How McLeish Orlando Handles Catastrophic Injury Cases: 'We Will Not Get Outspent'
McLeish Orlando, a boutique plaintiffs’ firm, has built a self‑funded model for catastrophic injury cases that keeps it trial‑ready and insulated from costly opponent tactics. Founder Dale Orlando emphasizes that the firm will "not get out‑spent" by insurers, using internal capital to cover medical liens, expert fees, and settlement negotiations. By front‑loading resources, the firm can pursue aggressive litigation while prioritizing the immediate needs of severely injured clients. This approach aims to secure faster, higher‑value recoveries without compromising case strategy.
Canadian Lawyer Survey: How Canada’s Courts Are Regulating, Using, and Evaluating Generative AI
In April, Canadian Lawyer surveyed 51 Canadian courts about their use, regulation, and training around generative AI, receiving responses from 21 courts. The findings reveal a patchwork of policies: some courts have published AI guidelines, others are piloting tools like...
NL’s 2026 Budget Includes over $9.5M in Funding for Courts, Public Prosecutions
Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2026 budget earmarks more than $9.5 million (≈$6.9 million USD) for court and public‑prosecution upgrades. About $8.3 million (≈$6.1 million USD) will fund 51 new court staff, seven additional judges and audiovisual systems for virtual bail hearings. A further $1.2 million (≈$0.9 million...
Torys Calgary Expands with New Partner Paul Logan, Counsel Larissa Svekla, Associate Alina Kaiser
Torys LLP announced the addition of former Fasken partners Paul Logan, counsel Larissa Svekla, and associate Alina Kaiser to its Calgary office, expanding its commercial real‑estate practice. Logan brings leadership experience in office, industrial and retail transactions, as well as...
SCC Clarifies Landmark Ontario Criminal Case Can Be Relied on in Appellate Reviews but Not at Trial
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Ontario Court of Appeal’s landmark decision R. v. J.J.R.D. may be cited only in appellate reviews, not at the trial level. The clarification came in the SCC’s brief judgment in the sexual‑assault...
NL Supreme Court’s Family Division to Cover Whole Island of Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador’s House of Assembly passed Bill 21 to expand the Supreme Court’s Family Division across the entire island, creating a unified family‑law court for all residents. The amendments to the Judicature Act will take effect on April 1, 2027, giving courts...
UOttawa’s Health AI and Law Initiative Aims to Back Feds’ AI Healthcare Strategy
The University of Ottawa launched Health AI and Law in Ottawa (HALO), an interdisciplinary hub that merges expertise from its medical, law, and management schools with local research institutes. HALO is designed to support Canada’s federal AI‑healthcare strategy by providing...
Ontario Court of Appeal Quashes Appeal of Interlocutory Order Interpreting Succession Law Provision
The Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the mother’s attempt to overturn a Superior Court order that validated an email attachment as the deceased’s will under section 21.1 of the Succession Law Reform Act. The Superior Court had ruled that an electronic...
Ontario Superior Court Orders Toronto Plastic Surgeon to Pay $22.5M in Class Action Damages
An Ontario Superior Court judge awarded a class of former patients $22.5 million Canadian (about $16.7 million USD) in aggregate damages and $1 million CAD in punitive damages against a Toronto plastic surgeon and his corporation for operating a pervasive video‑surveillance system without...
Sask. Court of Appeal Affirms Enforcement of Arbitral Award Arising From Canola Purchase Contract
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal affirmed the enforcement of a default arbitration award issued under the National Feed and Grain Association (NFGA) rules after the seller failed to deliver 226.8 metric tonnes of canola and ignored arbitration proceedings. The lower...
IBA Report Highlights Legal Concerns with Artificial Intelligence Use in Recruitment
The International Bar Association Global Employment Institute released its 14th Annual Global Report highlighting legal and ethical concerns of AI in recruitment, workflow automation, employee monitoring, and data analysis. It finds that only a few jurisdictions have AI‑specific employment laws,...
Federal Court of Appeal Affirms Finding of Confusion Between THERME and THERMËA Trademarks
The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed Nordik Spa Village Chelsea Inc.'s appeal, confirming the lower court’s finding that the appellant’s THERME marks are confusing with the respondent’s THERMËA trademarks. The appellate panel emphasized that the word element "THERME" dominates consumer...
Why Canada's Most Critical Legal Infrastructure Has Been Overlooked — Until Now
Registry searches are the backbone of Canadian M&A, lending and other high‑value transactions, yet the data is scattered across dozens of jurisdictional portals. The article highlights how Regy, a purpose‑built platform, aggregates up to 20 public‑registry sources into a single,...
Making Pro Bono Personal at Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG has woven pro bono work into its core practice, offering a formal policy that fully credits hours and encourages lawyers to align personal passions with client service. Partners like Myron Dzulynsky apply corporate governance expertise to Ukrainian scouting...
Judgment Is the Currency of a Good Lawyer. The Work Now Is to Define It
The article argues that AI is rapidly automating the visible tasks of commercial lawyers—research, drafting, and redlining—while exposing the invisible, judgment‑driven work that actually closes deals. It distinguishes crystallized intelligence (knowledge) from fluid intelligence (real‑time decision‑making), noting that AI cheapens...