These were Toronto’s leading personal injury lawyers based on the results of the 2021 survey. Click the link for the complete list of Toronto, Ontario’s best personal injury lawyers and law firms.
In our survey, personal injury law encompasses all manner of physical and psychological trauma suffered in a wide range of circumstances, excluding medical negligence, which has a separate survey. The practice includes the following areas: road traffic and street accidents; occupiers’ liability; uninsured losses; spinal, brain and serious injury; fatal and dependency cases; public liability; product liability; sports injuries; and catastrophic multiparty litigation such as air disasters.
Most frequently recommended personal injury lawyers representing plaintiffs
Geoffrey D.E. Adair
Law firm: Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP
Year called to the bar: 1969
Geoffrey D.E. Adair is a partner at Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP. He is one of Canada’s most experienced trial and appellate lawyers, having tried more than 250 jury and non-jury cases to verdict. He had also argued over 100 appeals in the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Adair devotes his practice to commercial litigation, commercial insurance litigation, and 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 and a frequent lecturer to the profession.
Richard M. Bogoroch
Law firm: Bogoroch & Associates LLP
Year called to the bar: 1980 (AB); 1983 (ON)
Richard M. Bogoroch is the managing partner at Bogoroch & Associates LLP. He focuses on serious personal injury, including brain injury litigation, wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability, and disability litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. Bogoroch was certified in 1993 by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in civil litigation. He was with Thomson Rogers from 1981 to 1999 as a student, associate and partner before establishing his own firm in November 1999. Bogoroch has instructed in civil procedure for the LSO’s BAC and at the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a member of The Advocates’ Society (Ontario), Canadian Bar Association, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, American Association for Justice and Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. Bogoroch is also a past director of The Advocates’ Society and 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.
J. Patrick Brown
Law firm: McLeish Orlando LLP
Year called to the bar: 1993
J. Patrick Brown serves as a partner at McLeish Orlando LLP, a firm he also owns. For more than 20 years, he has been fighting for victims who have suffered serious injury or been wrongfully killed. Brown is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as specialist in civil litigation. He has initiated the Ontario Coroners review of pedestrian and cycling deaths and received the Active Transportation Champion of the Year award by TCAT. Brown was also a recipient of the Safety Award of Excellence by Ontario Safety League and the 2018 Professional Award from Ontario Brain Injury Association. Brown is a former director of Cycle Toronto, founder of Bike Law Canada and committee member of Friends & Families for Safe Streets.
Duncan N. Embury
Law firm: Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers
Year called to the bar: 1996
Duncan N. Embury is a partner and the head of the medical malpractice group at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers. He primarily acts on behalf of plaintiffs on cases involving all areas of medical negligence, including obstetrical and surgical negligence. Embury also acts for plaintiffs on all types of catastrophic personal injury claims, including claims for institutional negligence, occupier’s liability, motor vehicle accidents and product liability matters. He handles complex multi-jurisdictional cases to assist Ontario residents in recovering damages where the injuries occurred in a foreign jurisdiction. Embury has also acted on behalf of the other lawyers in handling complex medical negligence cases at both trial and appeal. He is a regular speaker and presenter in all areas of medical negligence for the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Ontario Bar Association and Law Society of Ontario. Embury has been certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the LSO.
Charles E. Gluckstein
Law firm: Gluckstein Lawyers
Year called to the bar: 1999
Charles E. Gluckstein is a partner at Gluckstein Lawyers. He is a specialist in civil litigation that encompasses personal injury, motor vehicle claims, medical and professional negligence and occupier’s liability issues. Gluckstein commands a thorough knowledge of all relevant automobile legislation, providing a trusted experience for all aspects of dispute resolution. He is known for his active support within the medical and disability communities. Gluckstein was appointed president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association from 2013 to 2014.
Richard C. Halpern
Law firm: Gluckstein Lawyers
Year called to the bar: 1984
Richard C. Halpern is a senior lawyer at Gluckstein Lawyers. He acts exclusively for injured people in medical negligence cases, with a special focus on infants injured at or around the time of birth. Halpern is an expert in birth injury cases. He has more than 30 years of experience representing seriously injured people. Halpern is known for tackling some of the most complex and challenging medical malpractice cases. He has lectured and written extensively on matters concerned with obstetrics, the cause of newborn injury, general medical malpractice and legal and trial strategies.
Sloan H. Mandel
Law firm: Thomson Rogers
Year called to the bar: 1996
Sloan H. Mandel is a senior partner at Thomson Rogers. He devotes his practice to personal injury and medical malpractice litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. He has 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 health care professionals at a variety of educational seminars. He has a wealth of court and litigation experience, achieving some of Ontario’s largest personal injury and medical malpractice settlements and judgements. Mandel is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in civil litigation.
John A. McLeish
Law firm: McLeish Orlando LLP
Year called to the bar: 1975
John A. McLeish is a founding partner at McLeish Orlando LLP. 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 is a co-author of five texts on personal injury and trial advocacy. He has also served as a past president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. In 2016, he received the Award of Excellence in Insurance Law from the Ontario Bar Association. McLeish is also an elected fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Darcy R. Merkur
Law firm: Thomson Rogers
Year called to the bar: 2000
Darcy R. Merkur is a partner at Thomson Rogers. He is a trauma lawyer who helps accident victims and their families following traumatic events such as serious motor vehicle accidents. Merkur is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in civil litigation. Merkur is the first lawyer in Canada to be qualified as a certified brain injury specialist by the Brain Injury Association of America. He was also the 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
Dale V. Orlando is one of the founding partners of McLeish Orlando LLP. He practices exclusively plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. Orlando has represented catastrophically injured people and their family members throughout Ontario. He is a past president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the American Association for Justice and The Advocates’ Society. Orlando has also acted as co-chair and lectured at conferences held by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, The Advocates’ Society, Canadian Institute, Law Society of Ontario, Carleton County Law Association, Ontario Bar and other legal organizations. He is a contributing author to A Guide to Personal Injury Practice in Motor Vehicle Cases. Orlando has also 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.
