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Meet Essex County’s Newest Law Firm. It’s Been Here for 60 Years.

Author: Lynn Novak

Photographer: Trevor Booth

7 months ago

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Pearsall Marshall LLP has been part of Essex County’s legal landscape for decades. Today, a new generation of lawyers is carrying it forward—led by a managing partner who’s neither a Pearsall nor a Marshall.

For sixty years, Pearsall Marshall LLP has been rooted in Windsor–Essex, carrying forward a tradition of practical, community-minded law. Today, under Managing Partner David Halliwill, the firm’s message is clear: big-firm-calibre legal services don’t require a trip to Bay Street.

“If anyone thinks they need to leave Windsor–Essex for top-quality legal services, I want them to know they don’t have to,” Halliwill says. “We have people who are living here, in our local communities, doing this work. They could be doing it wherever they wanted, because they’re second-to-none in terms of quality.”

This conviction—that exceptional talent can thrive right here at home—defines Pearsall Marshall’s story. The firm owes its six-decades-strong legacy to a culture built on collaboration and care and a set of capabilities proven against the biggest firms in the country.

The story begins in 1965, when Spencer Pearsall opened his doors as an approachable, local lawyer who had a gift for connecting with people. Families across Essex County still recall sitting with him at the dinner table, sharing a glass of wine while talking through their business and family needs. His son-in-law, Elvey Marshall, joined the practice soon after, building on that same tradition of practical, plain-spoken advice. For decades, Pearsall and Marshall were known not just for their legal skill, but for the trust they earned as neighbours and problem-solvers. In time, David Seaton became a partner as well, and he continues to contribute to the firm today.

When Marshall retired in 2015, he placed the firm, then called Pearsall Marshall Halliwill & Seaton LLP, in the hands of David Halliwill. Ambitious and eager to make a name for himself, Halliwill quickly realized that the way to honour his predecessors was not to lean on a single reputation, but to build a team. Without Pearsall’s decades of community ties or Marshall’s deep Rolodex, sustaining the firm’s forward momentum meant gathering the right people in the right positions, trusted to do what they do best.

That vision took root with the arrival of new partners. Amanda Camlis joined the Leamington office to lead the real estate department. Bart Seguin followed in 2021 to guide the corporate group and manage the Tecumseh office, which began operating under the name Halliwill Seguin LLP. For a period, the Leamington and Tecumseh offices carried different names—Pearsall Marshall Halliwill & Seaton for one, Halliwill Seguin for the other—a situation Seguin admits,“became confusing to the public, and frankly, everyone.” By choosing the Pearsall Marshall name, the firm honours its founders while bringing its modern team under a single, unified identity for the future.

That growth has also come through welcoming the clients of respected colleagues as they transitioned into retirement. In 2022, Pearsall Marshall integrated the long-standing Tecumseh practice of Craig Stevenson, who had served the community since 1980 with a focus on real estate and estates. The following year, the firm assumed carriage of George Reynolds’ practice upon his retirement after more than fifty years in law. Each transition reinforced Pearsall Marshall’s commitment to continuity, ensuring that clients who had relied on their lawyers for decades could continue receiving trusted advice within the firm’s growing team.

As the firm expanded, the partners worked to preserve something less tangible but equally vital: culture. They believed that law should never feel distant or intimidating, and that lawyers do their best work when they feel supported—both at the office and at home. At many firms, the name on the letterhead is the only lawyer who interacts with clients, while associates toil away in the background. Pearsall Marshall rejects that model. Every lawyer and staff member is encouraged to build direct relationships with clients—to listen first, and to know they have the strength of the team behind them. “We are able to do what we do because each of our lawyers and staff—first and foremost—are good people,” Halliwill explains. “They care about our clients and are encouraged to understand their situation on a personal level.”

Seguin adds that the firm’s collaborative spirit is reinforced through weekly department meetings, where lawyers share what’s on their desks and exchange ideas. It’s a structure that blends accountability with creativity, making sure no one works in isolation. The same spirit extends beyond the lawyers to the staff who keep the firm humming. From the office manager to the clerks to the legal assistants, each employee embodies the firm’s culture and ensures continuity and connection across offices. Their presence ensures that Pearsall Marshall’s growth has never come at the expense of its character and warmth. “It feels more like family than work,” explains Peter Renaud, longtime ‘glue guy’ who floats between offices offering a hand wherever it is needed.

Behind the scenes, the atmosphere is intentionally relaxed. “We’ve grown into bigger offices and more people, but we try to maintain a small firm feel,” says Halliwill. “We sincerely believe in the importance of work-life balance. We want our people to thrive both at home and at work, whether they’re lawyers or legal assistants.” The belief is simple: people provide better service to clients when they’re given the flexibility to take time off when they need it—whether that’s a family vacation or just an hour during the day to watch their kids’ track meet or dance recital.

