These were Ontario’s leading personal injury lawyers based on the results of our comprehensive yearly peer survey in 2021. Click the link for the current complete list of Ontario’s best personal injury lawyers and law firms from our most recent surveys.
Personal injury law encompasses all manner of physical and psychological injuries suffered in a wide range of circumstances, including road traffic and street accidents, defective products and workplace injuries. Several lawyers who practice insurance law are also included in the list.
Most frequently recommended personal injury lawyers representing plaintiffs
Geoffrey D.E. Adair
Law firm: Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1969
City: Toronto
Geoffrey D.E. Adair is a partner at Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP. He is considered one of Canada’s most experienced trial and appellate lawyers, having tried more than 250 jury and non-jury cases to verdict and argued more than 100 appeals in the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Adair devotes his practice to commercial litigation, commercial insurance litigation, directors’ and officers’ liability and major tort cases, including products liability and professional negligence matters. He is the author of critically acclaimed advocacy text On Trial (Butterworths, second edition, 2004) and a contributing editor to Ontario Courtroom Procedure. Adair is an elected fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a frequent lecturer to the profession.
Richard M. Bogoroch
Law firm: Bogoroch & Associates LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1980 (AB); 1983 (ON)
City: Toronto
Richard M. Bogoroch is the managing partner at Bogoroch & Associates LLP. He devotes his practice to serious personal injury, including brain injury litigation, wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability and disability litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. He was certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in civil litigation in 1993. Bogoroch was as a student, associate and partner with Thomson Rogers from 1981 to 1999 before establishing his own firm in November 1999. He has instructed in civil procedure for the LSO’s Bar Admissions Course and at the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at Osgoode Hall Law School. Bogoroch is a member of The Advocates’ Society (TAS) Ontario, Canadian Bar Association, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, Toronto Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice and Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA). He is also a past director of TAS and the Ontario Centre for Advocacy Training. He has chaired, spoken or served as a panellist at continuing legal education programs organized by the TAS(O), LSO, Osgoode Hall Professional Development, OTLA and others professional organizations.
Timothy P. Boland
Law firm: Boland Romaine LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1983
City: Aurora
Timothy P. Boland is a partner at Boland Romaine LLP. He is a trial lawyer for the seriously injured. Boland is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in civil litigation. He has extensive trial experience and numerous precedent-setting verdicts on behalf of individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, serious orthopedic injuries and lost loved ones. Boland is frequently invited to speak at conferences and publish in the area of trial advocacy. He is a former director of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. In 2008, he received the H. Bruce T. Hillyer Award from OTLA for outstanding trial advocacy. Boland was also honoured at OTLA’s Annual President's Dinner recognizing him as a leader of the plaintiff personal injury bar in 2014.
J. Patrick Brown
Law firm: McLeish Orlando LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1993
City: Toronto
J. Patrick Brown is a partner and owner of McLeish Orlando LLP. He has been fighting for victims of serious injury or who have been wrongfully killed for more than two decades. Brown is a civil litigation specialist certified by the Law Society of Ontario. He is also a former president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. Brown initiated the Ontario Coroner’s review of pedestrian and cycling deaths and received the Active Transportation Champion of the Year award by Toronto Centre for Active Transportation. He also received the Safety Award of Excellence by Ontario Safety League and the 2018 Professional Award from Ontario Brain Injury Association. Brown is former director of Cycle Toronto, founder of Bike Law Canada and committee member of Friends & Families for Safe Streets.
Brian M. Cameron
Law firm: Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2001
City: Barrie
Brian M. Cameron joined Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP in 1999 and became a partner in 2008. He is a certified specialist in civil litigation. Cameron has acted as co-counsel on several cases at the appellate level in Ontario that has resulted in significant gains for plaintiffs injured in motor-vehicle collisions. He is also frequently invited as a speaker at conferences involving the advancement of personal injury law, notably before the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association and The Advocates’ Society. He regularly speaks to healthcare professionals about the changing nature of insurance in Ontario. Cameron is also a co-editor for the OTLA Update, a publication about recent developments in the practice.
