Jan Montgomery

Jan has worked in the office of Kenneth W. Smith since 1991 and holds a Legal Assistant diploma from Algonquin College. She brought to the firm 20 years experience in the banking industry having worked in the customer service sector and management in Toronto. Her business background includes a period of 4 years in England where she worked as an Administrative Assistant in a small chain of shops retailing cottage crafts and unique imports.

Although Jan has worked in all areas of the practice, her primary responsibilities are:

Bookkeeping
Estate Administration
Legal Research
Litigation


Melissa Valliquette

Melissa graduated from the Legal Secretary course in 1986 at Humber College in Etobicoke and she continued her studies by completing several Law Clerk courses at Sheridan College in Brampton. She has been working as a legal secretary since 1986, initially with a law firm in Rexdale followed by 10 years with a sole practitioner in Toronto.

Melissa moved to Perth in 1998 and has worked in the office of Ken Smith since 1999. Melissa is responsible for office management, real estate, wills, powers of attorney and corporate work.


Kenneth W. Smith

Ken Smith was born in Sarnia, Ontario and received his high school diploma while living there. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a B.A. in 1974 and entered Law School at the University of Ottawa where he graduated in 1977.

Upon graduation, Ken was articled to Perth lawyer, Gerald R. Dulmage of the firm of O’Donnell, Dulmage and was subsequently called to the Bar of the Province of Ontario in 1979. Upon being called to the Bar he established a private practice in the Town of Perth at 27 Foster Street where he continues to practice today.

Ken has a general practice with emphasis on real estate and mortgages, Wills and Estates and sales and purchases of commercial businesses. He has represented small corporate clients in a number of international transactions.

Ken frequently represents U.S. residents on the sale or purchase of property in Ontario. Ken enjoys a good rapport with his American clients and in the case of Non-Resident sales he refers them to the accounting firm of Cross Street & Company, Chartered Accountants, to assist in maximizing their refund of Non-Resident Withholding Tax

Ken’s community involvement over the years have included:

President of the Kiwanis Club of Perth-on-Tay
Warden of St. James Anglican Church
President of the Perth Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society
President of the Lanark-Carleton Federal Progressive Conservative Association
President of the County of Lanark Law Association
Vice President of the Lanark-Carleton Provincial Progressive Conservative Association