Canada - Canada

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

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Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s thriving insurance litigation group handles the full range of insurance defence claims, with a focus on national insurance programs for domestic and international insurers. The team also impresses with its public sector expertise, where it routinely acts as defence counsel to municipalities, school boards and hospitals. Toronto-based Rebecca Bush leads the insurance and tort liability group nationally and is recommended for her record in public authority litigation and tort litigation for large institutional clients. The group also includes Ottawa-based Larry Elliot, who focuses on civil litigation; Toronto-based Kevin McGivney, who frequently defends police services and municipalities; transactional and regulatory insurance specialist Donna Spagnolo; and specialized disputes head Graham Walker.

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Key clients

  • Lloyds, including but not limited to the following syndicates: Aegis, Argo, Amlin, AXA XL, C.V. Starr, Beazley, Kiln, Brit Syndicate, QBE, Atrium, Pembrooke, Creechurch, Markel International, Ironshore, Apollo, Tokio Marine, Riverstone, Sompo and Acappella
  • City of Toronto
  • Chubb / ACE
  • Travelers
  • Hospital Insurance Reciprocal of Canada
  • Desjardins (State Farm, the Personal, Certas)
  • Cigna
  • Encon
  • The Cooperators
  • Sun Life
  • Trisura
  • Economical Insurance
  • Ecclesiastical

Work highlights

  • Advised certain underwriters at Lloyd’s in an action relating to a large omnibus national class proceeding against 16 Canadian insurance companies alleging they breached their respective contracts with business owners, and other duties, by refusing to pay business interruption claims caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Retained by the City of Ottawa to advise on legal options to take steps to bring an end to the Freedom Convoy occupation in the City.
  • Defended the City of Toronto and the Toronto Police Services Board in a dozen lawsuits arising from the Toronto Raptors parade and celebration at Nathan Phillips Square on June 17, 2019.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Rebecca Bush, Donna Spagnolo, Graham Walker

Other key lawyers

Larry Elliot, Kevin McGivney, Patrick Heinsen