For Ronald Kumar, principal and lawyer of Ronald Kumar Law Corporation, his life's trajectory was carved out early on by determination, and perhaps, too, by genetics. His uncle was a lawyer, who he interned with as a teenager. "I learned a lot from him while I was in high school and law was just something that ignited my passion," he says.
His love for litigation was further fuelled after earning his bachelor's degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University in 2009 and completing his Juris Doctor law degree in the summer of 2011.
Born in Vancouver, he grew up in a middle-class family, his immigrant parents laboured at modest jobs. "They worked hard in cleaning and construction, and held two-to-three jobs at one time," recalls Kumar. "Seeing their efforts, I wanted to emulate their work ethic and instilled myself with some of those same characteristics."
Little did he know how much his work ethic would—so soon—be tested.
Kumar articled in 2011/2012, with boutique law firm, at that time called Vertlieb Dosanjh, passed the bar in 2013 at 25 (one of the youngest lawyers to be called to the British Columbia bar), and founded his Vancouver practice in 2014. His path, it would seem, was a smooth succession of wins—until it wasn't.
"I was diagnosed with cancer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma) in 2012, but continued to article and work while getting chemotherapy treatments," Kumar says, matter-of-factly. "Most people go on disability or stop working, I didn't. I continued on because I wanted to get called to the bar."
Perseverance landed him in full remission in 2017. Healthy, and today 35, Kumar's successful practice is a reflection of his pursuit of excellence, both for his firm and his clients. His gutsy fortitude, or grind, in his words, is the same today, only now, he channels it to achieve favourable results for his clients through both settlement and court.
He has appeared before the British Columbia Provincial Court, Immigration Appeal Division, British Columbia Supreme Court, and British Columbia Court of Appeal.
The firm provides legal services in personal injury law, family law, immigration law, estate litigation, and civil litigation. "We are always striving to get the best results for our clients. We have recovered millions in settlement dollars for injured victims from various insurance companies in personal injury cases," admits Kumar.
Married and father to a one-year-old son, he says family law holds a special place in his heart.
“In this generation we are seeing an increase in divorce cases, where more families are getting torn apart during divorce proceedings, and the kids are left suffering at the end”. Kumar and his team offer specialized family law / divorce services that take away from the acrimonious battle of having to go to court. "Our firm specializes in collaborative divorce cases and family law agreements, namely separation agreements, cohabitation agreements, and prenuptial agreements."
Kumar considers himself relatable to his clients, particularly those who are faced with adversities and struggles, because he's been there. His community outreach is a reflection of his empathy and compassion for others and he draws on his background to pay it forward with his philanthropic endeavours.
"The most meaningful and most impactful contribution I make is a yearly scholarship to two students at my old senior high school, John Oliver Secondary, to students that are generally in need or have some financial hardship, and are interested in either criminal justice or the legal field."
Testimonials from clients reveal time and again their satisfaction with their settlement, Kumar's professionalism and honesty, and the firm's propensity to treat each client with the utmost care and attention.
His personal and genuine disposition shines through with every case he undertakes, which tallies near one thousand clients. He's often retained multiple times by clients, which speaks volumes to his work ethic. Full circle.
A strong contender for Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, Kumar’s aspirations from the beginning are the same today: "I just want to help people and provide the best affordable legal services possible."
Ronald Kumar is featured in the 2023 Profiles of Excellence Magazine
