From Italian Fighter Jets to Courtroom Negotiations — Meet Laura

 As Laura’s career was taking off in the courtroom, she briefly explored a career flying Italian fighter jets. Since then, Laura has been completely committed to clients and her practice. She is driven to achieve the best possible outcome in the courtroom, in arbitrations or through negotiation. Not one to shy away from a challenge, whether it is a legal issue or running class five rapids on the Nile River, she is driven to win and her client’s happiness is her greatest success.

Recognizing knowledge is power, Laura is dedicated to ensuring she is informed and ahead of issues facing her clients. Following her childhood dream to be a novelist, Laura co-authored a top selling legal book, “The Annotated Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule.” She is often invited to speak at National and International Conferences on a range of topics.

A certified risk manager, Laura recognizes businesses face increasing liability related to cyber attacks and privacy breaches. More important than her ability to respond to an incident is her ability to prepare and advise clients on how to minimize their risk at the outset.

She is not a drone pilot but she knows everything there is to know about drone regulations and liability in Canada.

Primary Practice Areas 

• Bodily Injury 

• Accident Benefits

• Cyber Liability and Privacy 

Professional Achievements

• Best Lawyers Ranking in Personal Injury, 2019 to date

• Lexpert Leading Lawyer in Personal Injury, 2018, 2020 to date

• Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer to Watch" in the 2017 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Litigation - Corporate Commercial

• Lexpert "Rising Star" Award honouring Canada's Leading Lawyers Under 40 (2016)

• Recipient, Richard B. Lindsay QC Exceptional Young Lawyer Award (2015)

• Recipient, 20 Under 40 Award, Business London Magazine (2014)

• J.W. Whiteside Award (2007)

• Sabine and Raymond W. Leduc Strategic Management Award (2003)

• Western Pre-Law Society Mock Trial Team Winner (2003)

• Governor General’s Canadian History Medal for the Millennium (2000) 

Professional Leadership 

• Adjunct Professor, Western Law, Western University (2018 to present)

• Board of Directors, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2020 to date)

• Co-Chair, SLDO Relationship Committee, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2022 to date)

• Membership Committee, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2019 to date)

• Public Policy Secretariat, Canadian Defence Lawyers (2020 to date)

• Council, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto (2021 to date)

• Continuing Education Committee, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto (2021 to date); Co-Chair (2022 to date)

• Board of Directors, Canadian Defence Lawyers (2012 to 2020); President (2018 to 2019)

• Continuing Legal Education Committee, Canadian Defence Lawyers (2012 to 2020); Chair (2017-2018)

• Past Chair, Young Lawyers Division, Canadian Defence Lawyers (2012-2015)

• Past Philanthropic Activities Committee Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2018 to 2022)

• Past Canadian Counsel Representative, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (October 2017 to October 2020)

• Past North American Membership Chair, DRI International (2014 to 2020)

• Past Steering Committee Member, Women in the Law, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2019 to 2020)

• Past Steering Committee Member, Young Lawyers Division, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (2015 to 2019)

• Past Canadian Marketing Liaison, DRI Annual Meeting, New Orleans, October 2019

• Past Canadian Marketing Liaison, DRI Annual Meeting, San Francisco, October 2018

• Past Canadian Marketing Liaison, DRI Annual Meeting, Chicago, October 2017

• Past Canadian Marketing Liaison, DRI Annual Meeting, Boston, October 2016

• Past Canadian Marketing Liaison, DRI Annual Meeting, Washington, October 2015

• Past Steering Committee Member, DRI Commercial Litigation Conference – Beyond Borders, Toronto, June 2015

• Southwest Young Lawyers Division Executive, Ontario Bar Association (2011-2018); President (August 2016-2017)

• Past Member, Student Division Executive, Ontario Bar Association (2007-2008)

Community Leadership

• Volunteer, PAWS United Dog Rescue (2021 to date)

• Steering Committee, Waterloo Chapter, Shelter Movers (2020 to date)

• Board of Directors, Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario (2018 to 2022)

• Steering Committee, Clays for Kids, Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario (2021 to 2022)

• Steering Committee, Curling Committee, Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario (2020) 

• Chair, Business Integrity Awards, Better Business Bureau of Western Ontario, November 7, 2018

• Red Shoe Society (2012 to 2017); President (2016)

• Board of Directors, Better Business Bureau of Western Ontario (2016 to 2018)

• Engage London Program Graduate, London Community Foundation (2015)

• Board of Directors, Childreach (2008-2014)

Notable Matters 

• Alissa v. The Co-operators, 20-009394/AABS (November 7, 2022) (Licence Appeal Tribunal) (2022 CanLII 106447)

• MacGillivary v The Co-operators General Insurance Company, 20-001851/AABS (November 9, 2021) (Licence Appeal Tribunal) (2021 CanLII 114044) 

• Seddik v. The Co-Operators Insurance Company, 19-013872/AABS (May 4, 2020) (Licence Appeal Tribunal) (2021 CanLII 37850)

• Harsanyi v. The Co-Operators General Insurance Company, 20-001245/AABS (April 28, 2021) (Licence Appeal Tribunal) (2021 CanLII 35592)

