Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- University of Western Ontario (1994) LLB
- University of Toronto (1989) BSc (Psychology)
- Certificate in Mediation from Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation (2022)
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Risa M. Kirshblum (she/her)
"She is persistent, tireless and an excellent trial strategist." — Chambers Canada
Risa co-heads the firm’s Professional Liability and Regulation group, with a particular focus on the defence of physicians. Her health law practice encompasses civil litigation and regulatory matters. Balancing skillful strategy with seasoned counsel, Risa regularly provides advice in contexts in which legal issues arise in medical practice.
Risa has expanded her practice to include mediation services for civil litigation disputes. Having earned a Certificate in Mediation from Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation, Risa offers a rare and highly valuable combination of litigation insight and mediation skill – helping parties navigate disputes with confidence and clarity.
Risa frequently presents in continuing legal education programs for organizations such as the Law Society of Ontario and The Advocates’ Society. She has presented in continuing education programs for a variety of medical organizations.
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Szeman v Lakeridge Health Foundation
Counsel to the Defendant charitable foundation in a claim for wrongful termination by its executive director following a fraud investigation.
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Huma v Mississauga Hospital and Queensway Health Centre (Trillium Health Partners)
Successful in enforcing a settlement agreement against multiple Plaintiffs.
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Counsel to a physician in a case involving a perforated bowel during a hysterectomy. The case was dismissed on consent without costs after two weeks of trial
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Counsel to the defendant physician in a jury trial regarding the quantum of damages in a medical negligence relating to the management of shoulder dystocia.
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RBC Dominion Securities Inc v Merrill Lynch Canada Inc
Counsel to RBC on injunction, trial, appeal and at the Supreme Court of Canada in respect of an action against departing investment advisors for a competitor.
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IMP Group Ltd v Skyservice Business Aviation Inc
Counsel to a group of employees in a dispute with their former employer in relation to their resignations and subsequent employment with another company.
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McCarthy v Canadian Red Cross Society
Counsel to the Trustee of the settlement fund created following the settlement of a class action brought against the Red Cross Society surrounding tainted blood.
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Counsel to the appellants in an appeal from a trial decision in which the trial judge refused to deduct statutory severance under the Employment Standards Act from an award of damages for wrongful dismissal. The appellant was successful in overturning this aspect of the judge's decision, and this became a leading case on this issue.
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The Advocates' Society
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Canadian Bar Association
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Ontario Bar Association
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Who’s to Blame? Apportioning Liability in Civil Jury Trials
When one person negligently causes an accident, the law is clear about their responsibility. But when negligence acts on the part of a number of different parties combine to create a single accident, how should responsibility for that accident be apportioned between them? This was recently addressed by the Ontario Court of Appeal in its recent decision in Parent v Janandee Management Inc.
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The Complexities of Summary Judgment under Simplified Procedure
Rule 76 of the Rules of Civil Procedure provides a set of simplified rules for use in smaller and, in theory, less complicated matters. However, exactly how those rules apply in certain contexts is not always apparent. In Singh v Concept Plastics Limited, the Ontario Court of Appeal recently addressed the challenges of summary judgment motions in the context of the simplified rules.
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Chambers Canada Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Excellence in Advocacy
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to be recognized in world-renowned directory, with new rankings highlighting its deep bench of expertise.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Featured Among Best Lawyers in Canada
The 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada recognizes Lenczner Slaght with 180+ rankings, featuring 48 of our expert litigators across 27 practice areas.
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2025 Lexpert Directory Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Excellence in Advocacy
Peers and senior members of the legal profession across the country continue to recognize the depth and breadth of Canada’s leading litigation firm in the latest 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
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Chambers Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Deep Bench of Expert Litigators
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to advance their position in the latest edition of the world-renowned directory.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized as the Best Lawyers in Canada
In the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, Lenczner Slaght is proud to receive 168 total rankings, with 45 of our expert litigators recognized for their expertise across 25 practice areas.
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Risa Kirshblum Recognized for Excellence in Mentoring
Lenczner Slaght is proud to announce that Risa Kirshblum is the 2024 recipient of The Eric Hoaken Excellence in Mentoring Award, to be presented at The Advocates’ Society End of Term Dinner on June 26, 2024.
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The 2024 Lexpert Directory Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence
Lenczner Slaght’s litigators continue to be recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners in their fields.
