Our Team
Manis Law helps you navigate your legal needs. Meet the team.
Our Team
Howard F. Manis
Partner - Senior Counsel
Howard has been practicing bankruptcy and insolvency law (creditors’ and debtors’ rights), and commercial litigation since his call to the Bar in 1993.
He provides legal advice to trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, banks and other financial institutions, landlords, trade suppliers and debtors (both corporate and individuals) in all aspects of insolvency law, including bankruptcy, proposals, reorganizations and restructurings, enforcement of security, and in protecting rights outside of insolvency proceedings. His practice also comprises secured and unsecured debt enforcement for private and institutional lenders and manufacturers and distributors in the sporting goods industry.
In addition, Howard has a strong commercial litigation expertise where he regularly acts for both plaintiffs and defendants on behalf of corporations and private individuals in a wide range of sophisticated commercial disputes, including but not limited to, securities issues, shareholder disputes and interpretations of business agreements.
Howard regularly gives seminars on a wide range of topics in his areas of practice.
Howard has three daughters and loves spending quality time with his family. He is actively involved in many sports including spinning, baseball, and hockey, and recently competed in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, where he won a Silver Medal with Team Canada. Having been born and raised in Montreal, Howard is also a lifelong, die-hard Habs fan.
Daniel Litsos
Associate
Daniel’s practice encompasses a broad range of commercial litigation matters including bankruptcy and insolvency, debtor-creditor disputes and corporate/ shareholder issues. He advises and advocates on behalf of plaintiffs, defendants and insolvency trustees and has appeared before various levels of Ontario courts and tribunals.
While attending law school at the University of Windsor, Daniel volunteered at the Community Legal Aid office and gained experience and exposure to a wide array of consumer protection legislation and litigation, provincial offences and Landlord and Tenant disputes. After several attendances before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Landlord and Tenant Board, Daniel became interested in pursuing a career in litigation with a focus on providing clients with straightforward and cost-effective advice and representation.
Dallas Hayes-Nairne
Associate
Dallas graduated from the Dual JD program at the University of Windsor and University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He was called to the Ontario Bar in June 2023. Dallas' practice will focus on bankruptcy and insolvency and commercial litigation. Prior to law school Dallas was a paralegal and represented clients in both the Small Claims Court and the Landlord Tenant Board.
While attending law school Dallas worked at the Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Clinic advocating for pro se litigants in Federal Court. This experience solidified his interest in litigation. Dallas graduated magna cum laude and was elected to membership in the Frank Murphy Honour Society for placing in the top 10% of his class and for his contributions to moot court.
Marianne D'Souza
Paralegal
Marianne is a Paralegal with Manis Law and has over 10 years of experience as a Paralegal.
She started as a Legal Assistant in 2000. Later, as a Law Clerk and then a Paralegal, her expansive duties covered various areas of law including Real Estate and Corporate, but with a continuous focus on Litigation and Bankruptcy & Insolvency.
She has a comprehensive knowledge of the Rules of Civil Procedure and the Small Claims Rules and has extensive experience with the various phases of the litigation process including the originating process, claims, defences, discovery, post-judgment enforcement options, appeals, etc.
Marianne assists the lawyers in their practice and liaises with clients, trustees and the various courts to complete legal assignments and ensure client satisfaction. She also assists with the drafting of various court documents including pleadings, trial briefs, motion records, bills of costs, affidavits, discovery productions, etc.
A motivated volunteer for many worthwhile community projects and events, Marianne is also a member of two community choral groups and considers herself an (amateur) ‘YouTube-trained’ artist.
Professional memberships
- Law Society of Ontario - Paralegal
Bar admissions & education
- Law Clerk Diploma, Seneca College (accreditation by The Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO))
- Paralegal Diploma, Seneca College (accreditation by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO))
- Bachelor of Commerce