We are a firm that prides itself on making everyone associated with us feel like they are treated as part of the Goldhar family.
Goldhar & Associates Ltd. is a firm that assists individuals and corporations to reset their financial affairs to help them Shed The Debt! We treat both debtors and creditors throughout the process with respect and understanding of their situation, by informing them of their rights under the various laws pertaining to their situation.
Richard Goldhar, B.Comm, CIRP, LIT is the Founder and President of Goldhar & Associates Ltd., a national insolvency and restructuring practice operating across Canada (excluding Quebec). He is a Licensed Insolvency Trustee and Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional with experience gained at leading national accounting and insolvency firms prior to establishing his firm in 2013.
Richard’s practice focuses on corporate restructuring, formal and informal insolvency proceedings, and advisory mandates for mid-market businesses experiencing financial or operational stress. He is known for his disciplined, commercially pragmatic approach to restructuring, working closely with management teams, lenders, legal counsel, and other stakeholders to preserve enterprise value and achieve sustainable outcomes.
A graduate of the Bachelor of Commerce program at Dalhousie University, Richard maintains an active leadership role within the insolvency profession. He serves as an evaluator with the CAIRP National Insolvency Examination Board and has mentored numerous professionals seeking licensure as Licensed Insolvency Trustees, reflecting his commitment to professional standards, governance, and the development of future practitioners.
Richard brings a strong governance mindset to his work, combining technical expertise with sound judgment, discretion, and stakeholder alignment. His experience spans a broad range of industries and restructuring scenarios across Canada.
Richard is a proud father of three young boys and husband to Jennifer Shupak-Goldhar, a successful personal injury lawyer.
Len is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience assisting individuals and businesses overcome their financial problems. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2002 and as a Licensed Insolvency Trustee in 2008, with KPMG, a national accounting and insolvency firm. Len spent 10 years practicing with BDO, overseeing their Cape Breton, New Brunswick, and PEI insolvency practice. In 2021, he joined Goldhar & Associates Ltd. as Managing Partner in Atlantic Canada.
Len is known for his attention to detail and friendly demeanour, and takes great care in helping people navigate their financial issues. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, volunteering with organizations such as MADD Cape Breton and St. Anne’s Parish, and participating in outdoor activities such as skiing and boating.
I graduated from the International Development program at the University of Guelph and obtained some experience working in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. With the goal of returning to Not for Profit work, I decided to broaden my skillset by studying accounting. While working toward my CPA, CMA designation I started working in the field of insolvency. I began my career and trained in both personal and corporate insolvency proceedings, but after obtaining my Trustee license in 1995 I changed my focus to helping individuals overcome their personal debt problems. I worked with both national and regional firms before I opened my own practice.
Andrew Smith is a Licensed Insolvency Trustee and Chartered Professional Accountant with 14 years of experience in the insolvency and restructuring field. He spent the first six years of his career working on corporate insolvencies and restructuring small companies before transitioning to consumer practice in 2015, where he began providing insolvency advice to individuals in financial distress. Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration, concentrating in Accounting, from Vancouver Island University and obtained his Chartered Accounting designation in 2009. His financial accounting expertise includes reviewing not-for-profit financial statements, analyzing corporate transactions, and resolving matrimonial disputes through detailed financial reviews. He is also an active volunteer with the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, providing financial literacy sessions to the community, and serves as a Board Member of the British Columbia Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals.
Seasoned Finance Professional, experienced across Corporate Banking, Credit Appraisal, Cash Flow Management and Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring,
Worked across Hotel & Hospitality, Textiles, Construction & Engineering, Roads and Infrastructure Projects.
Eight Years of Corporate Banking experience with a major Indian Bank including two years of dedicated stressed asset resolution services. This was followed by two years of Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Resolution experience with Duff & Phelps, a major Financial Consulting firm.
Passionate to help clients by understanding their needs and creating a tailor-made solution to help overcome financial difficulties.
Marlene Oilgisser is a senior business executive with extensive experience in both operational and strategic functions. Her career includes practicing as a Chartered Accountant for 10 years and serving as Vice President of Finance for 12 years in a family business, where she played a pivotal role in guiding the company through an M.B.O. and an I.P.O. Marlene has also managed a cosmetic distributor on behalf of an absentee owner, assisted a cosmetic manufacturer through financial challenges leading to bankruptcy, and led a major cosmetic manufacturing operation for over 17 years, primarily as President, where she drove exceptional growth. Additionally, she has provided consulting services to business owners, offering tailored guidance to meet their specific needs. Marlene’s diverse experiences have equipped her with a wide range of management skills, enabling her to adapt quickly to hands-on situations, navigate complex challenges, and provide the necessary guidance for success.
