Carolyn Brandow

Carolyn Brandow is a partner in Lerners' London office with a practice that encompasses many areas of civil litigation; broadly speaking, commercial litigation and health law. “In the health law side of my practice, my primary focus is to assist health professionals, mostly physicians, with both litigation and non-litigation matters,” explains Carolyn. “That includes regulatory (College) investigations, hospital workplace investigations, discipline hearings, fitness to practise hearings, hospital privilege disputes, and human rights complaints.”

In her commercial litigation practice, Carolyn acts for business owners, public agencies, corporations, governments, and owners of significant land holdings. “I grew up in central Ontario, north of Toronto, and had experience early on as a lawyer dealing within real estate law, municipal and boundary disputes, and supporting business transitions across generations. That knowledge helps me deal with businesses of all sizes and in many industries,” she adds. Whether dealing with professionals, public bodies, or business owners, she describes, “I’m both passionate about the work and willing to take positions that the client wishes to provide the best outcome,” she says. “My advice is frank and forthright. I want clients to know my assessment as soon as possible so they can make informed choices early on about how to proceed."

What values does Carolyn bring to the practice of law? “Personal responsibility is a core belief and the way I live my life, when I take on something that I must be qualified, committed, and follow through to get it done,” she says. “I have compassion and believe that we need to be able to see everything from in somebody else's shoes. Many can be too quick to judge and act. Strategic thinking — both the immediate and long-term goals — is crucial. A win today may not be seen that way if it doesn’t achieve, but undermines, an end goal.”

Carolyn deals with all levels and areas of court and administrative tribunals. She brings and defends appeals and judicial review applications for her clients before single judges, Divisional Court, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario as well as conducting hearings before numerous administrative tribunals in Ontario. She has written and spoken at events both for Ontario lawyers and lawyers across North America on a variety of topics from oppression remedies to the defence of medical professionals.