Elizabeth Grace
Partner
Elizabeth is a seasoned litigator focused on civil sexual abuse, professional regulation, and health law. She has appeared at all court levels, including the Supreme Court, and is known for her advocacy in institutional liability and human rights.
Awards & Recognitions
Areas of Expertise
Institutional Liability
Investigations
Health Law
Medical Negligence Litigation
Professional Regulation and Discipline
Administrative and Tribunal Proceedings
Public Entity, Non-Profit Defence Liability
Human Rights Law
Education
Admitted to Ontario Bar (1995)
Bachelor of Laws, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (1993)
Master of Philosophy, University of Sussex, England (1989)
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Queen’s University (1987)
Awards and Recognitions
Best Lawyers in Canada, Administrative and Public Law (2021-2027), Health Care Law (2017-2027), Medical Negligence (2019-2027), Personal Injury Litigation (2016-2027), and Professional Malpractice Law (2021-2027)
Selected by her peers for inclusion in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Medical Negligence (2021-2026) and Personal Injury (2023, 2025, 2026)
Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers for her commitment to advocating on behalf of victims of sexual abuse, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, 2014
Recipient of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario President’s Award, June 2014
Recipient of Lexpert Zenith Award for Leading Women Lawyers, 2013
Frequently consulted by news media, including CBC News (Radio, Television and online), Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun, Hamilton’s CHCH Television News, The Motts radio show, Maclean’s Magazine, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)
Frequently consulted by law media, including Law Times, The Lawyers Weekly, The Lawyer's Daily, Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Interviewed for Chatelaine Magazine article “Judgment call”, October 1998
While studying for her Bachelor of Laws degree at Osgoode Hall Law School, Elizabeth received numerous academic awards, including in 1993 the Bronze Medal and the J.S.D. Tory Research and Writing Award. Before attending law school, she was awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship to complete post-graduate work in Development Studies in the United Kingdom (1987-1989), as well as numerous other scholarships and prizes through her undergraduate and graduate studies.
Selected Presentations and Publications
Speaker, “Drilling Down on Damages”, OsgoodePD Guide to Torts for Family Law Lawyers, October 7, 2026, Toronto in-person and virtual
Speaker on panel, “Damages and Damages Experts”, Brave New World: Litigating the Tort of Intimate Partner Violence, The Advocates’ Society, September 9, 2026, virtual
Co-presenter of “Where Law Meets Psychology: The Psychologist as Treating Psychologist vs. Independent Evaluator in Civil Sexual Abuse Cases”, for the Canadian Board of Professional Psychologists, April 10, 2026 (3½ hour virtual workshop)
Speaker, “Proving Causation for Liability and Damages: The Example of Psychological Injury”, The Advocates Society (TAS) Advocacy Hour, March 27, 2026
Chair of The OsgoodePD Guide to Advanced Issues in Civil Sexual Assault conference, and speaker on panel “Unpacking Causation in Sexual Assault” panel, December 1, 2025
Speaker on panel, “Unpacking Causes of Actions and Defences”, OBA Insurance Law Section’s “Fundamentals of Civil Sexual Assault Claims”. November 18, 2024, Toronto
Speaker, “General Damages in Sexual Abuse Cases: A Panel Discussion from Plaintiff, Defence and Mediation Perspectives”, OTLA 2024 Fall Conference, November 8, 2024, Toronto
Speaker, “Ways to Prove Income Loss for Sexual Abuse”, OsgoodePD’s The 2024 Guide to Civil Sexual Assault, April 1, 2024 (virtual)
Speaker, “New Tort of Family Violence,” The Six-Minute Law Lawyer 2022, Law Society of Ontario Continuing Legal Education, November 28, 2022
Speaker “What’s New and Happening Back East” and Q & A Panellist, “Sexual Violence (Civil) Conference 2022, British Columbia Continuing Legal Education, March 30, 2022
