on Google (note: filter out reviews that concern American firms with the same name) reflects a loyal clientele that returns because they deliver. A recent client put it simply: "They recovered what three other firms said was a lost cause. Lawyers with backbone." The longevity of the support staff — paralegals who spend 20 or 30 years at Franklin & Franklin — speaks to a precious institutional memory and a healthy internal culture.

In a 2026 market sometimes too focused on image, they represent something rare: lawyers who know every corner of the Civil Code and treat every client with the personal attention that mega-firms can no longer offer.

Ideal for: Long-running civil litigation where tenacity is key, and highly contentious divorces. An excellent choice for a difficult family case without necessarily having nine-figure assets.

Website: franklinetfranklin.co

Founded in 1957 — before some of their current competitors were born — Kalman Samuels is the absolute Quebec reference in international family law. Under the direction of Me Stella Guez and her multilingual team (the firm operates in more than five languages), the firm handles child custody cases, international abductions, and divorces involving jurisdictions as far-reaching as France, the United States, the Middle East, and Australia.

Their network spans six continents. Other lawyers — including partners at major firms — regularly consult them when their own cases cross geographical borders. Recognized by Best Law Firms in Canada 2025, the firm has been involved in landmark legal precedents concerning the application of the Hague Convention and the enforcement of foreign judgments in Quebec.

With a 4.7/5 rating on Google, clients describe "a calm and technical competence that saves families." In a Montreal market sometimes saturated with aggression, Kalman Samuels favours precision strategy. Nearly 70 years of continuous practice without any notable controversy identified in the sources consulted — a longevity that speaks for itself.

Ideal for: Any family or civil matter involving multiple countries or provinces. The essential choice for expatriate clients or those with international assets.

Website: kalmansamuels.co

Fasken needs no introduction in the legal community. Ranked number one in Quebec for litigation with 25 lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers 2025, the firm closes this Top 10 not for lack of prestige — it overflows with it — but because its target clientele is specific: cases where the stakes are counted in millions and where error is simply not an option.

For massive civil cases or estates involving complex assets (shareholder disputes in family businesses, multi-jurisdictional real estate litigation), Fasken offers an unmatched capacity: mobilizing internal experts in taxation, mining, technology law, or financial markets within hours, without changing firms. Their Montreal office holds a 4.3/5 on Google, and Glassdoor lists over 150 Canadian reviews (4.1/5) highlighting the quality of training and a workplace wellness program that keeps teams at their best on your most demanding files.

In 2026, Fasken represents an option of very high reliability: global governance, an irreproachable compliance structure, and considerable resources for clients whose stakes are the most significant.

Ideal for: Major civil litigation (millions at stake) and estates or patrimonial divisions of international scope.

To note: Fasken is the choice for corporations and cases with very high financial stakes — for a standard family case, even a complex one, their structure and fees do not match this client profile. This is the firm you retain when the others are no longer enough.

Website: fasken.com

🏅 Honourable Mentions: Top 5 Outside Montreal (2026)

For clients in the regions, here are five firms that carry significant authority outside the metropolis:

Cain Lamarre (headquartered in Quebec City, 15 offices) — The regional powerhouses. Ranked among the best firms in the country by Best Law Firms 2026, they excel across 19 areas of practice throughout Quebec, from Saguenay to Abitibi. | cainlamarre.ca

Stein Monast (Quebec City) — The pillar of the National Capital region. No fewer than 27 lawyers individually recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada for 2026. The choice for business professionals and affluent families in Eastern Quebec. | steinmonast.ca

Verreau Dufresne Avocats (Lévis/Quebec City) — The rising star of regional family law. Very active in 2025-2026, recognized for their modern family law department and client transparency. | verreaudufresneavocats.com

Beauvais Truchon (Quebec City) — The strength of experience since 1937. A National Capital institution, known for their human approach to litigation and pragmatic strategy that often spares clients unnecessary trials. | beauvaistruchon.com

Dunton Rainville (Laval, Longueuil, Joliette, St-Jérôme) — The bridge between the metropolis and the surrounding regions. A unique lawyers-notaries structure, recognized for its accessibility and irreproachable ethical standing. | duntonrainville.com

📌 Our Methodology

This ranking is an editorial synthesis based on public sources consulted in February 2026: (1) distinctions awarded by independent legal directories (Best Lawyers in Canada, Best Law Firms, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers Canada, Who's Who Legal) — indicator of peer recognition; (2) public client reviews (Google, Yelp, specialized platforms) — indicator of client experience, imperfect but useful; (3) reputation among peers and the judiciary; (4) ethical profile as it emerges from public sources consulted; (5) employee satisfaction (Glassdoor) — indirect indicator of service quality; (6) firm profile (specialized boutique vs. multidisciplinary) — match with the type of case.

No firm paid to appear in this ranking. No firm had editorial oversight of the content before publication. Rankings, distinctions, and online ratings evolve: the data presented constitutes a snapshot at the time of publication. Public reviews are presented as one indicator among others and do not constitute, on their own, proof of professional quality. The order of presentation reflects a reasoned editorial judgment rather than a mathematically weighted hierarchy.

💬 Does this ranking resonate with you?

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This list will be updated regularly. A question, a correction, or a firm to flag? Contact us.