Legal Assistance Top Lawyer for Foreigners in Toronto Found 14986

Douglas Harrison is an independent international commercial arbitrator and mediator. He also acts as legal counsel in select arbitration matters, including designing arbitral procedures, enforcing arbitral awards and opinion work. Mr. Harrison is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the CPR Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, and is on the arbitration rosters of ICDR Canada, ICC Canada, the ADR Institute of Canada, the London Court of International Arbitration, the International Arbitration Institute and the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association. He is a member of the Executive of the Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society. He is a Co-Chair of the University Tribunal of the University of Toronto. He is also a Vice-Chair of the International Mediation Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of International Law. For over 30 years, Mr. Harrison was with Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto conducting a broad corporate-commercial litigation and arbitration practice that included environmental law, product liability, defamation, insolvency, professional liability, and directors and officers insurance. He acted for clients from around the world in a wide range of industries including aerospace, chemicals, financial services, food processing, logistics, manufacturing, media and natural resources. Mr. Harrison is the author of numerous publications on, and has spoken widely about, international arbitration and mediation. He has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2021 - International Arbitration, Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Law, Class Action Litigation) and Acritas (independently rated Star lawyer, 2018-20). He has also been internationally recognized as an expert in global product liability law and litigation by Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides (2012, 2014 and 2016) and is the co-author of The Law of Product Warnings and Recalls in Canada, 2nd ed. (LexisNexis Canada, 2019). He has served as a Sessional Instructor in Trial Advocacy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Harrison was a sports journalist based in Toronto and Paris.

Brandon received his Bachelor of Management degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2008 and his Juris Doctor from Bond University in Queensland, Australia in 2011. Brandon was called to the Ontario Bar in 2012, and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Ontario Bar Association. Mr. Ament's practice has experience in helping corporations and small businesses with all their construction and business law needs.

John De Vellis Partner

John's multi-faceted practice includes commercial litigation, condominium law, labour and employment law, and professional negligence. His experience includes everything from counseling investors in major fraud cases to serving clients in wrongful-dismissal suits.

John has acted for both employers and employees in labour and employment matters and was co­counsel on a class action lawsuit-successfully resolved-brought by employees of a public sector employer in relation to employees' entitlement bonuses.

John joined Shibley Righton LLP in 2006 after spending three years with another firm practicing civil litigation and corporate/commercial law, and one year as legal counsel to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which is a consumer rights organization based in Ottawa.

John is a lawyer with a strong attachment to the community. When in law school, he spent eight months working at a legal aid clinic in Toronto's Parkdale community, has volunteered his time to a Long-Term Disability and Employment Law Clinic run by Wellspring, a not-for-profit organization that helps cancer patients. He has also volunteered with Pro Bono Law Ontario, which provides legal counsel to those who cannot afford representation. In addition, he is the Vice Chair (and Chair ofthe Personnel Committee) of the board of a community-run daycare centre, and he coaches young baseball players.

John has also spoken on such topics as Social Media in the Workplace and has been a guest judge for students at Osgoode Hall Law School and Sheridan College and a guest instructor at Humber College.

John graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2002, Prior to law school, he earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from York University, and a Master ofIndustrial Relations from the University of Toronto. He has worked as an Economist with the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

John is a member of the Ontario Bar Association.

Devika Penekelapati is a Founding Partner of Borders Law Firm. She has extensive experience representing clients on all types of Canadian immigration matters before Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Canadian consulates around the world, the Immigration Appeal Division, and the Federal Court of Canada. Ms. Penekelapati is an expert in assisting corporations to bring skilled workers to Canada, employing a number of work permit strategies such as Labour Market Opinions, NAFTA permits and Intra-Company applications. She assists each individual by crafting a comprehensive immigration plan, starting with an initial temporary visa and ending with Canadian citizenship if so desired. She advises on all federal and provincial immigration programs, creating strategies that are uniquely suited to each person’s circumstances. In addition, Ms. Penekelapati has a proven record representing clients who find themselves in unusual or difficult situations, including last-minute pre-removal negotiations before the Canadian Border Services Agency, complex humanitarian and compassionate ground applications, as well as In-land family class applications for individuals who are out of status and Temporary Resident Permits for individuals who are inadmissible to Canada. She has assisted a great number of family class applicants with spousal and parental sponsorship applications, helping them bring their loved ones to Canada. Her diverse cultural background and fluency in multiple South Asian languages (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Urdu and Punjabi) has made her a sought after adviser within Toronto’s diverse multicultural society.

Executive Summary

Wendy Whelan is a lawyer in the Health Law Group of the Toronto office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. Wendy defends hospitals and their employees in medical negligence claims and civil sexual assault matters. Wendy also provides advice to hospital clients and Community Care Access Centres on risk management, patient/client care issues, and Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) and Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB) matters. Wendy represents clients at all levels of the Ontario Courts, Tribunals, Mediations and Coroner’s Inquests. During her first year of practice she was seconded to the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC). Wendy enjoys golfing, pilates and reading classic literature.

Publications & Presentations

• Co-Chair, Osgoode Certificate in Health Law, 2012-14
• Co-Presenter, “Role of the SDM & When Should the CCAC Initiate a Form G,” Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres Conference, June 2012.
• Presenter OACCAC Annual Conference 2012/2013
• Presenter, “Anzovino Inquest,” Osgoode Certificate in Health Law, May 2012-2014
• Co-Presenter, “End of Life,” HIROC Webinar, March 2012-2014
• Presenter, “The Obstetrical Negligence Claim,” Reducing the Risks of Obstetrical Malpractice Conference, June 2011.
• Co-Chair and Co-Presenter, “Medical Negligence and Charting, Best Practices for Reducing Liability,” Legal Risk Management for Nurses, Osgoode Hall Law School, June 2011-2014
• Author/Presenter, “The Patient Relations File,” HIROC Connection and HIROC Webinar, May 2011.
• Presenter, “Standard of Care,” Osgoode Certificate in Health Law, May 2011.
• Presenter, “Giving Evidence at Examinations for Discovery,” St. John's Rehab, William Osler, Credit Valley Hospital, 2009 and 2010.
• Author, “Governing Law and Jurisdiction,” Risk Management in Canadian Health Care 9 RM CHC 2007.

Professional Involvement

• Member, Canadian Bar Association, The Advocates’ Society and Medico-Legal Society of Toronto
• Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Health Law Section
• Instructor, Ontario Hospital Association/BLG “Giving Evidence at Examinations for Discovery” Course, 2010
• Instructor, Informed Consent Tutorial, University of Toronto