Jump to winners | Jump to methodology
The past year has seen the personal injury bar grapple with AI in law offices and auto insurance reforms, to potentially groundbreaking mass tort social media litigation, as well as greater competition for significant cases.
Canadian Lawyer’s 2024 ranking of the best personal injury law firms reveals an esteemed cohort of powerful advocates who genuinely care about achieving just and equitable results for their injured clients.
The Top 20 Personal Injury Boutiques were culled from a pool of 126 distinguished nominees, with input from over 1,500 readers and respected members of the legal community.
The award-winning law firms earned the trust and confidence of valued voters, who praised them for exemplifying the highest ideals of the profession on various fronts:
exceptional client-centred approach
expertise and advocacy
leadership and community engagement
quality of work and results
Respondents also offered first-hand accounts of their reasons for working with the acclaimed boutique firms rather than a large, multi-practice competitor:
“I am part of the decision-making process,” an allied lawyer says of MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law, Nova Scotia.
“The field is very complex and experienced firms with depth are so important,” says a neurosurgery professor about McLeish Orlando LLP, Ontario.
“I have the best care I can ask for and had a knowledgeable lawyer to work with. This helped me to recover fast,” says a client of Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, Ontario.
“Their clients matter, and they stand with healthcare providers on a file. My opinions and concerns are heard, and they take my recommendations seriously, always pushing for the client's best recovery,” says a clinical director about Oatley Vigmond LLP, Ontario.
Reaching the top of the profession is a significant accomplishment that demands specialized skills, personalized service, and a steadfast dedication to fighting for compensation and support that clients need and deserve.
The 110-strong firm is a recognized industry leader in Atlantic Canada for its exceptional advocacy skills in accidental injury and denied disability benefits cases. MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law’s dedication to prioritizing its clients’ needs and well-being enables the firm to provide personalized service and achieve excellent results.
“There is an opportunity for the mental health crisis to help motivate a culture that includes mindfulness and an awakening to compassion and understanding,” explains founding partner Jamie MacGillivray. “Through our work, sincere and beneficial human interaction can occur, reducing suffering.”
Several strategies have contributed to the firm’s reputation for overall legal excellence, including:
paralegal, lawyer, and specialty teams facilitate collaboration and efficiency, supporting knowledge-building and expertise
case management software customized to the firm’s practice, streamlining processes across four offices in three provinces
investment in an AI chronology builder that integrates with existing systems
Client service and satisfaction are paramount at MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law, evidenced by an unwavering commitment to guiding clients through the bureaucracy to improve their situation after a catastrophe or near catastrophe.
“Our relationship with our clients has more value than the financial transaction,” says MacGillivray. “We want our work to be relational, helping people by simply being there for them, finding the right treatment providers, and just being a part of their journey.”
This culture of care is bolstered by an array of operational policies, ensuring client interactions at every touch point are positive and reflect the firm’s brand. Regarding client concerns, for example, the Starbucks LATTE model is used to Listen, Acknowledge, Thank, Take action, and Explain.
“The key is to keep looking for ways and means to have our people talking and learning from each other,” he adds. “Our goal is to help our clients get better and improve their life experience.”
Clients and peers praise the law firm’s trial experience, advocacy skills, and comprehensive knowledge of personal injury law, enabling Oatley Vigmond LLP to achieve some of Ontario’s most significant decisions and settlements.
The firm’s legal team is renowned for their diligence and exhaustive case preparation, a consistent approach that has achieved top-notch results when settling out of court.
“One of the key strategies that has worked for us has been to build every one of our files as if it’s going to go to trial,” partner Ben Irantalab says. “Doing so allows us to get a fairer settlement from the insurance company.”
Other factors that distinguish the firm include:
a dedicated technology and innovation committee that makes expert recommendations to improve systems and processes
advancing legal knowledge and expertise, such as partner Troy Lehman releasing the third edition of a book focused on jury litigation that builds upon previous editions authored by Roger Oatley
emphasizing clear and straightforward communication, which empowers clients to understand case complexities and participate in decision-making
A consistent client-centred approach drives the firm’s stellar reputation. Survey respondents appreciate the legal team’s professionalism, strong work ethic, and collaboration with healthcare professionals and rehabilitation teams.
“Our clients appreciate it when we spend time with them and simplify these complex matters so they can make an educated decision,” Irantalab says.
Despite the fast pace of technological advancements and other changes in the legal profession, the top personal injury boutique prioritizes a personal touch.
Recognized for its dedication, high-level expertise, and going above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction and results, McLeish Orlando LLP has a reputation as a compassionate and hands-on advocate.
“After 25 years, our core philosophy remains the same: doing the right thing for the client and putting them first,” says partner Dale Orlando.
That unwavering commitment to clients is achieved by limiting the size of its practice and the cases it takes to ensure quality and results. The firm also heavily invests financially in each file to cover every eventuality.
Partner Patrick Brown highlights that the firm’s specialized teams are instrumental in moving cases forward through the system.
“A large number of firms got rid of their accident benefit departments, and that is something we simply would not do,” he adds. “We’d be more inclined to increase it because of the quality of service and representation. We’re heavily involved in presenting and writing papers and books in the area of personal injury, which increases our knowledge base and keeps us at the forefront of the law.”
McLeish Orlando has raised the bar for excellence across various areas:
top trial lawyers who achieve consistent results
technology mindset at the cutting edge of innovation
proactive and responsive client communication
active involvement in the legal community, including lobbying government on behalf of accident victims
The firm prides itself on its culture and has devised a hybrid work model that represents “the best of both worlds,” the partners say. They have created a lounge space to facilitate meetings and get-togethers to encourage collegiality and the once-informal discussions that occurred frequently face to face.
“The new environment of virtual hearings and meetings has considerably reduced practice travel time, and that has given us more opportunity to develop new things that also enhance our clients’ experience too,” Brown says.
A solid track record of successful client outcomes has contributed significantly to the firm’s award-winning status. That accomplishment underscores the team’s trial experience and depth of legal knowledge and expertise in personal injury, medical malpractice, and mass tort litigation.
“We have continued to move matters expeditiously for our clients, advocate for them, including at trial, retain top talent, and achieve exceptional results,” explains senior partner Rose Leto.
She adds that the firm’s mass tort social media litigation on behalf of Ontario school boards is considered significant and could impact future society.
With a unique focus on recovery, relationships, and results, Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers creates value for their clients by emphasizing:
an expert legal team recognized as subject matter experts
strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and rehabilitation professionals
focus on client recovery
“We have built an amazing team of empathetic advisors, and we put ourselves in the shoes of others, caring for our clients and understanding how their litigation impacts every aspect of their lives,” explains Leto.
A passion for continuous improvement fuels the firm’s endeavours at the forefront of legal expertise and advocacy, made possible by its solid foundation and exceptional team and leadership.
“I believe the fact that we continue to work in person, in large part, has positively contributed to the culture and our success,” adds Leto.
Earlier this year, Canadian Lawyer asked readers from across Canada to vote on personal injury firms. They were asked to rank the top firms from a preliminary list, with a chance to nominate a firm that was not on the list.
To be considered in the vote, firms were required to have the majority of their business come from personal injury work. The final rankings were determined through a points system in which firms were rewarded on a sliding scale for the number of votes by ranking. The winners were categorized by geography, including the Top 10 in Ontario and the Top 5 in Western and Atlantic Canada.
The quantitative results were combined with the Lexpert peer survey results, where applicable, along with feedback from respected senior members of the bar and regional diversity considerations.