About Us

Serving Lambton County Clients for 30 Years

Meet Our Team

With Whitehead Law & Mediation now part of the Drake Law Group, our Sarnia clients have access to a dedicated team of family lawyers who bring a wealth of experience, compassion and practical know-how to every file. Working collaboratively with a support team of law clerks and intake coordinators, they ensure that each client receives thoughtful, responsive and results-driven legal care.

Whether your matter calls for negotiation at the kitchen table or advocacy in the courtroom, our lawyers are here to guide you every step of the way. We also have real estate and wills and estates lawyers on the Drake Law legal team, should you ever need help in those areas.

Janet M. Whitehead

FOUNDER, RETIRED
John C. Drake

SENIOR COUNSEL
Tinnish Andersen

SENIOR COUNSEL | FAMILY LAW
Avram Joseph

SENIOR COUNSEL | FAMILY LAW
Evgenia Karakehayova

ASSOCIATE LAWYER | FAMILY LAW
Eyad Shhap

ASSOCIATE LAWYER | FAMILY LAW

Janet M. Whitehead — Founder, Retired

Bio

Janet M. Whitehead is the founder of Whitehead Law & Mediation, now part of the Drake Law Group. Janet retired in 2026 after a distinguished career spanning over 30 years.

Janet is a fully qualified lawyer licensed to practice law by the Law Society of Ontario, who practiced law in London and Sarnia/Lambton after being called to the bar from 1993 until her retirement.

Janet has extensive experience in all levels of court and has been involved in negotiating countless settlements of disputes, primarily in the areas of family and estate law. Individual clients appreciated Janet's ability to explain legal concepts and respected her ability to help them find practical, common sense solutions.

Janet witnessed first-hand the emotional and financial toll conflict can take on families involved in disputes, particularly when litigation, or the court process, is required. As a result, in 2016 Janet decided to focus her efforts on helping clients find ways to resolve family disputes in a principled and respectful manner. Her family law practice was restricted to matters which could be resolved through mediation or negotiation, rather than litigation in the court system.

We thank Janet for over 30 years of dedicated service to the Sarnia and Lambton community and wish her all the best in her retirement.

Credentials

Attended East Lambton Secondary School in Watford
Received her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario in 1991
Called to the Bar in 1993
Trained in Collaborative Law
Certified as a mediator through the Ontario Association of Family Mediators (OAFM) and has completed the Intimate Partner Training required by the Ministry of the Attorney General for Family Arbitrators

Professional Activities

Former Chair of the provincial County & District Law Presidents’ Association (CDLPA)
Past president of the Lambton Law Association
Former member of the Chief Justice of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on the Issue of Professionalism
Past president of the Breast Cancer Society of Canada
Director of the Ontario Association of Family Mediators
Associate member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)- Ontario Chapter