Duncan N. Embury
Law firm: Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers
Year called to the Bar: 1996
City: Toronto
Duncan N. Embury is a partner at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, where he also heads the medical malpractice group. He acts on behalf of plaintiffs across Canada in medical negligence cases, including obstetrical negligence, surgical negligence and acquired brain injuries. He also represents plaintiffs in catastrophic personal injury claims, including institutional negligence, occupier’s liability, motor vehicle accidents and product liability matters. Embury handles complex multi-jurisdictional cases to assist Ontario residents in recovering damages for injuries occurring in foreign jurisdictions. He also acts as co-counsel to other lawyers in complex medical negligence cases at both trial and appeal. Embury is a regular speaker in all areas of medical negligence for the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, the Ontario Bar Association and the Law Society of Ontario. He is a certified specialist in civil litigation.
Charles E. Gluckstein
Law firm: Gluckstein Lawyers
Year called to the Bar: 1999
City: Toronto
Charles E. Gluckstein is a partner Gluckstein Lawyers. He is a specialist in civil litigation. Gluckstein’s practice encompasses personal injury, motor vehicle claims, medical and professional negligence and occupier’s liability issues. He commands a thorough knowledge of all relevant automobile legislation, providing a trusted experience for all aspects of dispute resolution. Gluckstein was appointed president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association from 2013 to 2014.
Richard C. Halpern
Law firm: Gluckstein Lawyers
Year called to Bar: 1984
City: Toronto
Richard C. Halpern is a senior counsel at Gluckstein Lawyers. He acts exclusively for injured people in medical negligence cases, with a special focus on birth injury cases. Halpern has more than 30 years of experience representing seriously injured people. He has lectured and written extensively on matters concerning obstetrics, the cause of newborn injury, general medical malpractice and legal and trial strategies. Halpern was the recipient of the Award for Distinguished Service to the legal profession, conferred by the Ontario Bar Association in 2015.
Troy H. Lehman
Law firm: Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2001
City: Barrie
Troy H. Lehman has been a partner at Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP since 2010. He joined the firm in 2006. Lehman is a certified specialist in civil litigation and an inducted fellow of Litigation Counsel of America. He has been invited to educate other lawyers on various topics relating to personal injury law at conferences hosted by the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, The Advocates’ Society and many legal professional organizations. Lehman has represented clients as lead counsel on both trials and appeals. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Western Ontario and Queen’s University.
Sloan H. Mandel
Law firm: Thomson Rogers
Year called to the Bar: 1996
City: Toronto
Sloan H. Mandel is a senior partner at Thomson Rogers. He focuses on personal injury and medical malpractice litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. Mandel is a certified civil litigation specialist by the Law Society of Ontario. He boasts a wealth of court and litigation experience, achieving some of Ontario’s largest personal injury and medical malpractice awards. His works has also been published extensively in both medical and legal texts and journals. Mandel is a past member of the Ontario Bar Association Health Law Executive and regularly lectures doctors, lawyers and healthcare professionals at a variety of educational seminars.
John A. McLeish
Law firm: McLeish Orlando LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1975
City: Toronto
John A. McLeish is one of the founding partners at McLeish Orlando. He lectures and publishes extensively for various continuing legal education programs on trial advocacy and all matters related to actions for personal injury and wrongful death damages. McLeish has co-authored five texts on personal injury and trial advocacy. He is a past president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and an elected fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. McLeish received the Award of Excellence in Insurance Law from the Ontario Bar Association in 2016.
Darcy R. Merkur
Law firm: Thomson Rogers
Year called to the Bar: 2000
City: Toronto
Darcy R. Merkur is a partner at Thomson Rogers. He is a trauma lawyer dedicated to helping victims and their families following traumatic events such as serious motor vehicle accidents. Merkur is a certified civil litigation specialist by the Law Society of Ontario. He is the first lawyer in Canada to be qualified as a certified brain injury specialist by the Brain Injury Association of America. Merkur was a recipient of the 2011 Dean Edgell Award presented by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association for his significant contribution and excellence in legal writing, continuing legal education and leadership activities.
