Best Law Firms in Canada for Personal Injury Litigation

Ottawa law firm Auger Hollingsworth had modest beginnings. In 2004, criminal defence lawyer Richard Auger started the firm with one client file, operating in shared office space with another law firm. Months later, Richard’s wife Brenda Hollingsworth, a litigation and personal injury specialist, joined the firm and became an equal partner.

The firm grew quickly as a result of Richard and Brenda’s tireless work ethic. Early successes for clients led to word of mouth referrals and a buzz in the legal and business circles in Ottawa. As word spread about the law firm recognition soon followed. The firm was named the bronze winner of the Ottawa Business Journal’s “New Business of the Year” award in 2006.

Since then, the firm has continued to prosper and grow while maintaining a commitment to providing close personal attention to clients that made the firm a success in its earliest years. Though widely recognized as a leading law firm in Ontario for criminal defence and personal injury law (specializing in car accident, slip and fall, and denied disability cases), each client that the firm signs on has their case worked on by one of the partners at the firm. Though we have remarkable legal support staff, we believe that when a client signs up to work with a firm after meeting with a partner, they expect it will be that partner who is doing the legwork for them. At Auger Hollingsworth, that is how we work.

Looking to Hire an Ottawa Lawyer?

Make sure he or she has a good track record.

If you are looking to hire an Ontario lawyer you probably want a lawyer who is likely to get the results you want. While there is no sure way to know if the case will end in your favour, hiring a lawyer who has a good track record can only help. Years of experience are important but it is more important that your lawyer has consistent positive results.

One way to asses a lawyer’s track record is to look at their case results and testimonials. Most lawyers will have a website where you can access some of this information. Take time to do some research and see if you can have access to some of their case results and client testimonials. It can be very beneficial to hear about the experience that other individuals have had with a particular lawyer.

Another way to look into a lawyer’s track record is to see if they have ever received any awards or distinctions. These kinds of honours show that a lawyer has received particular recognition from local associations, their peers, governing bodies, and professional organizations. A good lawyer will probably include this information on their website since the internet is often the first place individuals go to find information.

You can also assess a lawyer’s track record by finding out if he or she has ever been disciplined by the Law Society. The Law Society deals with any complaints that come up against a lawyer and its purpose it to protect the public. In order to protect the public the Law Society also pursues disciplinary action against lawyers if it becomes necessary. While it may seem awkward to bring up this issue, it is important for you to know if the lawyer has had any complaints filed against him or her or if he or she has ever been disciplined. Although you shouldn’t base your decision about hiring a particular lawyer on this point alone, knowing this kind of information can help you get a complete impression of a lawyer.

Meet the Ottawa Law Firm Partners

Auger Hollingsworth Professional Corporation is run by partners Brenda Hollingsworth and Richard Auger. Richard and Brenda are law partners and husband and wife. They live in Ottawa with their two sons.

Since the firm opened its doors, Richard Auger and Brenda Hollingsworth have established themselves as top-tier lawyers in their fields. They’re expertise translates not only into great results for clients, but into regular and meaningful contributions to their legal fields. Both Richard and Brenda have written legal books for the public, and articles for legal reviews. In addition, they are often asked to comment on legal issues in the media.

Ottawa Law Firm Community Involvement

Community Involvement

Ottawa Law Firm Auger Hollingsworth Accident & Injury Lawyers has been committed to giving back to the community since the firm opened its doors in 2004. We understand that we have been fortunate to achieve success in business, and so it has always been a core tenet of the firm to help the community. From the beginning, the firm’s involvement has been three-pronged, focusing on charitable giving, Pro Bono projects and legal education.

Working Pro Bono

Pro bono work is an important and long-standing tradition in the legal profession, and the lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth Accident & Injury Lawyers have shown a desire to offer their services for the public good.

In one major project, the firm represented roughly 150 families whose developmentally challenged relatives were living at the Rideau Regional Centre. After the government announced its decision to close the centre, Brenda Hollingsworth applied for an injunction to stop the closing until families could be heard. As a result, the disabled residents and their families had a say about where in the community they were placed. Since the decision, Auger Hollingsworth Accident & Injury Lawyers has offered free legal advice to many of these families as their loved ones enter the community.

