Announcing the CI Legal Expert Panel

September 14, 2009

• Announcing the CI Legal Expert Panel
• Another Twist to Consider—The Allstate Case
• Competition is Fierce—Restrictive Covenants in the Shafron Case
• Internet Use (To Catch Abuse)
• Facebook Litigation Grows
• Proof—Roles of Adjusters and Lawyers in Fidelity Recovery
• Best Practices for Successful Subrogation Recoveries
• State of Securities Class Actions
• Professional Liability and Securities-Related Claims Trends
• Misguided Critique of Covert Surveillance
• Employee Termination—A Risk You Can Manage
• Using Data Analytics to Maximize Company Performance
• Give It Up—Vehicle Fires & Frauds
• Overview of Detection & Investigation Techniques

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Canadian Insurance Magazine invited some of the top legal experts from across Canada to participate in the CI Legal Expert Panel. These experts—with specializations in a variety of insurance issues—provide insight and guidance on the legal landscape that affects the P&C industry. Expect to see comments and columns each month, both online and in print.

We are pleased to introduce the inaugural CI Legal Expert Panel 2009

Richard Bickford

Partner, Blouin, Dunn LLP (Toronto, ON)
Richard practises almost exclusively as an insurance litigator, specializing in tort law. He has over 14 years of experience in personal injury, products liability, property damage, defamation, and livestock and cargo claims.

Steven C. Borlak

Borlak Law Offices, Business Lawyers (Markham, ON)
Since 1985, Steve has focused his practice to provide extensive and specialized commercial assistance to general insurance brokers and insurance companies. Steve has written many industry-specific articles and has been involved in and produced numerous seminars qualifying for RIBO accreditation.

Sandra Corbett

Partner, Parlee (Edmonton, AB)
Sandra has practised in the civil and commercial litigation areas, and in particular, in insurance defence litigation, since being called to the Alberta bar in 1990. Her practice focuses on defence of serious personal injury claims, and resolution of complex tort/liability matters in the insurance area including products liability, municipal and school liability, fire loss and coverage disputes.

Patrick Heinsen

Associate, Borden Ladner
Gervais (Calgary, AB)
Patrick’s practice is primarily in civil litigation with a focus on commercial, insurance, construction and intellectual property-related matters.

Meredith Jones

Associate, Lerners LLP (Toronto, ON)
Meredith is part of her firm’s Insurance Defence and Health Law Practice Group and specializes in insurance defence and health law.

Nigel P. Kent

Partner, Clark Wilson LLP (Vancouver, BC)
Nigel, who has been practicing insurance law for 30 years, is the partner in charge of the Insurance Practice Group at Clark Wilson. He specializes in coverage and complex casualty claims and is recognized as leading counsel in the “Best Lawyers in Canada” directory. He’s published many courses on insurance issues and also instructs the Insurance Law course at Capilano University.

Mark G. Lichty

Blaney McMurtry LLP (Toronto, ON)
Mark’s practice is restricted to insurance and reinsurance matters, emphasizing coverage issues involving commercial property, commercial liability, directors and officers,
homeowners and financial services policies. Specializing in coverage and defence litigation. Mark is a co-author of Annotated Commercial General Liability Policy, a leading Canadian insurance coverage text, which is updated annually.

Kadey Schultz

Hughes Amys LLP (Toronto, ON)
Kadey practises civil law with a focus on advising insurers. Kadey’s particular area of expertise is in the defence of statutory accident benefits matters. Kadey lectures and publishes frequently with various industry organizations and associations, has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, and has conducted numerous arbitrations and appeals before the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.

Mary Jane Stitt

Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Toronto, ON)
Mary Jane is a senior commercial litigation partner and has a broad-ranging insurance practice, primarily representing policyholders who are major financial institutions, publicly traded companies (TSX, NYSE, NASDAQ), crown corporations, large pension plan sponsors or administrators and income trusts. She is recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada as a leading Canadian practitioner in the areas of insurance law, director and officer liability and legal malpractice law.

Nawaz Tahir

Partner, Lerners LLP (London, ON)
Nawaz, a partner in the Insurance Defence Litigation Practice Group, has appeared in the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) as part of his practice in defending insured clients in personal injury matters, and insurance companies in accident benefits, coverage, and other first-party claims. Nawaz has also represented insurance companies in private arbitrations involving loss transfer and priority disputes. Nawaz has assisted his insurance clients in creating proactive claims management practices, adapting to changes in the law, and achieving favourable out-of-court settlements.