Speaker on panel “Institutional Liability: Where We Are and What’s Ahead” at Civil Sexual Assault: Critical and Emerging Issues, Osgoode Professional Development Program, February 25, 2021 (virtual)
Speaker, “Civil Sexual Assault Claims – Developing a Robust, Efficient and Fair Claims Process,” 25th Annual Provincial/Municipal Government Liability Conference, The Canadian Institute, April 2, 2019
Co-Chair of Current and Emerging Issues in Civil Sexual Assault, Osgoode Professional Development Program, February 26, 2018
“Criminal v. Civil: How the Criminal Process Can Impact a Parallel Civil Process”, For the Defence, Criminal Lawyers Association Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 2 – July 2017, 18-24
Speaker on “Civil Liability for Sexual Abuse: A Means of Achieving Accountability in the Campus Context?” National Conference on Campus Sexual Assault for Higher Education Administrators, Ryley Conferences Group, Toronto, December 8, 2017
“Judging Cause and Effect: Challenges and Trends in Assessing Damages in Sexual Abuse Cases”, in Law Society of Upper Canada Special Lectures 2005: The Modern Law of Damages (Irwin Law, 2006)
Co-author, Civil Liability for Sexual Abuse and Violence in Canada (Butterworths, 2000) (this book has been quoted by courts across the country, including Ontario’s Court of Appeal)
Noteworthy Cases
C.O. v. Williamson, 2020 ONSC 6793 – secured Mareva injunction against judgment debtor defendant on behalf of plaintiff
C.O. v. Williamson and Trillium Lakelands District School Board, 2020 ONSC 3874 (CanLII) – historical sexual abuse trial on behalf of plaintiff against school board based on its high school music teacher’s sexual assaults and its inadequate post-assault response to disclosure
Lavelle v. The Hospital for Sick Children et al., 2019 ONSC 5855 – health-related litigation on behalf of multiple physicians
Larman v Mount Sinai Hospital, 2014 ONCA 923, affirming 24 April 2014, Toronto CV-09-375484 (Ont S.C.J.) – appeal upholding summary judgment in medical negligence case
Rosenthal v. Rosenthal, 2014 ONSC 317 – historical sexual abuse trial, served as amicus curiae (ie. “friend of the court”)
Turner v. Ma, 2012 ONSC 71 – medical negligence trial involving physician and nursing care
Pakarian v. Chen et al, 2012 HRTO 156 (and other related decisions) – human rights application involving numerous proceedings
Bajouco v. McMaster, 2011 HRTO 569 (CanLII) – human rights application against a psychiatrist who performed an IME
Urie v. Peterborough Regional Health Centre et al, 2010 ONSC 4226 - health-related litigation on behalf of multiple physicians
Kramarz v. KMH Cardiology & Diagnostic Centres, [2007] O.J. No. 3258 (S.C.J.) – health-related litigation on behalf of physician
Actions by multiple plaintiffs against the Anglican Church of Canada and Scouts Canada, between years 2005 to 2014 – sexual abuse litigation on behalf of numerous First Nation plaintiffs
N.G. v. Upper Canada College, [2004] O.J. No. 1202 (C.A.) and [2003] O.J. No. 5183 (S.C.J.) – sexual assault/abuse litigation against private school on behalf of plaintiff
K.L.B. v. British Columbia, 2003 SCC 51; E.D.G. v. Hammer, 2003 SCC 52; and, M.B. v. British Columbia, 2003 SCC 53 – abuse litigation on behalf of intervener, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Walkerton Inquiry (2000-2001) – public inquiry on behalf of Medical Officer of Health and public health unit administrator
Drabinsky v. KPMG (1998-2003) – professional liability litigation on behalf of the accounting firm
Stevens v. Canada (1998) – appeals in Federal Court of Appeal
Sears Canada v. Davis Inquest (coroner of) (1997), 201 O.A.C. 60 (Div. Ct.) – judicial review of coroner’s ruling
Chippewas of Sarnia Band v. AG of Canada et al. (various decisions at all levels of court, between 1996-2000) – aboriginal rights/class action litigation on behalf of First Nation)
Representative Work
Elizabeth has practised civil litigation and appeared before a variety of administrative tribunals since being called to the bar in 1995.