Dale V. Orlando
Law firm: McLeish Orlando LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1996
City: Toronto
Dale V. Orlando is a founding partner at McLeish Orlando LLP. He devotes his practice to plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. Orlando has represented catastrophically injured people and their family members throughout Ontario. He is a former president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and currently a member of the American Association for Justice and The Advocates’ Society. He has acted as co-chair and lectured at conferences held by various legal organizations, including Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Canadian Institute, Law Society of Ontario, Carleton County Law Association and Ontario Bar. Orlando is also a contributing author to A Guide to Personal Injury Practice in Motor Vehicle Cases. He has appeared as a guest lecturer at the University of Western Ontario, Osgoode Hall, Queen's University, George Brown College and various community hospitals and legal clinics.
James L. Vigmond
Law firm: Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1983
City: Barrie
James L. Vigmond is a partner at Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP. He has been practising personal injury litigation on behalf of plaintiffs for more than three decades. Vigmond leads a team of lawyers and support staff with broad expertise in cases involving spinal cord, brain and orthopedic injuries. He is a certified litigation specialist by the Law Society of Ontario and an inducted fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and American College of Trial Lawyers. Vigmond has appeared as counsel at all levels of courts in Ontario. He has also published several articles and presented in the field of personal injury litigation and trial advocacy for numerous legal associations, including Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Canadian Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Atlantic Provinces Trial Lawyers Association and The Advocates’ Society. Vigmond has appeared as counsel at all levels of Courts in Ontario. OTLA has also retained him to intervene on their behalf on numerous occasions in the Court of Appeal. Vigmond has appeared in every case where the court has considered “catastrophic impairment.” He received a lifetime achievement award from OTLA in 2016.
Adam K. Wagman
Law firm: Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1996
City: Toronto
Adam K. Wagman is senior partner and former managing partner at Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP. He devotes his practice to personal injury litigation, accident benefits claims and other disability and insurance litigation. Wagman is a certified specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario. He has been a guest lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School and is a regular speaker at continuing legal education programs. He was president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association from 2016 to 2017 and has served for many years on its board of directors. Wagman also previously served as president of Ontario Association of Community Based Boards for Acquired Brain Injury, member of the Toronto Region Case Management Steering Committee and member of the board at Peel Halton Acquired Brain Injury Services. He is also a founding member of the board of the Brain Injury Society of Toronto.
Most frequently recommended personal injury lawyers representing defendants
Chris T.J. Blom
Law firm: Miller Thomson LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1987
City: Toronto
Chris T.J. Blom is a partner at Miller Thomson LLP. He devotes his practice to insurance litigation with a focus on insurance defence work in connection with both tort and accident benefits cases. Blom acts on behalf of insurers in Ontario with respect to claims across Canada and in the US regarding all aspects of general insurance. He is well-versed in the areas of personal injury, property damage and economic loss claims. Blom also provides advice in connection with coverage opinions, general liability issues, accidents benefits and bad faith litigation. He represents clients at all levels of the provincial court system, including the Court of Appeal in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Blom is recognized for his extensive experience with mediation and private arbitration and is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a civil litigation specialist.
Read more about Miller Thomson LLP on virtual dispute resolution
Tom Curry
Law firm: Lenczner Slaght
Year called to the Bar: 1986
City: Toronto
Tom Curry is a managing partner at Lenczner Slaght. He has a long record of success in high-profile commercial litigation, class actions, arbitrations, business disputes, administrative law, judicial review, intellectual property, competition and professional liability cases. Curry is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is also a certified specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario. Curry is a regular speaker on a wide variety of subjects relating to trial practice and substantive law. He was recently the recipient of the Law Society Medal for his achievement and contribution to the profession.