Both Brenda and Richard have actively volunteered their services for the Child Advocacy Project (CAP).  CAP is a program operated by Pro Bono Lawyers of Ontario and the Advocates’ Society.  The program helps low income children who need legal help with their education-related problems.  The firm has taken on several cases to help school-age children with learning disabilities or autism and their families as they struggle with issues of discrimination by the public education system.

In another major undertaking, Richard Auger served as part of the Legal Pursuit Team of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s $100 million Legacy Campaign. The team helped to raise funds for facility upgrades, new equipment, leading-edge medical research and ongoing education. Richard himself pledged $5000 towards the goal. Despite some fundraising experts saying the desired $100 million could not be raised, the goal was met and exceeded.

Charitable Giving

Auger Hollingsworth Accident & Injury Lawyers is an active supporter of fundraising initiatives in the legal community, sponsoring the annual Law Day Fun Run to raise money for Christie Lake Camp, the Lawyer’s Play which supports the Great Canadian Theatre Company and Helmets on Kids, an initiative designed to help encourage children to wear bicycle helmets to avoid head injuries.

The firm also supports a number of other charitable organizations, including the Ottawa Hospital, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the Head Injury Association of the Ottawa Valley, the United Way and the Ottawa Food Bank.

Legal Education

Both Richard and Brenda are passionate about fostering legal education and contributing to the growth, evolution and understanding of the law.

Richard is a regular lecturer at the University of Ottawa Law School in the Criminal Trial Advocacy course. He enjoys the experience of preparing for lectures, engaging with passionate law students and having the chance to discuss legal matters with the class.

For three years, he served as the volunteer coach and mentor for the University of Ottawa’s Arnup Cup team. In 2006, under Richard’s mentoring, the team won the Arnup Cup and placed third at the national level competition, the Sopinka Cup.  The ride in 2006 was an unforgettable one, as Richard shared in the excitement of the entire process with the students on the team.

Likewise, Brenda is heavily involved in legal education. In the fall semesters of 2007 and 2008, Brenda took considerable time out of her busy practice to act as one of three lead instructors for the University of Ottawa’s third year Trial Advocacy course, taken by students in their final year of law school. Teaching was an enriching experience for Brenda and she thoroughly enjoyed helping students follow in her footsteps before embarking on a career of advocacy. She has also spoken to young lawyers and law students at several conferences sponsored by the Ontario Bar Association.  She has also taught advanced civil litigation to prospective law clerks at Algonquin College.

Beard Winter LLP is a Top 10 Ontario Regional Law Firm as recognized by Canadian Lawyer magazine for 2021-22 and a Canadian Law Awards Excellence Awardee for Ontario Law Firm of the Year for 2021. A multi-service, mid-sized law firm located in downtown Toronto, our unwavering commitment to clients is the foundation of our history since 1964. We are preferred counsel for a wide variety of mid-market private and public corporations and sought after for our expertise in complex estate, commercial, employment, and family law litigation. Recognized for our insurance defence litigation expertise, we act for many of Canada’s largest insurance companies.

Best Lawyers and Lexpert recognize our lawyers in the areas of estates and trusts law, family law, insurance law, and insurance defence litigation.

Visit our website at beardwinter.com to learn more about the firm and meet our talented legal professionals.

We are affiliated with top mid-sized law firms across the United States and internationally through our membership in the Law Firm Alliance: www.lawfirmalliance.org

Industries served: Healthcare; Life Sciences; Manufacturing; Professional Services; Insurance; Real Estate and Construction; Technology; Transportation; Logistics; Financial Services; Educational Institutions; Energy; Food Industries.

