Meet the team
Our team
LAWYER, MEDIATOR
Nicholas Frid
Nicholas Frid, B.A., J.D. (Western), provides family law representation and mediation services to his clients. Nicholas started his career at a full service law firm in Oshawa, Ontario. He practiced primarily as a Federal Crown Agent for the Public Prosecutor of Canada while he developed a practice in family law as private and legal aid counsel. After determining that he wanted to fully explore his interest in family law and providing mediation services, Nicholas moved to Ottawa in May 2021 to complete his mediation training and accreditation with Barbara Cohen.
Nicholas brings a positive, compassionate energy to his work, helping clients prepare for whatever comes next. As a family lawyer, he walks you through the steps to offer clear advice and perspective on possible outcomes so you can make informed decisions. Over the course of his career, Nicholas has developed a deep passion for mediation, where he applies his thoughtful communication skills and creative problem-solving to help both parties reestablish dialogue and find common ground—even when effective communication has broken down.
Nicholas has enjoyed engraining himself in the Ottawa social and legal community since moving here in 2021. He is an active member of the Ottawa branch of Ontario Association of Family Mediators (“OAFM”), a committee member for the Carleton County Law Association (“CCLA”) Annual Institute of Family Law, and a frequenter of the CCLA Run Club! Outside of the office Nicholas looks forward to his weekly Men’s League tee times and hockey games, trying something new out in the kitchen, and attending as many Ottawa Senators games as possible.
ASSOCIATE LAWYER
Josh Schachnow
Joshua Schachnow, B.Com., J.D. (Western), is a legal aid panelled family law lawyer with a focus on litigation. Joshua was born and raised in Ottawa and enjoys working with clients in both the Ottawa and Toronto areas. While he spent most of his early years practicing immigration law, he now works exclusively on family law files. Joshua is highly organized and detail-oriented, ensuring that every aspect of a client’s case is managed efficiently and strategically. He primarily provides litigation services and is a strong advocate in both written and verbal argument. While he supports fair and reasonable resolution where possible, Joshua is fully prepared to proceed through the courts when necessary, always prioritizing clear communication and client-focused service throughout the process.
Joshua has also founded a legal tech company focused on helping law firms operate more efficiently, is active on LinkedIn where he has over 18,000 followers and is an avid blogger. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys playing sports, reading (business, personal development and fantasy) and cooking for his wife and baby girl.
LAW CLERK, ADMINISTRATION
Chetana Desai
Chetana handles the administration and the legal clerking responsibilities at FFLG.
Chetana attended Veer Narmad South Gujarat University and earned her Bachelor of Arts with a Gold Medal distinction in 2016, followed by her Bachelor of Laws degree in 2019. She practiced for four years as a criminal lawyer before she made the move to Ottawa. In 2024 she graduated from Algonquin College with a Law Clerk Diploma.
Chetana is an avid reader, loves to cook, and she can help our clients in four different languages: English, Gujurati, Hindi, and Sanskrit.