Eric K. Grossman
Law firm: Zarek Taylor Grossman Hanrahan LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1989
City: Toronto
Eric K. Grossman is a partner at Zarek Taylor Grossman Hanrahan LLP. He is a certified specialist in civil litigation since 1999. Grossman’s practice focuses on acting for insurers in litigation matters. He has appeared as counsel at mediations, pre-arbitration hearings, arbitrations and appeals before the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the License Appeal Tribunal and on private arbitrations. Grossman has also appeared in defence of claims on judicial review at the divisional court and Court of Appeal.
Susan E. Gunter
Law firm: Dutton Brock LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1996
City: Toronto
Susan E. Gunter has been a partner at Dutton Brock LLP since 2002. Her litigation practice focuses on insurance and liability claims in defence of domestic and international corporations and insurers. Gunter has appeared before federal and provincial tribunals, all levels of court in Ontario and the Federal Court of Canada. She is consulted for legal and risk management education and speaks frequently on litigation, professionalism and ethics and privacy. Gunter chairs the Globalization Working Group of the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy and sits on the Toronto Civil Bench and Bar Committee. She is also a member of the peer-selected International Association of Defense Counsel, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and Association of Defense and Trial Attorneys. Gunter has served as president of Canadian Defence Lawyers and director of The Advocates' Society, DRI - Voice of the Defense Bar and Canadian Defence Lawyers Foundation. She was also a co-chair of TAS Personal Injury Practice Group. Gunter has authored articles for the Annual Review of Civil Litigation, The Advocates’ Quarterly and For the Defense.
Philippa G. Samworth
Law firm: Dutton Brock LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1979
City: Toronto
Philippa G. Samworth is a partner at Dutton Brock LLP. She is a certified specialist in civil litigation. Samworth devotes her practice to insurance defence (accident benefits) and providing mediation and arbitration services. She was retained by the Ministry of Finance of Ontario as a consultant to provide analysis and technical advice to the ministry on its preparation and drafting of the new automobile insurance legislation, Bill 59, and its regulations. Samwoth was appointed to the Minister’s Committee for Designated Assessment Centres in May 1997 and chaired the committee in 1998, 2000 and 2001 to 2004. She was again retained by the Minister of Finance to conduct stakeholder consultations and provide advice and recommendation on proposals to replace the DAC system in March 2004. Samworth has received numerous awards, including the first Lee Samis Award for Excellence (Canadian Defence Lawyers), the first Ontario Bar Association Award for Excellence in Insurance Law, the Medical-Legal Society Award and The Advocates' Society Medal. She was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in October 2007 and the Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals in 2020.
Robert W. Traves
Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the Bar: 1985
City: Toronto
Robert W. Traves is partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Toronto. He was also the manager of the firm’s litigation department from 2010 to 2014, member of the national council from 2007 to 2013 and former chair of its Respectful Workplace Taskforce. Traves is an accredited mediator through the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. He practises major tort and property damage litigation, commercial insurance litigation, professional negligence claims and personal injury, with an emphasis on insurance defence litigation. Traves has extensive municipal liability expertise, including claims involving the design and maintenance of roadways, building design and inspections, liability of taxation and finance departments, sewage and drainage system claims and police liability claims. Traves is a member of the Ontario Civil Litigation Section of the Ontario Bar Association. He is also a frequent speaker, demonstrator and chair on insurance and personal injury-related topics through Osgoode Professional Development and Insight programs.
Read more about Borden Ladner Gervais LLP on the importance of vigilance to avoid fraud
Paul Tushinski
Law firm: Dutton Brock LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1985
City: Toronto
Paul Tushinski is a senior partner at Dutton Brock LLP. He is a certified specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario. He devotes his practice to defence, with an emphasis on products liability, class proceedings, environmental claims, construction and complex insurance matters, including coverage and property disputes and general liability. Tushinski is past president of the Toronto Lawyers Association, a founding member and past president of the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association and a former director of The Advocates’ Society. He is also a member of the Toronto Lawyers Association, Canadian Bar Association, Medico-Legal Society, The Advocates’ Society, Canadian Defence Lawyers Association and University Club of Toronto. Tushinski is the 2016 recipient of the Lee Samis award by CDL and the 2016 OTLA Award.