Visit our careers page: www.beardwinter.com/careers

Visit our student program page: www.beardwinter.com/student-program

Boland Romaine Personal Injury Lawyers is one of Ontario’s most respected injury firms with over 40 years of trial experience. Voted as one of the top 10 personal injury firms by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, Boland Romaine’s lawyers have represented the province’s most vulnerable injured victims in court and won. Trial experience will protect the injured if negotiations break down. A lawyer for the injured needs the fortitude to say “no” to unreasonable offers and the commitment and the skill to take the injured person to trial.

Cummings Andrews Mackay LLP (CAM LLP) is a respected personal injury law firm based in Edmonton, Alberta. Since 1962, our lawyers have been getting results for seriously injured Albertans. We are skilled negotiators, and our firm was lead counsel on two of the three cases before the Supreme Court of Canada that shaped the law of personal injury compensation in Canada.

We offer a compassionate commitment to individualized legal services and we have built up extensive expertise representing seriously injured people and helping them through the recovery and claims process. We have a reputation for being well prepared and insurance defence counsel take us seriously.

Over the many years our firm has spent guiding clients through the legal process to successful resolutions of their claims, we have been counsel in precedent-setting personal injury cases. Clients represented by our firm were awarded damages that set the bar for school liability (MacCabe v. Westlock Roman Catholic Separate School Dist. No. 110) and soft tissue injuries (Wittmeier v. Scholes), respectively. We have also achieved court awards and out-of-court settlements reaching $5 million (lump sum) and $30 million in structured settlement tax-free payouts, respectively. While awards vary and depend on factors including the severity of the injury, duration of loss and overall impact on life, our firm’s experience representing people with severe injuries in complex claims benefits all our clients.

Personal injury is a unique area of legal practice where experience makes a positive difference to the outcome. It takes time and exposure to multiple types of claims to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to efficiently and effectively:

• identify all the legal issues in a case and explain them clearly so that clients fully understand the process and their options,
• investigate the full impact of an injury, including making sure the right medical professionals and experts are called in when needed,
• implement a plan to move forward that includes access to the resources required to pursue optimal recovery,
• present a case so that insurance companies will listen, and
• represent clients in proceedings best suited to their cases, whether that takes the form of settlement negotiations, mediation, or a trial.

We are dedicated to exceeding the expectations of our clients and their families—in both our personal service approach and the results we deliver. We look forward to being of service.

For over 60 years, Gluckstein Lawyers has remained steadfast in our mission to prioritize our clients' needs. We understand that our personal injury clients often face life's most challenging moments, marked by fear, anger, and overwhelm. In these difficult times, our team of experienced and compassionate lawyers is dedicated to guiding and empowering them to rediscover their best selves after experiencing a catastrophic injury. We pride ourselves on being more than just legal representatives; we walk alongside our clients as their advocates throughout their legal journeys and beyond, truly exemplifying our commitment to Full-Circle Care.

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Ten Personal Injury Firms, our award-winning team is known for handling complex cases with trusted expertise and a trauma-informed approach. Through strategic partnerships with experienced personal injury lawyers across Ontario, our firm has grown, enabling us to bring extensive experience to a wide variety of cases, including motor vehicle accidents, birth injuries, sexual abuse, class actions, medical malpractice, and long-term disability claims. Our dedication to excellence and advocacy extends well beyond the courtroom; we understand that personal injury cases are about more than just financial compensation—they are about fostering accountability and driving positive change in our communities.

Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success. With more than 1,500 legal professionals around the world, we provide our clients with in-depth knowledge in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.

Brief History

With roots tracing back to 1887, Gowling WLG grew to become one of the largest and most respected law firms in Canada, with a reputation for innovation in client-focused service delivery.

Building on its early strength in intellectual property, Gowling WLG diversified to offer a full suite of business law, litigation and intellectual property services in all of Canada’s key industries, including energy, mining, financial services, government, infrastructure, manufacturing, life sciences and technology.

Himelfarb Proszanski is a successful, respected and highly esteemed law firm located in the commercial and legal center of Toronto, ON.

Senior partners David Himelfarb and Peter Proszanski have assembled a top-notch team of associate lawyers who are renowned through-out the legal community as expert negotiators and advocates, achieving outstanding results on behalf of their clients.