• C. S. v. Echelon General Insurance Company, 19-012146/AABS (October 9, 2020) (Licence Appeal Tribunal) (2020 CanLII 87989)

• A. M. v. Guarantee Company of North America, 18-0033505/AABS (August 12, 2019) (Licence Appeal Tribunal) (2019 CanLII 94036)

• El-Cheikh v. Hillman et al (March 2018) (Superior Court of Justice – Small Claims Court)

• Isaac Estate v. Matuszynska (2018 ONCA 177) (Court of Appeal) leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada dismissed 2018 CanLII 105395

• Belair Direct Insurance Company v. State Farm Insurance Company (October 21, 2017) (Priority Dispute)

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. TD General Insurance Company et al (February 27, 2017) (Priority Dispute)

• Chiocchio v. Ellis (Superior Court of Justice) (2016 ONSC 7570)

• Decision 273/16 (2016) (Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal)

• Montepeque v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (November 2015) (Superior Court of Justice) affirmed (Court of Appeal)

• Decision 1940/15 (2015) (Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal)

• Conrad v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Superior Court of Justice) (2014 ONSC 4)

• Kalabi v. Egal et al (Superior Court of Justice) (2013 ONSC 1128)

• Thach v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (FSCO – Appeal) (P10-00019)

Thought Leadership

Publications

• "The Annotated Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule", 2016-2017 Edition; 2017-2018 Edition; 2018-2019 Edition; 2020-2021 Edition; 2021-2022 Edition (LexisNexis Canada; Co-Author); 2022-2023 Edition (Pending)

• Quoted, “The Pros and Cons of Juries in Civil Trials”, Canadian Underwriter, August 24, 2020

• “Attack of the Drone…Regulation”, Without Prejudice, OIAA, September 2019

• “Not-So Blurred Line”, The Key, CICMA, July 2019 Edition

• “Network-work-work-work-work”, Raising the Bar, DRI, Volume 15, Issue 6

• “The New Frontier: Battery by Tweet”, Raising the Bar, DRI, Volume 14, Issue 8

• Quoted, "Could New Technology Keep Drones from Spying on You", National Post, January 17, 2018

• "I'm a Lawyer, Now What?", For the Defense, October 2017

• "Traditional homeowners' insurance on a collision course with the sharing economy", Claims Canada, February/March 2017 (Co-Author)

• "Privacy in the Sky, Potential Liability for Drone Operators", Claims Canada, August/September 2016 (Co-Author)

• "Accident Benefits Changes", Bar Talk, Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch, October 2016 (Co-Author)

• "The legal status of drones in Canada: A Q&A", an interview with Peter Nowak for the blog, Alphabeatic, The Pulse of Tech and Culture, July 25, 2016

• "T.K.L v. T.M.P - A Narrowing of the Newest Tort of the Public Disclosure of Private Facts", Hearsay, Canadian Defence Lawyers, June 2016 (Co-Author)

• "The Continuing Evolution of Canadian Law and Privacy: The Impact of Social Media Posts", Claims Canada, April/May 2016 (Co-Author)

• "Sietzema v. Economical", Hearsay, Canadian Defence Lawyers, Spring 2014

Presentations

• Speaker, “Leading Into the Future: Lessons from Ted Lasso”, International Association of Defense Counsel, Austin, February 22, 2023

• Speaker, “Taming The Turbulence: A Workshop for Today, Tomorrow, And Beyond”, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Philadelphia, October 29, 2022

• Speaker, “Defining Your Organization’s Value Proposition”, Defense Research Institute, Philadelphia (DRI), October 28, 2022

• Speaker, “Simply The Best, Better Than All the Rest: Top Accident Benefits Cases in the Last Year”, Ontario Bar Association, October 24, 2022

• Speaker, “Current Legal Considerations for Life Care Planners”, Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP), September 21, 2022

• Speaker, “Social Media Ethics: You Are What You Tweet”, Canadian Defence Lawyers, June 15, 2022

• Speaker, “Squad Goals: The Importance of Female Networks”, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, May 5, 2022

• Speaker, “Show Me the Money: Offers to Settle in Litigation”, London Claims Association, April 28, 2022

• Moderator, “Changes to SABS: Part I”, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, April 14, 2022

• Speaker, “Accidents Happen…Or Do They?”, Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, March 31, 2022

• Speaker, “Catastrophic Cases: 2021 Update”, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, February 16, 2022

• Speaker, “Ethics in Accident Benefits”, Accident Benefits 2022: What’s New? What’s Different, OsgoodePD, February 15, 2022

• Speaker, “Band of Sisters: Better Together”, Defense Research Institute, Austin, January 27, 2022

• Speaker, “Underinsured, Underinsured, Unidentified Claims and the OPCF 44R”, Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, November 18, 2021

• Speaker, “SABS Super Panel”, Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit, Law Society of Ontario, September 13, 2021

• Speaker, “The CAT’s Out of the Bag…Kinda!”, Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, April 15, 2021

