Sheilagh Sparks

Partner

For Assistance Contact:

For Assistance Contact:

Practice Areas

Education

  • LLB, University of Ottawa (1983)
  • BA, (History) Queens University

Bar Admission

  • Bar Admission, Ontario (1985)
  • Bar Admission, British Columbia (1986)
Biography

Highly experienced, Sheilagh Sparks has practised exclusively in family law for more than twenty years. Sheilagh helps her clients navigate the legal system so that they can make positive changes in their lives and relationships.

A clear thinker and a good listener, Sheilagh helps her clients understand what is often a complex and confusing legal process. She takes the time to understand your situation and the outcome that you wish to achieve and to explain each step in the process in order to give you clear, efficient, and practical guidance from beginning to end. She advises on all manner of family law matters, whether they arise before or during a relationship, or upon the breakdown in the relationship, and including cohabitation and marriage agreements, separation and divorce, parenting agreements, child and spousal support, property division, and allocation of responsibility for debt.

Clients going through a separation or divorce benefit from Sheilagh’s expertise in dispute resolution. Sheilagh is a collaborative lawyer and through considered negotiation, Sheilagh can help you to secure a favourable resolution without going to court. In some cases, however, litigation is necessary to obtain a just and proper outcome. Sheilagh is a strong advocate for her clients and has appeared at the Provincial and Supreme Courts, as well as the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

Sheilagh identifies legal issues for her clients early on, a perspective that comes from years of experience. Family law can bring with it a host of legal concerns that are adjacent to the core family law matter, issues that can have a significant impact on the choice of process and the outcome for a client and that, if unidentified, can have a devastating impact for a client for years to come. Sheilagh has the experience and skill to identify and manage these issues. Over the course of her career, Sheilagh has curated a network of outstanding professionals to assist clients, including tax lawyers and accountants, financial planners, valuators and appraisers, mental health and parenting professionals, mediators, parenting coordinators and arbitrators; she will help you to obtain the appropriate resources and expertise to address your needs. Sheilagh also works closely with her colleagues at North Shore Law to provide clients with comprehensive legal services for all their family, personal, and business needs.

Family law matters can be challenging, emotionally and financially. It takes a great deal of courage to start something new, or to close the chapter on a relationship. Sheilagh understands how difficult these conflicts and transitions can be. At the same time, experience has taught her that something positive can often come from a difficult situation. When her work is done, she wants her clients to be well on their way to a better place, and to be as happy and whole as possible.

Along with several of her colleagues at North Shore Law, Sheilagh provides pro bono legal services to the North Shore Women’s Centre. She has also been involved with Access Pro Bono and has served on numerous community boards, including the Bowen Island Library, the Bowen Island Conservancy and Island Pacific School boards. In addition to her full-time law practice, Sheilagh is an accomplished pianist and is the accompanist for the Bowen Community Choir and the Penrhyn Academy of Singing. She lives and gardens on Bowen Island.