At Himelfarb Proszanski, we’re regarded as one of Ontario’s leading civil litigation firms, as well as experts in unraveling and negotiating complex legal transactions on behalf of public and private corporations in the areas of corporate, commercial and real estate matters.

As specialists, we advise and guide clients involved in personal injury claims, insolvency, real estate, mortgage enforcement, insurance law, private lending practices, industrial regulations, trade associations, franchisors and franchisees along with numerous other legal issues with a proven expertise, experience and success rate unrivaled anywhere in the Canadian legal community.

Our firm is also a proud and long-standing member of CONSULEGIS, an international association of law firms, whose members work with our lawyers on international and cross border matters.

Utilizing expertise, precedence and experience, our lawyers confidently represent clients before all levels of Courts and tribunals, including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

As we work on your behalf, rest assured we’ll continue to provide you, and all of our clients with timely, knowledgeable, effective and personalized services.

“Our pledge to you at Himelfarb Proszanski will remain one where EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY and RESULTS will always be our focus.”

-David  Himelfarb & Peter Proszanski

The firm provides legal advice and representation in the following practice areas:

• Class action lawsuits
• Medical and dental malpractice
• Insurance disputes, including residential and business losses
• Sexual assault and misconduct claims
• Claims against the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD)
• Personal injury claims, including catastrophic injuries
• Wills and estates litigation

Recognized as one of the Top Personal Injury Boutiques in Western Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine in 2021 and 2022, the firm has deep expertise in personal injury, medical negligence, and insurance law and a 40-year history of trial success and willingness to take on complicated cases.

The firm’s lawyers offer decades of experience analyzing and presenting complex evidence to insurers and the courts. Meticulous preparation and attention to detail in every case are firm hallmarks. This dedication extends to Murphy Battista’s approach in other practice areas, including the firm’s rapidly growing class action practice. The firm’s strong class actions team has been class counsel in cases including failings by governments, negligence and wrongdoing by institutions, and pension and benefits matters. In addition, Murphy Battista is one of a handful of law firms in British Columbia with expertise representing sexual assault survivors.

Why Clients Choose Us

The firm knows first-hand how difficult it can be for people to access legal services to get the justice they seek. They offer free consultations to help educate people about their options and available resources.

Murphy Battista lawyers are adept at identifying the legal issues at the heart of a dispute and the options for achieving a just result that meets client needs. Litigation in complex matters can take extended periods of time. During the litigation process, they take great care to ensure that clients are kept informed and are well looked after while the firm’s lawyers work to resolve the matters at hand.

Murphy Battista lawyers are known as skilled negotiators, and while they are open to alternative conflict resolution, they pride themselves on strong reputations as effective litigators who aren’t afraid to go to trial, even in complex and challenging cases. The firm’s trial and appellate success is well-documented. That success includes several of the most significant personal injury case awards in British Columbia, results in unique areas like host liability, dental malpractice, and settlement awards in class action of national significance.

Rogers Partners LLP is a unique litigation practice that has the personal touch of a smaller firm along with the resources, expertise, and experience of a larger firm.

Our firm’s size enables us to apply highly specialized legal resources to major cases, while giving us the efficiency and flexibility to meet our clients’ varied needs at a reasonable cost.

Our professional values are traditional but our approach is very modern. This allows us to be nimble and highly efficient but also responsive and reliable.

Our approach and promise is simple: to provide highly skilled service and practical, personalized solutions at a reasonable cost to our clients while at the same time not compromising quality and integrity.

Our commitment and dedication have developed longstanding relationships with our clients and continually put us on top of the list of some of the largest institutional clients and insurance companies in Canada, as well in the U.S. and U.K.

We act as counsel at all levels of our civil justice system. We are defence counsel for insurers and self-insured companies, managing litigation arising from all types of losses including product liability, occupiers’ liability, professional negligence, motor vehicle liability, property losses, municipal liability, medical negligence, and sexual abuse. We will vigorously represent our clients’ interests through trial when a reasonable negotiated resolution is not available or is impractical.