Court may unseal Barry Sherman's $2B family trust battle
Source: thestar.com
TL;DR
- Jonathon Sherman battles siblings over control of $2 billion Sherman family trust assets.
- Ontario Superior Court hearing set for May 25, 2025, may unseal estate details.
- 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)
The story at a glance
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)
Key moments & milestones
- December 2017: Barry and Honey Sherman murdered in Toronto home; estate passes to four children upon turning 35 by 2024.
- 2018: Jonathon Sherman ousts Jack Kay from Apotex; siblings feud over finances, Alexandra accuses Jonathon of murder involvement (denied).
- 2021: Siblings form Sherfam board with nominees including Woollcombe; Supreme Court upholds openness for estate files.
- Spring 2025: Jonathon accuses Glasenberg and Krawczyk of ousting plot; July 2025, sues for their removal.
- Summer 2025: Woollcombe files for court intervention on board oppression.
- 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)
Signature highlights
- Estate totals $4.7 billion to $10 billion including Bahamas offshore assets; Sherfam manages $2 billion+ real estate and investments after selling Apotex.
- Original trustees: Jonathon, Jack Kay (died 2024 after multi-million payout), Glasenberg, Krawczyk; daughters removed pre-murder.
- 24 lawyers from top firms involved; Woollcombe challenges law firm Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg for conflicts.
- Board vote 4-2 refused to renew independent chair Barry Reiter, prompting oppression claim.
- Pre-murder email: Jonathon called "heir apparent," Barry replied, "You are my son and an heir to the empire."
- 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)
Key quotes
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Why it matters
Court 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)