She has represented health care professionals before their Colleges and the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB), the courts, a commission of public inquiry and inquests.
She has represented physicians in disputes with hospitals that have gone before Medical Advisory Committees and been the subject of Board hearings.
Elizabeth also has extensive experience working in the area of sexual abuse, primarily advocating for those who have been abused, but also defending institutions whose members have been accused of sexual misconduct. This work has involved appearances at all levels of court, and before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and other internal dispute resolution processes. Elizabeth also has experience with investigations into sexual abuse and harassment allegations, and has served as an independent, third-party investigator.
Memberships and Community Work
Law Commission of Ontario, Board of Governors, Member-at-large and Project Committee Member, June 2018 to May 2023 (2 appointment terms)
Member of Advisory Committee to CCLISAR (Canadian Centre for Legal Innovation in Sexual Assault Response) – non-profit, non-partisan organization devoted to improving understanding and responses to sexualized violence, January 2020 to present
Invited panellist for #AfterMeToo Civil Roundtable, filmed at Globe and Mail Toronto head office, December 5, 2017
Invited member of working group that drafted the Guide for the Provision of Legal Services in Cases Involving Claims of Sexual Abuse. This Guide was approved by the Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee of the Law Society of Upper Canada and then formally adopted by Convocation on January 26, 2012.
Ontario Bar Association’s Working Group on McMurtry Victim Compensation Review, representing OBA’s Feminist Legal Analysis (FLAC) Section, 2008
The Advocates' Society
Ontario Bar Association’s Health Law, Aboriginal Law and Feminist Legal Analysis Sections
National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL), including Board of Directors (1995 to 2000)
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Elizabeth Grace
Partner
Elizabeth is a seasoned litigator focused on civil sexual abuse, professional regulation, and health law. She has appeared at all court levels, including the Supreme Court, and is known for her advocacy in institutional liability and human rights.
+1 416 601 2378
egrace@lerners.ca
Areas of Expertise
• Personal Injury
• Sexual Abuse and Assault
Institutional Liability
Investigations
Health Law
Medical Negligence Litigation
Professional Regulation and Discipline
Administrative and Tribunal Proceedings
Public Entity, Non-Profit Defence Liability
Human Rights Law
Awards & Recognitions
Education
Admitted to Ontario Bar (1995)
Bachelor of Laws, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (1993)
Master of Philosophy, University of Sussex, England (1989)
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Queen’s University (1987)
Awards and Recognitions
Best Lawyers in Canada, Administrative and Public Law (2021-2027), Health Care Law (2017-2027), Medical Negligence (2019-2027), Personal Injury Litigation (2016-2027), and Professional Malpractice Law (2021-2027)
Selected by her peers for inclusion in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Medical Negligence (2021-2026) and Personal Injury (2023, 2025, 2026)
Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers for her commitment to advocating on behalf of victims of sexual abuse, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, 2014
Recipient of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario President’s Award, June 2014
Recipient of Lexpert Zenith Award for Leading Women Lawyers, 2013
Frequently consulted by news media, including CBC News (Radio, Television and online), Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun, Hamilton’s CHCH Television News, The Motts radio show, Maclean’s Magazine, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)
Frequently consulted by law media, including Law Times, The Lawyers Weekly, The Lawyer's Daily, Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Interviewed for Chatelaine Magazine article “Judgment call”, October 1998
While studying for her Bachelor of Laws degree at Osgoode Hall Law School, Elizabeth received numerous academic awards, including in 1993 the Bronze Medal and the J.S.D. Tory Research and Writing Award. Before attending law school, she was awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship to complete post-graduate work in Development Studies in the United Kingdom (1987-1989), as well as numerous other scholarships and prizes through her undergraduate and graduate studies.
