About Us

Ferguson Deacon Taws LLP was established by the firm’s partners: Lisa D. Belcourt, Mark Baker, Michael D. Laplante and Patrick Sloan. On January 1, 2018, two local law firms (Ferguson Barristers and Deacon Taws) merged to become FDT Law (Ferguson Deacon Taws LLP). With this merger and collaboration, we look forward to offering expanded legal services and areas of expertise while continuing to offer personalized service and advice that our clients can trust. Together, our team of lawyers has extensive experience, creating a seasoned and knowledgeable staff to represent and fight for our clients’ best interests.

History of Ferguson Barristers LLP

Ferguson Barristers LLP was a personal injury and civil litigation law firm, founded by Rod Ferguson in 1990, that established a reputation for “fighting hard” while acting with absolute fairness and integrity. Lawyers from the firm have extensive experience and have made it their mission to meet the needs of people from all walks of life and serve you as if you were our one and only client.

History of Deacon Taws

Deacon Taws has been proud to serve the Simcoe and Georgian Bay areas from offices in Midland and Penetanguishene for more than 100 years. The firm’s roots reach back to the turn of the century when Bill Hewson Sr. founded the Penetanguishene branch. Bill Hewson Jr., Q.C. joined his father in practice after the First World War and assumed full responsibility in 1924.

In 1967, Fred E. Horton, Q.C. assumed responsibility for the Hewson practice in Penetanguishene. Mr. Horton had been practising law in Midland in association with Edward Kendall since 1959, and in 1963 had set up his practice, founding the Midland branch of the firm. Mr. Horton continued as a sole practitioner under the firm name of Horton & Hewson.

Bob MacKinnon joined Fred Horton in practice in 1973 under the firm name of Horton, Hewson & MacKinnon. That same year, Paul DeVillers set up his Penetanguishene practice. In 1974, Mr. Horton retired from active practice and Paul DeVillers and Bob MacKinnon formed a partnership under the name MacKinnon, DeVillers & Horton. Paul DeVillers continued with the firm as an associate until 1991 and then stood as our Federal Member of Parliament until retiring at the end of 2005. In 1993, Bob MacKinnon was appointed a Justice of the Ontario Court (General Division).

Peter Deacon articled with the firm in 1977 and became an associate lawyer in 1978. In 1982, he became a partner under the firm name MacKinnon, DeVillers & Deacon. Drummond Peet joined the firm as a partner in 1982, and the firm became known as MacKinnon, DeVillers, Peet & Deacon.

William P. Taws set up his own law practice in 1982 and operated until 1989 as a sole practitioner. He became successor to the files of Edward Kendall in 1986. In 1989, he joined the firm on Drummond Peet’s retirement and the firm name became MacKinnon, DeVillers, Deacon & Taws.

John F.L. Rose joined the firm in 1995 and was an associate lawyer from 1996 until 2003.

In the fall of 2002, the firm consolidated its Midland and Penetanguishene practices in its Midland offices on Elizabeth Street.