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Chambers Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght as a Top-Tier Litigation Firm
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to be recognized by world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized as Best Lawyers in Canada
In the latest edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, 41 of our expert litigators are recognized for their expertise across 24 practice areas. The following lawyers have also been recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” for receiving the highest overall peer-feedback in their practice areas in Toronto.
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Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence Recognized in 2023 Lexpert Directory
Following comprehensive peer review surveys and interviews with senior members in the legal profession, the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has recognized 31 of the firm’s expert litigators for their experience, knowledge, and precision, with 108 rankings spanning 17 practice areas.
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Clinical Risk, Negligence and Claims Management in Health Care
Risa Kirshblum was invited to participate as an instructor at OsgoodePD's Clinical Risk, Negligence and Claims Management in Health Care Certificate Program. Risa will discuss defence best practices and mitigation strategies.
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The Art of Examination-in-Chief
Risa Kirshblum was invited to participate as an instructor at The Advocates' Society's program titled, The Art of Examination-in-Chief. This program offers a range of techniques to help key witnesses tell compelling stories. Risa will provide practical, individualized feedback on examination-in-chief methods.
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Risky Business 2025 Conference - The Changing Landscape: Medical Malpractice in a New Era
Risa Kirshblum was invited to share her expertise at Gluckstein Lawyer's Risky Business 2025 Conference. Risa will discuss strategies to navigate the complex field of medical malpractice law on the panel, Defence Lawyer Collaboration.
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46th Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (ITAW)
Lawrence Thacker, Risa Kirshblum, Monique Jilesen, Brendan Morrison, and Jonathan Chen participated as instructors at the 46th Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (ITAW), hosted by Osgoode Professional Development. Jonathan McDaniel and Kate Costin also took part in ITAW, serving as Mock Expert Witnesses. This program gathered over 100 experts in advocacy skills training and guest speakers who are active members of the Bench and Bar. Attendees had the opportunity to develop and refine their advocacy skills.
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The Advocates' Society: Summer Trial Advocacy College
Risa M. Kirshblum was invited to share her expertise at The Advocates' Society's program, Summer Trial Advocacy College. This two-day workshop helped participants sharpen their skills in civil trial advocacy through practice in case analysis, opening and closing statements, examination-in-chief and cross-examination.
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Lenczner Slaght Advocacy Competition in Legal Ethics and Professionalism 2025
Risa Kirshblum, Sean Lewis, Andrew Locatelli, Nicole Naglie, Joudy Sarraj, and Kyle Magee participated as judges at Western Law’s Annual Advocacy Competition in Legal Ethics and Professionalism.
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2024 Snapshot: Through the Lens of Lenczner Slaght
Lenczner Slaght launches our 2024 Snapshot, which highlights the most significant developments, decisions, and trends in litigation from the past year across 20 areas of expertise. Reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025 through the lens of our expert litigators.
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Clinical Negligence, Liability Claims and Litigation
Risa Kirshblum was invited to OsgoodePD's Clinical Risk, Negligence and Claims Management in Healthcare Certificate Program. Risa shared her expertise on the litigation process for medical malpractice and liability claims, and defence mitigation strategies including the importance of consent, documentation and health records, preservation of evidence, and more.
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45th Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (ITAW)
Risa Kirshblum, Sana Halwani, and Jonathan Chen participated as instructors at the 45th Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (ITAW), hosted by Osgoode Professional Development. This program gathered over 100 experts in advocacy skills training and guest speakers who are active members of the Bench and Bar. Attendees had the opportunity to develop and refine their advocacy skills.
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Examining and Cross-Examining Experts
Risa M. Kirshblum and Dena N. Varah were invited to present at The Advocates' Society's annual program on Examining and Cross-Examining Experts, which explored the ethical and practical issues relating to expert evidence, from deciding whether to retain an expert to qualifying and examining witnesses at trial.
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2014-2026)
Health Care Law, Medical Negligence, Professional Liability (2017)
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2018)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Medical Negligence
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2020, 2023, 2025)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Health Care Law
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2012-2025)
Medical Negligence (Most Frequently Recommended), Professional Liability (Consistently Recommended)
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Chambers Canada (2020-2026)
Healthcare: Contentious (Nationwide – Canada)
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada (2018-2019)
Dispute Resolution
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers (2021, 2025)
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The Advocate Society’s Eric Hoaken Excellence in Mentoring Award (2024)