• Speaker, “Two Strategic Minefields: Stare Decisis at the LAT and Navigating Between Reconsiderations, Appeals, and JRs”, OsgoodePD, February 23, 2021

• Speaker, “Sizzlin’ SABS: Hot Topics in AB Litigation”, Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, October 21, 2020

• Chair, “How to Build a Dominant Web Presence”, Canadian Defence Lawyers, October 16, 2020 

• Co-Chair, Annual Accident Benefits Seminar, Ontario Bar Association, August 15, 2020

• Speaker, “Major Depressive Disorder and Differential Diagnosis: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic”, Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators, July 8, 2020

• Speaker, “Social Engineering Fraud”, Cyber Tech and Risk, February 27, 2020

• Speaker, “LATeral Thinking: What’s New in SABS litigation?” Tricks of the Trade, The Advocates Society, January 31, 2020

• Speaker, Litigation and Trial Panel, Burn and Learn Seminar, Insurance Institute, October 2, 2019

• Speaker, Young Lawyers Conference, Defense Research Institute, Nashville, June, 2019

• Moderator, “Regulator panel: Marijuana Insurance Regulation in a Post-Legalization World” Cannabis Cover Masterclass, November 28, 2018

• Speaker, Litigating Life & Disability Claims, Canadian Defence Lawyers, November 22, 2018

• Speaker, Trial Tactics Seminar, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, August, 2018

• Speaker, “It’s a bird … it’s a plane …. It’s a Drone! : Commercial Uses and Liability Exposures Associated with Drones”, Canadian Defence Lawyers, June 6, 2018

• Speaker, Drones and Insurance, Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, March 27, 2018

• Speaker, "Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit", Law Society of Upper Canada, March 26, 2018

• Speaker, "Trials, Pre-trials & What You Should Know", Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association (CICMA) General Meeting, March 7, 2018

• Speaker, "Catastrophic Impairments Update" Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, November 28, 2017

• Speaker, Civil Procedure, Western University, November 17, 2017

• Speaker, "Litigating Civil Sexual Assault Claims", Canadian Bar Association, October 24, 2017

• Speaker, "Accident Benefits Update: SABS Coverage and Licence Appeal Tribunal Procedure", 13th Annual Update Personal Injury Law & Practice, Osgoode Hall Law School, September 2017

• Speaker, "Boot Camp: Basic Training for New Defence Lawyers", Canadian Defence Lawyers, September7,2017

• Speaker, "Expert Advice on Launching Your Legal Career: I Have My Law Degree, Now What", Ontario Bar Association, September 7,2017

• Speaker, "Navigating the LAT after One Year", Canadian Defence Lawyers Symposium, April 13, 2017

• Speaker, "Privacy Law Update - Practical Tips for your Business & Insights from Recent Cases", FEI Canada SWO, March 8, 2017

• Speaker, "The Licence Appeal Tribunal - The First 6 Months", Canadian Defence Lawyers, November 10, 2016

• Speaker, Fanshawe College Insurance Program, November 8, 2016

• Speaker, "Boot Camp: Basic Training for New Defence Lawyers", Canadian Defence Lawyers, September 1, 2016

• Co-Chair, "I Have My Law Degree, Now What", Ontario Bar Association, August 30, 2016

• Speaker, Drone Operation Compliance Course, Fanshawe College, May 4, 2016

• Planning Committee, “Beer Tasting and Mentor Round Table Discussion”, Ontario Bar Association, April 14, 2016

• Co-chair, “Loss Transfer & Priority Disputes” Conference, Canadian Defence Lawyers, February 25, 2016

• Speaker, "The Times They Are a Changin’: The Impact of Societal and Technological Advancements on Insurance Law", Ontario Bar Association, February 2, 2016

• Speaker, Fanshawe College Insurance Program, June 11, 2015

• Speaker, Fanshawe College Law Clerk's Program, December 3, 2014

• Speaker, "Life and Law Series: Women Lawyers Sharing Success Strategies", Ontario Bar Association, November 11, 2014

• Co-chair, Canadian Defence Lawyers Boot Camp, September 4, 2014

• Co-chair, Canadian Defence Lawyers Annual Meeting and Conference, June 5, 2014

• Co-chair, Annual Accident Benefits Joint Defence and Plaintiff Program, Canadian Defence Lawyers, April 25, 2013

• Panelist, Ontario Bar Association Life After Law School Program, Western University, March 5, 2013

• Speaker, London Claims Association, October 18, 2012

• Panelist, “Conquering the Generational Divide What Makes the Generations Tick and What Ticks Them Off!”, Canadian Defence Lawyers Annual Meeting, Young Lawyers Session, June 7, 2012

Professional Memberships

• Canadian Defence Lawyers

• Defense Research Institute

• International Association of Defense Counsel

• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys

Bar Admissions & Education

• Canadian Risk Manager (CRM), Western University (2015)

• Admitted to Nunavut Bar (2015)

• Admitted to Ontario Bar (2008)

• Bachelor of Laws, University of Windsor (2007)

• Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies, University of Western Ontario (2004)

• Canadian Securities Institute (2002)