Selected Presentations and Publications
Speaker, “Drilling Down on Damages”, OsgoodePD Guide to Torts for Family Law Lawyers, October 7, 2026, Toronto in-person and virtual
Speaker on panel, “Damages and Damages Experts”, Brave New World: Litigating the Tort of Intimate Partner Violence, The Advocates’ Society, September 9, 2026, virtual
Co-presenter of “Where Law Meets Psychology: The Psychologist as Treating Psychologist vs. Independent Evaluator in Civil Sexual Abuse Cases”, for the Canadian Board of Professional Psychologists, April 10, 2026 (3½ hour virtual workshop)
Speaker, “Proving Causation for Liability and Damages: The Example of Psychological Injury”, The Advocates Society (TAS) Advocacy Hour, March 27, 2026
Chair of The OsgoodePD Guide to Advanced Issues in Civil Sexual Assault conference, and speaker on panel “Unpacking Causation in Sexual Assault” panel, December 1, 2025
Speaker on panel, “Unpacking Causes of Actions and Defences”, OBA Insurance Law Section’s “Fundamentals of Civil Sexual Assault Claims”. November 18, 2024, Toronto
Speaker, “General Damages in Sexual Abuse Cases: A Panel Discussion from Plaintiff, Defence and Mediation Perspectives”, OTLA 2024 Fall Conference, November 8, 2024, Toronto
Speaker, “Ways to Prove Income Loss for Sexual Abuse”, OsgoodePD’s The 2024 Guide to Civil Sexual Assault, April 1, 2024 (virtual)
Speaker, “New Tort of Family Violence,” The Six-Minute Law Lawyer 2022, Law Society of Ontario Continuing Legal Education, November 28, 2022
Speaker “What’s New and Happening Back East” and Q & A Panellist, “Sexual Violence (Civil) Conference 2022, British Columbia Continuing Legal Education, March 30, 2022
Speaker on panel “Institutional Liability: Where We Are and What’s Ahead” at Civil Sexual Assault: Critical and Emerging Issues, Osgoode Professional Development Program, February 25, 2021 (virtual)
Speaker, “Civil Sexual Assault Claims – Developing a Robust, Efficient and Fair Claims Process,” 25th Annual Provincial/Municipal Government Liability Conference, The Canadian Institute, April 2, 2019
Co-Chair of Current and Emerging Issues in Civil Sexual Assault, Osgoode Professional Development Program, February 26, 2018
“Criminal v. Civil: How the Criminal Process Can Impact a Parallel Civil Process”, For the Defence, Criminal Lawyers Association Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 2 – July 2017, 18-24
Speaker on “Civil Liability for Sexual Abuse: A Means of Achieving Accountability in the Campus Context?” National Conference on Campus Sexual Assault for Higher Education Administrators, Ryley Conferences Group, Toronto, December 8, 2017
“Judging Cause and Effect: Challenges and Trends in Assessing Damages in Sexual Abuse Cases”, in Law Society of Upper Canada Special Lectures 2005: The Modern Law of Damages (Irwin Law, 2006)
Co-author, Civil Liability for Sexual Abuse and Violence in Canada (Butterworths, 2000) (this book has been quoted by courts across the country, including Ontario’s Court of Appeal)
Noteworthy Cases
C.O. v. Williamson, 2020 ONSC 6793 – secured Mareva injunction against judgment debtor defendant on behalf of plaintiff
C.O. v. Williamson and Trillium Lakelands District School Board, 2020 ONSC 3874 (CanLII) – historical sexual abuse trial on behalf of plaintiff against school board based on its high school music teacher’s sexual assaults and its inadequate post-assault response to disclosure
Lavelle v. The Hospital for Sick Children et al., 2019 ONSC 5855 – health-related litigation on behalf of multiple physicians
Larman v Mount Sinai Hospital, 2014 ONCA 923, affirming 24 April 2014, Toronto CV-09-375484 (Ont S.C.J.) – appeal upholding summary judgment in medical negligence case
Rosenthal v. Rosenthal, 2014 ONSC 317 – historical sexual abuse trial, served as amicus curiae (ie. “friend of the court”)
Turner v. Ma, 2012 ONSC 71 – medical negligence trial involving physician and nursing care
