Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- University of Western Ontario (1994) LLB
- University of Toronto (1989) BSc (Psychology)
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Risa M. Kirshblum
"She is persistent, tireless and an excellent trial strategist." — Chambers Canada
Balancing skillful strategy with seasoned counsel, Risa represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of litigation matters. A significant portion of her practice is focused on professional liability and employment. She has acted as prosecutor, defence counsel and independent legal counsel in the administrative law context.
Risa regularly provides real-time risk management advice to both employers and employees on workplace issues. In the employment area, she has acted extensively in cases of discrimination, harassment and other human rights workplace issues as well as all issues arising from termination of employment. She is also experienced in dealing with the legal aspects of unfair competition and solicitation, theft of corporate opportunities and notice requirements when multiple employees are leaving simultaneously.
Risa frequently presents in continuing legal education programs for organizations such as the Law Society of Upper Canada and The Advocates' Society. She has also presented in continuing education programs for a variety of medical organizations.
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Huma v Mississauga Hospital and Queensway Health Centre (Trillium Health Partners)
Successful in enforcing a settlement agreement against multiple Plaintiffs.
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Counsel to a physician in a case involving a perforated bowel during a hysterectomy. The case was dismissed on consent without costs after two weeks of trial
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Counsel to the defendant physician in a jury trial regarding the quantum of damages in a medical negligence relating to the management of shoulder dystocia.
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RBC Dominion Securities Inc v Merrill Lynch Canada Inc
Counsel to RBC on injunction, trial, appeal and at the Supreme Court of Canada in respect of an action against departing investment advisors for a competitor.
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IMP Group Ltd v Skyservice Business Aviation Inc
Counsel to a group of employees in a dispute with their former employer in relation to their resignations and subsequent employment with another company.
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McCarthy v Canadian Red Cross Society
Counsel to the Trustee of the settlement fund created following the settlement of a class action brought against the Red Cross Society surrounding tainted blood.
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Counsel to the appellants in an appeal from a trial decision in which the trial judge refused to deduct statutory severance under the Employment Standards Act from an award of damages for wrongful dismissal. The appellant was successful in overturning this aspect of the judge's decision, and this became a leading case on this issue.
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The Advocates' Society
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Canadian Bar Association
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Ontario Bar Association
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Who’s to Blame? Apportioning Liability in Civil Jury Trials
When one person negligently causes an accident, the law is clear about their responsibility. But when negligence acts on the part of a number of different parties combine to create a single accident, how should responsibility for that accident be apportioned between them? This was recently addressed by the Ontario Court of Appeal in its recent decision in Parent v Janandee Management Inc.
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The Complexities of Summary Judgment under Simplified Procedure
Rule 76 of the Rules of Civil Procedure provides a set of simplified rules for use in smaller and, in theory, less complicated matters. However, exactly how those rules apply in certain contexts is not always apparent. In Singh v Concept Plastics Limited, the Ontario Court of Appeal recently addressed the challenges of summary judgment motions in the context of the simplified rules.
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Lenczner Slaght Ranked Band 1 in Chambers Canada for 5th Consecutive Year
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to be recognized in the latest edition of world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized Among the Best Lawyers in Canada
In the latest edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, 39 of our expert litigators are recognized by their peers for their expertise across 24 practice areas.
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The 2022 Lexpert Directory Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence
31 of our expert litigators are recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners across 18 fields.
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Chambers Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to advance their position in the latest edition of world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Ranked Among Best Lawyers in Canada
In the latest edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, 37 of our expert litigators are recognized for their expertise across 25 practice areas.
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Lexpert Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Leading Health Sciences Expertise
The inaugural issue of Lexpert’s Special Edition on Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers recognizes 11 Lenczner Slaght lawyers for their extensive industry experience. The rankings are also published in the June issue of the Globe & Mail’s Report on Business.
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The 2021 Lexpert Directory Recognizes 30 Lenczner Slaght Lawyers
An increasing number of our expert litigators are recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners in their fields.
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized as a Top-Tier Litigation Firm by Chambers Canada
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to be recognized by world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Best Lawyers in Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Expertise
Lenczner Slaght is proud to announce that 33 of our expert litigators are recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2021. Our lawyers received a total of 128 rankings, up from 100 in 2020.
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Lexpert Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Professional Excellence
Lenczner Slaght’s litigators continue to be recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners in their fields.
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Advanced Questioning Techniques: Effective Cross Examinations
Risa M. Kirshblum will be sharing her expertise at OsgoodePD's certificate program on Oral Advocacy. Risa will present on "Advanced Questioning Techniques: Effective Cross Examinations".
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Adverse Events Investigation, Systems Review and Disclosure
Risa M. Kirshblum shared her expertise at the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto's program titled "Adverse Events Investigation, Systems Review and Disclosure".
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Examining and Cross Examining Experts
Risa M. Kirshblum was invited to share her expertise on The Advocates' Society's Examining and Cross Examining Experts program.
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Advanced Questioning Techniques
Risa Kirshblum taught at OsgoodePD's program on Advanced Questioning Techniques called "Dealing with Expert Witnesses and Optimizing Witness Preparation".
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Advanced Impeachment Techniques
Risa M. Kirshblum shared her expertise at the OsgoodePD program titled "Advanced Impeachment Techniques".
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Using Discovery Transcripts at Trial
Risa M. Kirshblum was invited to share her expertise on The Advocates' Society's Examinations for Discovery: Building Block Series. For "Block 4: Using Discovery Transcripts at Trial", Risa shared a demonstration and commentary on Read-Ins.
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Conducting an Effective Discovery (Skills Workshop)
Risa M. Kirshblum presented at The Advocates' Society's Examinations for Discovery: Building Block Series. Risa shared her expertise on "Block 3: Conducting an Effective Discovery (Skills Workshop)".
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Evidence for Litigators Skills Workshop
Risa M. Kirshblum was a skills instructor at The Advocates' Society's Evidence for Litigators Skills Workshop.
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42nd Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop
Risa M. Kirshblum was invited to Osgoode Professional Development's 42nd Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop as expert faculty.
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Preparation Series: Examination-in-Chief
Risa M. Kirshblum co-chaired The Advocates' Society program Preparation Series: Examination-in-Chief. The program provided insights into how to properly and thoroughly prepare yourself and your witnesses to deliver credible evidence at trial, with a special focus on remote preparation.
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2014-2023)
Health Care Law, Medical Negligence, Professional Liability (2017)
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2018)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Medical Negligence
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2020)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Health Care Law
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2023)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Health Care Law
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2012-2022)
Medical Negligence (Most Frequently Recommended), Professional Liability (Consistently Recommended)
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Chambers Canada (2020-2023)
Healthcare: Contentious (Nationwide – Canada)
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada (2018-2019)
Dispute Resolution
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers (2021)