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For over 25 years, Valerie has assisted health care professionals facing a civil lawsuit or College complaint pursue fair process and the best possible outcomes. Valerie partners with her clients to ensure they understand what is happening to them and are involved in the strategic decisions being made. Valerie is a fearless advocate who doggedly pursues fairness for her clients.
Valerie has extensive litigation experience, having successfully defended numerous contested discipline hearings at various Colleges and having litigated complex medical malpractice cases at both the trial and appellate level. Valerie understands College process, from beginning to end, and toils in the trenches on a daily basis for her clients, representing members (not regulators).
Valerie has dedicated most of her practice to health law since 1995, and has done it exclusively since 2005. Valerie has been Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Health Law since 2012.
Education
Conrad Grebel University College (2018) Certificate in Conflict Management and Mediation
University of California, Los Angeles (1992) LLM
Supreme Court of Canada (1990-91) Clerkship with the Right Honourable Chief Justice Antonio Lamer
Osgoode Hall Law School (1990) LLB
University of Waterloo (1987) BA
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Canadian Bar Association – Vice-Chair of the Health Law Section
Ontario Bar Association
Medico-Legal Society of Toronto – Past-President (2016-17); Council Member since 2008
The Advocates Society
Canadian Network of Agencies Regulation (CNAR)
ADR Institute of Canada and ADR Institute of Ontario
Halton County Law Association
Toronto Lawyer Association
AdvantAge Ontario (firm membership)
Ontario Long Term Care Association (firm membership)
Ontario Retirement Communities Association (firm membership)
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Chair, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto's Annual Spring Bouquet (March 2021)
Chair, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, "Medical Malpractice Hot Topics 2020" (June 2020)
Moderator, Ontario Bar Association's Institute, Administrative Law Section, “Accommodation in Professional Regulation” (February 2020)
Interviewee, CBC White Coat Black Art, “How One Doctor Fought Her Bullies and Won” (May 2019)
Chair, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto’s Annual Spring Bouquet (May 2019)
Author, Ontario Bar Association’s Institute, Health Law, “Interim Suspensions under the Regulated Health Professions Act” (February 2019)
Presenter, Middlesex Law Association Med-Mal Luncheon, “Trial and Tribulations of Experts: Lessons Learned from Recent Cases” (January 2019)
Chair, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto’s Annual Spring Bouquet (April 2018)
Presenter, CanDEC Symposium, “Can the College Do That? Avoiding and Managing College Complaints” (November 2017)
Chair, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto’s Annual Spring Bouquet (April 2017)
Presenter, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, “Changes to the RHPA and Bill 87: What the Changes Mean for Regulated Health Professionals” (January 2017)
Presenter, Lakeridge Health’s Medical Staff Association, “Informed Consent” (September 2016)
Presenter, Trillium Health Partners’ Interdisciplinary Rounds, “The Importance of Effective Charting and Documentation” (October 2015)
Presenter, Lakeridge Health’s Medical Staff Association, “Can We All Get Along?” (September 2015)
Presenter, Professional Engineers of Ontario’s Complaints Committee, “Guiding Principles and Current Trends” (July 2015)
Presenter, Denturist Association of Ontario’s Annual General Meeting, “Health Law ‘Hot Topics’” (April 2015)
Presenter, Ontario Bar Association’s Health Law Section, “Spousal Treatment under the RHPA” (November 2014)
Faculty, Osgoode’s Certificate Program in the Regulation and Discipline of the Health Care Sector, “Spousal Exception to Sexual Abuse” (June 2014)
Chair, Ontario Bar Association’s Health Law Section, “Civil Commitment under the Mental Health Act: Does ‘Brian’s Law’ Go Too Far?” (November 2013)
Author, Ontario Bar Association, “HPRAC Recommends Changes to RHPA to Permit Treatment of Spouses” (April 2013)
Presenter, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, “Treatment of Spouses: Can you or Can’t You?” (January 2013)
Presenter, Denturist Association of Ontario’s Perfecting Your Practice, “Section 75 Investigations vs Quality Assurance Assessments” (September 2012)
Presenter, Denturist Association of Ontario’s Perfecting Your Practice, “Treatment of Spouses by Regulated Health Professionals” (September 2012)
Presenter, Denturist Association of Ontario’s Perfecting Your Practice, “Informed Consent” (September 2012)
Presenter, Canadian Defence Lawyers’ Professional Liability Claims, “Defending Professionals When Parallel Regulatory Proceedings are Pending” (April 2012)
Presenter, Denturist Association of Ontario’s Annual General Meeting, “CDO Audit” (April 2012)
Presenter, Coalition of Ontario Regulated Health Profession Associations, “HPRAC Referral re Spousal Treatment” (November 2011)
Presenter, Ontario Base Hospital Group’s Annual Conference, “Paramedic Certification: A Legal Case Review” (May 2011)
Presenter, Coalition of Ontario Regulated Health Profession Associations, “Leering Decision” (February 2011)
Chair, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, “Rosenhek Decision” (April 2010)
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Mock Trial Mentor Coach for Garth Webb Secondary School, OBA/OJEN-Halton High School Mock Trial Project (since 2016)
Career Coach, Women as Career Coaches, Halton Industry Education Council (2014, 2015, 2018)
Volunteer Mediator, Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre
Guest Instructor, Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop, Osgoode CPD, 2008 to 2014
Legal Tutor, Medical Legal Workshop for Medical Students, University of Toronto (2013 and 2014)
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2024) - Health Care Law, Medical Negligence, Administrative and Public Law
Best Lawyers in Canada (2023) - Health Care Law, Medical Negligence, Administrative and Public Law
Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) - Health Care Law, Medical Negligence, Administrative and Public Law
Best Lawyers in Canada (2021) - Health Care Law, Medical Negligence
Medico-Legal Society of Toronto Award (2021) - Recognizing outstanding contributions by members of the medical, legal or scientific community