Pakarian v. Chen et al, 2012 HRTO 156 (and other related decisions) – human rights application involving numerous proceedings
Bajouco v. McMaster, 2011 HRTO 569 (CanLII) – human rights application against a psychiatrist who performed an IME
Urie v. Peterborough Regional Health Centre et al, 2010 ONSC 4226 - health-related litigation on behalf of multiple physicians
Kramarz v. KMH Cardiology & Diagnostic Centres, [2007] O.J. No. 3258 (S.C.J.) – health-related litigation on behalf of physician
Actions by multiple plaintiffs against the Anglican Church of Canada and Scouts Canada, between years 2005 to 2014 – sexual abuse litigation on behalf of numerous First Nation plaintiffs
N.G. v. Upper Canada College, [2004] O.J. No. 1202 (C.A.) and [2003] O.J. No. 5183 (S.C.J.) – sexual assault/abuse litigation against private school on behalf of plaintiff
K.L.B. v. British Columbia, 2003 SCC 51; E.D.G. v. Hammer, 2003 SCC 52; and, M.B. v. British Columbia, 2003 SCC 53 – abuse litigation on behalf of intervener, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Walkerton Inquiry (2000-2001) – public inquiry on behalf of Medical Officer of Health and public health unit administrator
Drabinsky v. KPMG (1998-2003) – professional liability litigation on behalf of the accounting firm
Stevens v. Canada (1998) – appeals in Federal Court of Appeal
Sears Canada v. Davis Inquest (coroner of) (1997), 201 O.A.C. 60 (Div. Ct.) – judicial review of coroner’s ruling
Chippewas of Sarnia Band v. AG of Canada et al. (various decisions at all levels of court, between 1996-2000) – aboriginal rights/class action litigation on behalf of First Nation)
Representative Work
Elizabeth has practised civil litigation and appeared before a variety of administrative tribunals since being called to the bar in 1995.
She has represented health care professionals before their Colleges and the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB), the courts, a commission of public inquiry and inquests.
She has represented physicians in disputes with hospitals that have gone before Medical Advisory Committees and been the subject of Board hearings.
Elizabeth also has extensive experience working in the area of sexual abuse, primarily advocating for those who have been abused, but also defending institutions whose members have been accused of sexual misconduct. This work has involved appearances at all levels of court, and before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and other internal dispute resolution processes. Elizabeth also has experience with investigations into sexual abuse and harassment allegations, and has served as an independent, third-party investigator.
Memberships and Community Work
Law Commission of Ontario, Board of Governors, Member-at-large and Project Committee Member, June 2018 to May 2023 (2 appointment terms)
Member of Advisory Committee to CCLISAR (Canadian Centre for Legal Innovation in Sexual Assault Response) – non-profit, non-partisan organization devoted to improving understanding and responses to sexualized violence, January 2020 to present
Invited panellist for #AfterMeToo Civil Roundtable, filmed at Globe and Mail Toronto head office, December 5, 2017
Invited member of working group that drafted the Guide for the Provision of Legal Services in Cases Involving Claims of Sexual Abuse. This Guide was approved by the Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee of the Law Society of Upper Canada and then formally adopted by Convocation on January 26, 2012.
Ontario Bar Association’s Working Group on McMurtry Victim Compensation Review, representing OBA’s Feminist Legal Analysis (FLAC) Section, 2008
The Advocates' Society
Ontario Bar Association’s Health Law, Aboriginal Law and Feminist Legal Analysis Sections
National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL), including Board of Directors (1995 to 2000)
PRINT PREVIEW START
Contents WILL NOT be displayed on live website