{"url":"https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html","title":"Court may unseal Barry Sherman's $2B family trust battle","domain":"thestar.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/6540658/pexels-photo-6540658.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","category":"Politics","language":"en","slug":"3f9cf4bc","id":"3f9cf4bc-0024-4129-b5d0-803ef0c730d7","description":"Jonathon Sherman battles siblings over control of $2 billion Sherman family trust assets.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **Jonathon Sherman** battles siblings over control of **$2 billion** Sherman family trust assets.\n- **Ontario Superior Court** hearing set for **May 25, 2025**, may unseal estate details.\n- Public disclosure likely due to Supreme Court openness rulings.[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)\n\n## The story at a glance\n**Barry Sherman**'s son **Jonathon Sherman** and his trust board nominee **Michael Woollcombe** are suing to remove trustees **Alex Glasenberg** and **Bradley Krawczyk**, alleging breach and oppressive conduct over **$2 billion** in family assets. **Alexandra Sherman** supports Glasenberg and Krawczyk. The dispute heads to **Ontario Superior Court** on **May 25, 2025**, before Justice **Sean Dunphy**, who may open previously sealed estate books following Supreme Court rulings on court openness.[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- **December 2017**: **Barry** and **Honey Sherman** murdered in **Toronto** home; estate passes to four children upon turning **35** by **2024**.\n- **2018**: **Jonathon Sherman** ousts **Jack Kay** from **Apotex**; siblings feud over finances, **Alexandra** accuses **Jonathon** of murder involvement (denied).\n- **2021**: Siblings form **Sherfam** board with nominees including **Woollcombe**; Supreme Court upholds openness for estate files.\n- **Spring 2025**: **Jonathon** accuses **Glasenberg** and **Krawczyk** of ousting plot; **July 2025**, sues for their removal.\n- **Summer 2025**: **Woollcombe** files for court intervention on board oppression.\n- **February 2025**: Justice **Dunphy** notes family disharmony; orders prep for **May 25, 2025** hearing.[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)\n\n## Signature highlights\n- Estate totals **$4.7 billion** to **$10 billion** including **Bahamas** offshore assets; **Sherfam** manages **$2 billion+** real estate and investments after selling **Apotex**.\n- Original trustees: **Jonathon**, **Jack Kay** (died **2024** after multi-million payout), **Glasenberg**, **Krawczyk**; daughters removed pre-murder.\n- **24 lawyers** from top firms involved; **Woollcombe** challenges law firm **Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg** for conflicts.\n- Board vote **4-2** refused to renew independent chair **Barry Reiter**, prompting oppression claim.\n- Pre-murder email: **Jonathon** called \"heir apparent,\" **Barry** replied, \"You are my son and an heir to the empire.\"\n- Murder probe: **9 years** ongoing, detective reviews **14,801** seized files, estimates **30+ years** to complete.[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)\n\n## Key quotes\n- Justice **Sean Dunphy** (February 2025): “The tragic murder of **Honey** and **Barry Sherman** in **2017** thrust upon their heirs the responsibility of dealing with an indescribable personal tragedy while also attempting to sort through the complex personal and business issues that managing the resulting estate gave rise to.”[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)\n- Justice **Sean Dunphy**: “The fact that (the four **Sherman** children’s) relationship with each other has not been seamlessly harmonious since then is unfortunate, but not at all surprising.”[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)\n- **Chris Paliare** (for **Glasenberg**): “an extension of **Jonathon Sherman**’s unfounded allegations made against his fellow trustees.”[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)\n\n## Why it matters\nCourt openness could reveal details of **$2 billion** trust management and family rifts post-murder. It means potential public insight into **Sherman** estate distributions and trustee accountability for beneficiaries. Watch the **May 25, 2025** hearing before Justice **Dunphy** for settlement or disclosures.[[1]](https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/inside-the-battle-over-barry-shermans-billions-why-a-court-may-soon-open-the-books-on-the-murdered-tycoons-family-legacy/article_ffb4d28d-628b-40db-8ed9-8e8e9e1c4c09.html)","hashtags":["#billionaire","#murder","#estate","#familydispute","#court","#trust"],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-04T23:38:29.368Z"}