Austring Fairman & Fekete

Austring Fairman & Fekete, established in 1973, has served Yukon clients for over forty-two years, building one of Canada's most experienced family law practices in the territorial context. Based in Whitehorse, Yukon's capital, the firm operates as one of the territory's most established legal institutions with deep relationships in the legal community and judiciary.

Shayne Fairman, a partner at Austring Fairman & Fekete, practices family law alongside administrative law and mental health law. This combination reflects recognition that family law issues often carry administrative and mental health dimensions. A custody dispute might involve child protection authorities (administrative) or parental mental health concerns (mental health law). Fairman's diverse expertise allows integrated approach to complex family law matters.

The firm's dedication to "creating positive outcomes for clients" reflects sophisticated understanding of family law's distinctive dimensions. Unlike transactional legal matters where outcomes are relatively straightforward, family law involves navigating relationships, parental concerns, financial uncertainty, and life transitions. Creating positive outcomes requires not just legal expertise but also emotional intelligence and strategic thinking about how legal decisions affect family members' lives.

The firm's comprehensive family law services encompass divorce, separation, child custody (including the distinctive grandparent custody cases that sometimes arise), asset division, child support, and spousal support. This complete spectrum means Austring Fairman & Fekete can address all family law dimensions within a single firm rather than requiring clients to coordinate with multiple service providers.

The emphasis on grandparent custody reflects recognition of a distinctive family law issue in northern contexts. When parents cannot care for children—due to incapacity, death, or other circumstances—grandparents sometimes assume parental roles. Legal recognition of these arrangements requires family law expertise specific to grandparent custody issues. Austring Fairman & Fekete's explicit inclusion of this service demonstrates comprehensive family law practice.

Yukon's territorial status and unique legal context require lawyers with specific knowledge of territorial law. Yukon's statutes, court procedures, and judicial culture differ from provincial jurisdiction. Austring Fairman & Fekete's forty-two years of Yukon practice means the firm maintains deep expertise in territorial family law and established relationships with the Yukon judiciary and administrative officials.

Geographic isolation and small population in Yukon create distinctive family law considerations. In communities where population is limited, privacy concerns intensify. Families navigating separation in small Yukon communities face considerations that southern urbanized areas might not. Austring Fairman & Fekete's deep Yukon roots mean the firm understands these territorial dimensions of family law practice.

The firm's location in Whitehorse, Yukon's capital and largest community, positions it at the center of territorial legal practice. Whitehorse hosts Yukon's Supreme and Territorial Courts, government administrative offices, and most significant legal institutions. Lawyers based in Whitehorse maintain relationships with the judiciary and administrative personnel that facilitate efficient case management.

The partnership structure with multiple lawyers ensures capacity to handle diverse matters while maintaining availability for urgent client needs. Rather than a solo practitioner who might be unavailable, the multi-lawyer partnership provides backup resources and continuity of representation.

For Whitehorse and throughout Yukon, Austring Fairman & Fekete offers over forty-two years of family law experience, comprehensive services addressing all family law dimensions, and deep understanding of Yukon's distinctive legal and geographic context. The firm's reputation for creating positive outcomes reflects decades of successful family law representation.