About Us
At Dominion Criminal Defence we are committed to providing you with the best defence. Our experience legal team excels in criminal defence and will get you the best result. We’re here to fight for you and ensure you are defended no matter how complicated or serious the situation is. With Dominion Criminal Defence, you will not be alone in your fight.
Phillip P. Dinis
Always aspiring to enter the legal field, Phillip’s role as a criminal defence lawyer began with a pursuit of a career in law enforcement.
After finishing in the top of his Police Foundations class, Phillip became involved with the London/Middlesex community in order to be a competitive policing candidate. This included volunteering in the former Canadian Auto Workers’ political and human rights division, campaigning on behalf of a provincial political candidate who successfully won a seat in Queen’s Park, volunteering with the Middlesex Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) auxiliary unit as an Auxiliary Constable, as well as with the Canadian branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a community presenter and instructor on International Humanitarian Law.
His work with all these organizations gave him a sincere appreciation for the struggles faced by marginalized individuals and communities. Consequently, Phillip decided to change career paths from law enforcement to legal advocacy.
He promptly enrolled at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) where he earned an Honours Specialization degree in Political Science and Government Policy. He completed his graduate work at the University of Waterloo with a Masters in the same field before completing his Canadian and American Juris Doctorate at the University of Windsor and University of Detroit Mercy (UDM).
During his time in Detroit working on his American law degree, Phillip became involved with the University’s Veteran’s Law Clinic. He spent two years volunteering with often destitute veterans helping them resolve their legal issues.
Once he completed law school, he had the pleasure of beginning his articles with Patricia Brown in Windsor before completing his articles under the distinguished criminal defence lawyer, Alan Gold.
After working for one of Canada’s top criminal defence lawyers in Toronto, Phillip moved back to London to be closer to his son. He settled into work at a local firm providing complex legal research and advocacy before opening Dominion Criminal Defence with his former assistant and paralegal, Dallas Thompson.
With the opening of Dominion Criminal Defence, Phillip can finally practice law on his terms, putting advocacy over profit.
SARAH DOW
Sarah began her post-secondary education at Brock University and earned an honours degree in Medical Science, with a minor in English Literature. During her undergraduate degree, she shadowed at a criminal defence law firm and admired the work being done at the firm. She ultimately decided to apply to law school.
She attended the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University and completed her Juris Doctorate. She was a Dean’s Fellow for Legal Research and Writing as well as the president of the Health Law Club. She completed her Integrated Practice Placement at the Crown Attorney’s Office in Kenora, Ontario.
Upon graduation, she completed her Articles with the Crown’s office in Timmins, Ontario. After being called to the Ontario Bar, she began her career as a lawyer and returned to Kenora as an Assistant Crown Attorney. She prosecuted criminal matters in various locations across North-Western Ontario but promises to be on your side now.
In 2023, Sarah joined Dominion Criminal Defence to continue her career in a client-facing practice. She chose to move closer to home where she enjoys spending time on her family farm where she grew up. She involved with multiple non-profit associations, including the Ontario Quarter Horse Association and the Recent Call Committee of the Criminal Lawyer Association.
Taking the skills she learnt while prosecuting criminal matters, she is able to take her knowledge of the Crown’s procedures to ensure clients receive the best advice and representation possible
DALLAS THOMPSON
Dallas Thompson is a licensed paralegal who assists in all phases of a client’s file, from client meetings, disclosure review, to hearings and trials.
Being raised in a blue-collar family in the city of London, Ontario, Dallas was exposed to adversity from a young age. Seeing the struggles of family and friends stimulated her passion for the law and drove her to pursue a future in the legal field.
Before joining Dominion Criminal Defence, she attended the University of Carleton where she studied Criminology. She went on to complete her Paralegal Studies at Westervelt College, where she graduated with Presidential Honours and became licensed as a Paralegal in the province of Ontario.
Family, friend, or stranger, Dallas is always willing to help when they find themselves in a bind. And that help comes with genuine empathy and no strings attached
madison THOMPSON
When you retain Dominion Criminal Defence, Madison, along with Dallas, will be your first point of contact.
She reviews all the information that comes in on your file, will know your next court appearance and the reason for it, and can handle all your financials related to your matter. Don’t be surprised if Madison knows more about your file than you do. That’s her role here.
While working at Dominion Criminal Defence, Madison is completing extracurricular studies at Wilfred Laurier University, where she is completing a degree in criminology and policing. It won’t be long until she becomes a barrister at law herself.
If police are asking you for a statement, it is important you speak with us, or another criminal defence lawyer first!
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