Experience
With over 40 years of experience in insurance law, John’s practice has evolved from insurance defence litigation to a focus on coverage advice, litigation, and arbitration for insurer and reinsurer clients across Canada. In addition to his extensive defence background, he brings deep expertise in a wide range of coverage issues and disputes, including property, EBI, course-of-construction, product recall, trade credit, political risk, GL, E&O, D&O and reinsurance. John is originally from Québec and is fully bilingual, working in both English and French.John was named Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.) by the Barreau du Québec in 2012. This distinction, comparable to the King’s Counsel title in Canadian common law jurisdictions, is awarded in recognition of an exceptional legal career and significant contributions to the profession.
John has consistently earned top professional ratings. He is currently ranked Band One by Chambers in Insurance – Dispute Resolution and was nominated by clients for the 2024 Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers list. For a full list of recognitions, see the Awards and Recognitions section.
Education
LL.B., McGill University, 1979B.C.L., McGill University, 1978
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
- Called to the Ontario Bar in 2008
- Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.) by the Barreau du Québec in 2012
- Called to the Québec Bar in 1980
- Law Society of Ontario
Recognition
Thomson Reuters: stand-out lawyer
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ since 2006 for Legal Malpractice Law, Insurance Law, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Product Liability Law and Professional Malpractice Law
The Best Lawyers™: Lawyer of the Year – Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Practice and Legal Malpractice Law
The Legal 500 Canada: Leading Individual in Canada – Insurance
Chambers and Partners: Leader (Band 1) – Insurance; Dispute Resolution (nationwide Canada)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory in Montréal for Professional Liability, Litigation – Directors’ and Officers’ Liability, and Litigation – Commercial Insurance and in Toronto for Litigation – Commercial Insurance
Who’s Who Legal: Insurance and Reinsurance (Compendium and International editions), Product Liability Defence
Martindale-Hubbell: Top Lawyers in Canada
Articles
2026 Benchmark Litigation Rankings