Grounded in those values, Pearsall Marshall has grown into a firm of thirteen lawyers and more than thirty staff, offering a wide range of services across Windsor–Essex. With dedicated practice groups in corporate law, real estate, estates, and employment, the firm combines depth with agility. Each department is led by an experienced partner—Seguin in corporate, Camlis in real estate, Robert Tomek in estates, and Michael Wills in employment—ensuring that clients receive advice from lawyers who focus on the issues that matter most to them. That reach is reinforced by new offices in Kingsville and Leamington, the long-established presence in Tecumseh, and a new website that brings it all together.

That breadth allows the firm to manage files of every scale, from everyday residential transactions to complex business deals. “In recent years, we’ve successfully handled multiple transactions where, on the other side, was a large Toronto firm with twenty-plus lawyers assigned to a single file,” recalls Halliwill. “And we’ve shown what a focused team can accomplish.”

The point is not just pride but also proof: sophisticated work can be done right here in Windsor–Essex.

The corporate group has become a driver of growth, supported by a strong team of associates. Lyndsey Magliaro focuses on corporate financing and commercial real estate, bringing strength and depth to the firm’s transactional work. Shannel Diewold advises on corporate and commercial law, working closely with clients’ financial and tax advisors to deliver comprehensive solutions; she emphasizes the importance of connection in her approach: “Practising business law in Windsor–Essex means more than providing legal advice. It’s about being part of a community where relationships matter.” Mitchell MacLean’s practice is centred around mergers and acquisitions leaning on the experience gained from working on Bay Street prior to joining Pearsall Marshall.

The same level of focus shapes other departments. In real estate, Camlis guides families through home purchases while also navigating the intricate world of land use planning and development. “Land use planning and development require a unique skillset and a keen attention to detail,” she explains. “Not many lawyers have had the opportunities I’ve had to develop that knowledge base, and I’m excited to continue helping clients with projects that will shape Windsor–Essex moving forward.” In estates, Tomek draws on nearly twenty-five years of experience to exceed client expectations. “Practising estate planning law for as long as I have gives me a much greater appreciation of the importance of balancing creativity and practicality, knowing that at some point a person’s Will is all that their loved ones will have to ensure their wishes are fulfilled,” he says.

In labour and employment law, Michael Wills leads a practice that reflects the firm’s balance of personality and professionalism, advocating for both employers and employees with the same collaborative spirit that defines the rest of the team. He is joined by Susan McBride, a lawyer with more than twenty years of experience focused on employer-side WSIB claims and workplace safety matters, and by associate Michael Di Risio, who advises across employment, labour, and human rights issues. Together, the group provides comprehensive guidance on everything from wrongful termination to WSIB appeals, ensuring that businesses and employees alike have trusted advocates at their side.

Associates Jenna M. Hotham and Andrea Simonits further strengthen the firm’s depth across multiple practice areas. Hotham, who practises in wills, estates, and real estate, is known for her attentive, client-focused style and for carrying forward Pearsall Marshall’s compassionate, human-centric ethos. Simonits focuses on estate planning and administration, working closely with trust companies and financial institutions. She emphasizes the importance of early succession planning: “An effective plan ensures loved ones understand your intentions clearly and are properly taken care of,” she says.

Technology underpins much of this work, but it’s the people who make it matter. Pearsall Marshall was an early adopter of virtual signings, sophisticated digital file management, and even artificial intelligence tools to streamline operations. These innovations don’t replace the human touch—they enhance it, freeing lawyers and staff to spend more time where it counts: listening, advising, and guiding clients with care.

Six decades on, Pearsall Marshall continues to carry forward the legacy of its founders with a culture rooted in community and a practice built on broad capabilities. What began as the vision of two approachable lawyers at kitchen tables has become a modern, multi-office firm known for collaboration, balance, and high-calibre results, close to home.

And in the words of partner Wills, the firm’s defining strength remains simple: “What sets Pearsall Marshall apart is the mix of personality, ambition, and teamwork. We’ve got a strong bench of lawyers who genuinely enjoy working together, which makes collaboration natural. The firm is deeply rooted in the regions we serve, but at the same time, it has the drive and vision of a much larger outfit.”

As Halliwill notes, Essex County clients don’t need to look to Bay Street for top-quality representation—they already have it here. “People don’t need to leave Windsor–Essex to find excellent legal services. Our lawyers live and work in these communities, and we’re proud to stand alongside our clients. We’ll continue to do this work with the same foundation, principles, and expertise that have carried us for sixty years.”