John Raftery is not your ordinary defence lawyer. John represented Canada in international boxing competitions while attending university and law school, winning bronze medals in both the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup of Boxing. This unique experience taught John how to accurately assess his adversary's strengths and weaknesses, and how to effectively determine the correct tactic needed to achieve, within the rules, success for his client. John has obtained excellent results on appeals that he has argued in the Superior Courts, but most of his practice is conducted at the trial level where he is best able to use his adversarial skills either fighting for that client's rights in the courtroom or negotiating a resolution most favourable for the defence. John's practice takes him throughout Southern Ontario and into Northern Ontario on a regular basis.

John's experience is in the courtroom, at trial. Having appeared on numerous homicide trials, as well as scores of assault, fraud, DUI trials, and drug-related matters, John's courtroom experience is well-established. He has also given presentations on various aspects of the law for the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Advocates' Society, and at Crown Attorneys' education sessions, among other organizations. John is a member of Legal Aid Ontario's panel of Extremely Serious Criminal Matters and their panel for Gladue Court matters. Although John is often in court and cannot be contacted directly, he will return your call promptly if you leave a message on his voice mail or with his legal assistant Joan Shanahan at 416-463-9415.