After nearly 20 years of practicing law at a firm in Markham, Vivian Leung decided it was time to do things differently. Inspired by the loss of her mentor and driven by a desire to reconnect with the human side of legal work, she opened her practice with a vision to offer thoughtful, community-centred legal services.
“My mentor, who had been with me from articling through partnership, passed away unexpectedly,” Leung says. “We were working on client files the day before. Then he was gone.”
That moment sparked a long period of reflection.
“It’s not a one-day process. It’s a journey. You go from uncertainty and sadness to slowly asking what your purpose is,” she says.
That journey led her to narrow the focus of her legal work. Having built deep expertise across family law, civil litigation, real estate, corporate law and estate planning, Leung decided to step back from litigation.
“Litigation gave me very little control over my life. My kids were still young, and trial dates could be moved at the last minute. I wanted to reclaim that balance,” Leung says.
Her practice focuses on wills, estates, and real estate law—areas Leung says allow for more planning and less conflict.
“People just started coming to me for that work. I didn’t promote it. It grew on its own,” she says.
But Leung hasn’t stepped away from conflict entirely. Estate cases often involve families dealing with loss, and disagreements can escalate quickly. Leung works with a trusted associate with experience in conflict resolution while she oversees strategy and client support.
“He’s very good at the complex cases. I’m still involved to guide and help with the big picture,” she says.
Leung’s approach is clear-eyed and empathetic.
“Law is an art,” she says. “You can fight every issue to the end—or you can find a solution where everyone walks away with peace. That’s my philosophy.”
That philosophy includes understanding clients far beyond the legal paperwork.
“If someone owns a printing business, I want to understand how it works, who their customers are, what’s at stake. That’s how I help them find legal answers and a sense of resolution,” Leung says.
A team of associates and clerks supports Vivian’s work. With the help of legal software, her office is largely paperless and built for flexibility, including virtual meetings with clients across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond.
“Even clients in downtown Toronto prefer Zoom now,” she says. “They only come in when documents need to be signed.”
Though her practice is local, her perspective is global. Born and trained in Hong Kong before moving to Canada, Leung deeply understands cross-jurisdictional issues, which are particularly helpful in estate matters involving international assets or family abroad.
While she has extensive legal experience, Leung says starting her practice brought new learning opportunities. She participated in the Markham Starter Company Plus program, which provided her with mentors for one-on-one business coaching.
“I learned how to create marketing campaigns that align with my personality and developed strategies to maintain a smooth operational platform”, she says.
The law firm operates in a hybrid model, primarily in person. Markham is an ideal location with clients from diverse ethnic backgrounds and business sectors. Its quick access to highways allows clients from other areas to reach the firm easily.
Leung also gives back to the Markham community through volunteering, including advising a Christian youth brigade and supporting women’s events, though she’s modest about these roles. “I don’t take much credit. I do what I can,” Leung says. “This practice lets me spend more time with my family, be there for my clients, and make a real impact. That’s what matters.”
Learn more about Vivian Leung Lawyer Professional Corporation at www.vlawyer.ca.
