In November 2024, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP  strengthened its insurance law practice with the addition of a seven-lawyer team from Vancouver firm Clark Wilson LLP. Among the arrivals were new department co-heads Samantha Ip and Brian Poston, both of whom bring strong insurance litigation expertise.

Distinguished by its formidably deep bench, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s full-service insurance group draws on specialists in regulatory, corporate and contentious work across its national offices. In Toronto, insurance sector head Paul Belanger is widely admired for his broad expertise in financial services regulation and insurance industry M&A. Belanger recently teamed up with fellow Toronto-based regulatory specialist Bonny Murray to advise TD Insurance on all Canadian aspects of its new catastrophe bond deal; notably, TD is the first Canadian insurer to sponsor a bond solely focused on catastrophe perils in Canada. In Calgary, David Tupper is a go-to name for insurance litigation, where he is a popular choice to represent major global insurers in subrogation actions, coverage disputes and liability defence matters. The practice also draws on Montreal-based insurance litigator Matthew Liben; Toronto-based Jake Gilbert, who focuses on non-contentious insurance; and Toronto-based Michael Elder, who is noted for insurance-related transactions.

Synonymous with insurance law globally, Clyde & Co LLP’s Canadian arm finds favour for its strong national practice, which is composed of ‘experts in their fields’, and also for its ‘broad network of international colleagues’. Enjoying close relationships with leading multinational insurers and reinsurers, the group is widely recognized for its contentious firepower and it advises on disputes and contentious regulatory proceedings across all insurance lines. In Montreal, global senior partner Carolena Gordon specializes in construction and infrastructure-related work; Robert Emblem is highly regarded for construction disputes; Trevor McCann represents insurers in coverage and liability matters; and office managing partner Dominic Naud is also recommended. In Calgary, Don Dear KC brings niche expertise in oil and gas-related work, while office managing partner Alexis Moulton ‘provides excellent coverage analysis’. Keith Geurts, who manages the Toronto office, is also noted. Toronto-based partners John Nicholl and Heather Gray recently left to join Whitelaw Twining.

The well-balanced insurance practice at McCarthy Tétrault draws on the firm’s leading financial services and dispute resolution groups to advise on the full range of regulatory, transactional and litigation matters. On the non-contentious side, Toronto-based insurance and reinsurance head Hartley Lefton acts for insurers, reinsurers and Insurtech clients on commercial and compliance issues; he recently advised a consortium on the acquisition of a majority interest in ICPEI Holdings and the take-private transaction of a public company. Other key contacts on the corporate side include Montreal-based Sonia Struthers, who has a strong focus on financial services regulation, and rising associate Daanish Pasricha. On the insurance litigation front, Toronto-based Christopher Hubbard is particularly recommended for his experience in professional negligence, product liability and insurance coverage disputes. Former department co-head Nancy Carroll recently retired, while litigator Atrisha Lewis also departed.

A force in non-contentious insurance, Stikeman Elliott LLP draws on corporate and regulatory specialists across its Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver offices. In Toronto, Stuart Carruthers is widely recognized as a leading figure for transactional, commercial, governance and regulatory advice to insurers, reinsurers and brokers; he recently advised Zurich Insurance Canada on Zurich Insurance Group’s acquisition of AIG’s global personal travel insurance and assistance business. Toronto-based banking and finance head Meaghan Obee Tower is also recommended for non-contentious insurance matters. The firm additionally houses a robust insurance litigation practice, with Montreal-based Éric Azran an increasingly prominent name in the field. Other key contentious practitioners include Toronto-based Alan D’Silva, who handles insurance litigation, professional negligence and D&O claims; Calgary-based Michael Mestinsek, who is noted for D&O liability, product liability and construction disputes; and Montreal-based Pierre-Paul Daunais, who is well versed in construction and product liability cases.

The full-spectrum insurance practice at Torys attracts praise for its ability to ‘navigate complex insurance regulatory matters with precision and foresight’. Widely regarded as a destination practice for non-contentious work, the group advises on cross-Canada regulatory compliance, new product development, insurance company formations and corporate and commercial transactions. High-profile financial services regulatory specialist Blair Keefe co-heads the group and recently worked alongside up-and-coming regulatory partner Eli Monas to advise Property & Casualty Insurance Compensation Corp on the incorporation and licensing of a bridge property and casualty insurance company. Other key contacts on the corporate and regulatory side include financial services co-head Jill McCutcheon, insurance specialist Melissa Prado, and senior counsel Kelly Morris. The firm also maintains a strong insurance litigation capability under dispute resolution chair Linda Plumpton and seasoned litigator David Outerbridge, who is commended for his ‘proactive approach to litigation strategy’. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP continues to build its non-contentious insurance capabilities under the leadership of corporate and regulatory insurance lead Rick Da Costa (Toronto). The practice remains a force in the realm of insurance disputes, leveraging the bench strength of its team to advise clients on a diverse spectrum of matters involving such areas as product liability, personal injury, D&O and municipal liability. Rebecca Bush (Toronto) heads the insurance and tort liability group and brings expertise to public authority litigation and tort litigation. Other key figures include Kevin McGivney (Toronto), who defends police services and municipalities in claims; experienced disputes head Graham Walker (Vancouver); and Patrick Heinsen (Calgary), a specialist in professional liability.

Over recent years Dentons has positioned itself as a key contender for insurance work in Canada, leveraging its broad national platform and global network to bring ‘deep understanding of complex regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions’. On the non-contentious side, Toronto-based department head Laurie LaPalme is highly regarded for her expertise in corporate and regulatory matters. The corporate and regulatory insurance practice also includes Montreal-based Nathalie Durocher, who additionally advises on insurance litigation; Toronto-based next-generation partner Marisa Coggin; and talented senior associate Taschina Ashmeade. Group co-head Douglas Stewart specializes in insurance disputes, with a particular focus on professional liability.

Fasken’s national insurance offering is well versed in both non-contentious and contentious work. On the corporate and regulatory side, Toronto-based financial services co-head Koker Christensen enjoys a strong reputation for his experience in advising insurers and insurance intermediaries on corporate, transactional and compliance matters. Other key non-contentious specialists include Montreal-based financial services co-chair Nicolas Faucher and Toronto-based corporate and regulatory insurance partner Craig Bellefontaine. The insurance litigation group draws on several senior practitioners, including Toronto-based Peter Pliszka, who chairs the product liability and insurance team, as well as Vancouver partners Michael Parrish and Jonathan Lim, both of whom maintain broad disputes practices.

Toronto dispute resolution boutique Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP houses a specialist insurance litigation practice that is ‘laser-focused on achieving client objectives’. Particularly active on behalf of policyholder clients, the team handles high-stakes claims in the cyber, D&O, E&O, life insurance and environmental liability areas, among others. Department head Hovsep Afarian is widely lauded as ‘one of the most capable policyholder-side lawyers in Canada’. Other key litigators include Crawford Smith and new counsel Dennis Ong, who joined in January 2025 from Aviva Trial Lawyers.

Lenczner Slaght leverages its premier dispute resolution offering to support insurers and insured entities on a broad range of policy, coverage and defence litigation. The Toronto-based team contributes extensive experience across all major insurance lines, including D&O, environmental, property, product liability and professional negligence. Trial and appellate specialist Nina Bombier heads the group and is particularly recommended for insurance coverage and professional negligence disputes. Mark Veneziano is also noted for his work on professional liability, coverage and construction-related matters.