Outside of his legal practice, Rui enjoys spending time with his family, working on his country property, and tending to his grapevines. He believes that patience, perspective, and steady effort matter — both in life and in helping families navigate difficult transitions.
Osgoode Hall Law School (LL. B)
Glendon College (York University)
Rui has been a practical, strategic family law litigator for over 30 years. He is known for providing thoughtful, measured guidance that helps clients reach durable outcomes for themselves and their families. While he remains fully prepared to assemble a litigation team for his clients when necessary, Rui focuses on Collaborative family law and negotiated resolutions whenever possible. Clients value his steady judgment, accessibility, and ability to navigate complex situations with clarity and calm.
In addition to his family law practice, Rui assists clients with Wills and Estates planning. He is a committed mentor to lawyers and law students, offering confidential advice and professional guidance. He has been recognized by the Osgoode Hall Alumni Mentor Program for his mentorship of Osgoode Law students.
Rui is a Past Chair of Collaborative Divorce Toronto and served as an associate editor of the Ontario Family Law Reporter from 2010 to 2016. Since 2001, he has written and presented extensively for the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Ontario, the University of Western Ontario’s Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children, the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals, and Collaborative Divorce Toronto. His work reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing thoughtful, respectful approaches to family dispute resolution.
Canadian/Ontario Bar Association Collaborative Divorce Toronto
Collaborative Professionals of Canada
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals
Quinte Collaborative Divorce
Toronto Lawyers Association
York Collaborative Practice
York Region Law Association
Co-author (with Professor Nicholas Bala and Brittany Chaput),
“Getting Scientific Knowledge about Family Violence into the Family CourtProcess: Judicial Education, Judicial Notice, and Expert Evidence,”
Chapter 8, Understanding Family Violence in Family Court Proceedings:Providing Effective Responses for Victims, Children, and Perpetrators
(University of Toronto Press, 2025)
Speaker, Workshop Panel (with Professor Nicholas Bala and Brittany Chaput),
Getting Social Science Knowledge into the Family Court
Advanced Family Law Seminar
Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children
University of Western Ontario – Toronto, May 11, 2023
Speaker, On-Boarding Skills Series: Process Design
Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals, April 19, 2022
Speaker, Countering Unforeseen Complications Through Dynamic Process Design
Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals, January 19, 2021
Panelist, Resolution in a Virtual World: Maximizing Interpersonal Client Communications and Negotiations Remotely for Family Law Practitioners
Ontario Bar Association & Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals
October 20, 2020
Co-presenter/Facilitator, Mediation vs. Collaborative Process
Collaborative Divorce Toronto Small Practice Group
October 13, 2020
Co-presenter/Facilitator, Virtual Lunch & Learn: Countering Unforeseen Complications Through Dynamic Process Design
Collaborative Divorce Toronto
August 12, 2020
Co-Chair, Collaborative Small Practice Group
Collaborative Divorce Toronto, July 2020 – Present
Co-Chair, Tenth Annual Bread and Butter Issues in Family Law
Ontario Bar Association, Family Law Section
October 4, 2019
Speaker, How Many Degrees? Supporting Adult Children through Post-Graduate Studies and Second Degrees
6 Minute Settlement Practitioner
Ontario Collaborative Law Federation/Ontario Association of Family Mediators Conference, Ottawa, May 3, 2019
Co-Chair, Ninth Annual Bread and Butter Issues in Family Law
Ontario Bar Association, Family Law Section
September 28, 2018
Speaker, How Expert Is Your Expert? The Use of Scientific Evidence in Child and Youth Law
OBA Institute 2018 – Ontario Bar Association
February 7, 2018
Alves, R.J.M., “Utilizing and Challenging Scientific Evidence in Child and Youth Law”
Paper presented at OBA Institute 2018 – Ontario Bar Association
February 7, 2018
Invited Participant, Motherisk Commission Discussion Group
The Role of Scientific Evidence in the Child Protection System
2017
Associate Editor, Ontario Family Law Reporter
2010 – 2016