Adam K. Wagman
Law firm: Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP
Year called to the bar: 1996
Adam K. Wagman is a senior partner and former managing partner at Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP. His practice is devoted to personal injury litigation, accident benefits claims and other disability and insurance litigation. After serving many years on the board of directors, Wagman was elected as the president of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association from 2016 to 2017. He is a certified specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario. Wagman was a recipient of the Ontario Brain Injury Association Professional Award in 2008. He has been a guest lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School and is a regular speaker at continuing legal education programs.
Most frequently recommended personal injury lawyers representing defendants
Chris T.J. Blom
Law firm: Miller Thomson LLP
Year called to the bar: 1987
Chris T.J. Blom is a partner at Miller Thomson LLP. He specializes in insurance litigation, with a focus on insurance defence work in connection with both tort and accident benefits cases. Blom is certified as a specialist in civil litigation. He acts on behalf of insurers in Ontario with respect to claims across Canada and in the US and regarding all aspects of general insurance. Blom boasts extensive experience in the areas of personal injury, property damage and economic loss claims. He provides advice in connection with coverage opinions, general liability issues, accidents benefits and bad faith litigation. Blom also represents clients at all levels of the provincial court system, including the Court of Appeal in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. He is recognized for his expertise in mediation and private arbitration.
Read more about Miller Thomson LLP on the rise of virtual dispute resolution
Tom Curry
Law firm: Lenczner Slaght
Year called to the bar: 1986
Tom Curry is the managing partner at Lenczner Slaght. He is recognized as one of the most experienced trial and appellate advocates in Canada. Curry boasts expertise in high-profile commercial litigation, class actions, arbitrations, business disputes, administrative law, judicial review, intellectual property, competition and professional liability cases. He is certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario. Curry is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a regular speaker on a wide variety of subjects relating to trial practice and substantive law. Curry was recently the recipient of the prestigious Law Society Medal for his exceptional career achievement and exemplary contribution to the profession.
Eric K. Grossman
Law firm: Zarek Taylor Grossman Hanrahan LLP
Year called to the bar: 1989
Eric K. Grossman is a partner at Zarek Taylor Grossman Hanrahan LLP. His entire legal career has been spent acting for insurers in litigation matters. Grossman has appeared as counsel at mediations, pre-arbitration hearings, arbitrations and appeals before the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and License Appeal Tribunal and on private arbitrations. He has also appeared in defence of these claims on judicial review at Divisional Court, Court of Appeal. Grossman has been certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario since 1999.
Susan E. Gunter
Law firm: Dutton Brock LLP
Year called to the bar: 1996
Susan E. Gunter is a partner at Dutton Brock LLP. Her litigation practice focuses on insurance and liability claims in defence of domestic and international corporations and insurers. She has appeared before federal and provincial tribunals, at all levels of court in Ontario and the Federal Court of Canada. Gunter is consulted for legal and risk management education and speaks frequently on litigation, professionalism and ethics and privacy. She chairs the Globalization Working Group of the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy and sits on the Toronto civil bench and bar committee. Gunter has served as president of Canadian Defence Lawyers and director of The Advocates’ Society, DRI – Voice of the Defense Bar and the Canadian Defence Lawyers Foundation. She has also co-chaired TAS’ personal injury practice group. Gunter is a member of the peer-selected International Association of Defense Counsel, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and Association of Defense and Trial Attorneys. She 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
Philippa G. Samworth is a partner at Dutton Brock LLP. She devotes her practice to insurance defence (accident benefits) and providing mediation and arbitration services. Samworth was retained by the Ministry of Finance of Ontario as a consultant to provide analysis and technical advice in its preparation and drafting of the new automobile insurance legislation, Bill 59 and its regulations. In May 1997, she was appointed to the minister’s committee for designated assessment centres, where she served as chair in 1998, 2000 and 2001 to 2004. Samworth 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 2004. Samworth is the recipient of several awards, including the first Lee Samis Award for Excellence (Canadian Defence Lawyers) and the first Ontario Bar Association Award for Excellence in Insurance Law. She is also recipient of the Medical-Legal Society Award and The Advocates’ Society Medal. Philippa was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 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
Robert W. Traves is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Toronto office. 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 chair of the 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 civil litigation section of the Ontario Bar Association. He is 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 in the evolution of medical malpractice
Paul Tushinski
Law firm: Dutton Brock LLP
Year called to the bar: 1985
Paul Tushinski is a senior partner at Dutton Brock LLP and a certified specialist in civil litigation as conferred by the Law Society of Ontario. He devotes his practice to defence, with emphasis on products liability, class proceedings, environmental claims, construction, complex insurance matters, including coverage, property disputes and general liability. Tushinski is the 2016 recipient of the Lee Samis award by CDL and the 2016 OTLA Award. He is also a past president of the Toronto Lawyers Association, founding member and past president of the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association and past director of The Advocates’ Society. Tushinski is 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.