Anne E. Spafford

Professional Regulation Lawyer

Phone:

416.601.2388

Fax:

416.867.2437

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Professional History

Representative Work

Noteworthy Cases

Achievements

Selected Presentations/Publications

Memberships

Education

Personal Information

Professional History

Managing Partner, Lerners LLP Toronto office (2020 to present)
Partner, Lerners LLP (2003 to present)
Associate lawyer, Lerners LLP (2001-2002)
Partner, Litigation Group, Borden & Elliot (now Borden Ladner Gervais) (1990-2000)
Associate lawyer, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae in Boston (1987-1988)

Representative Work

Anne is a francophone and bilingual advocate with more than two decades of experience in regulatory and health law. She has been involved in countless discipline and fitness to practise matters for physicians before the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and for other health professionals before their respective regulators. She has appeared as counsel before the Court of Appeal, at numerous Coroner’s Inquests and before the Human Rights Tribunal. Anne is a former legal member and Alternative Chair of the Ontario Review Board. She has taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Toronto and regularly teaches advocacy skills for The Advocates’ Society.

Noteworthy Cases

Tahir v. Mitoff, 2019 ONSC 7298
Lewin-Gillies v. York Central Hospital, 2018 ONSC 883
Ontario (College of Physicians and Surgeons) v. RST, 2016 ONCPSD 35
Ontario (College of Physicians and Surgeons) v. Ng, 2016 ONCPSD 12
Aherne v. Chang, 2011, 106 O.R. (3d) 297

Achievements

Recognized in Chambers Canada in the area of Healthcare - Contentious (2021-2022)
Benchmark Canada, Litigation Star (2015-2020) - Recognized in the following areas: Health and Insurance (2015-2020); Dispute Resolution (2020)
Recognized in Chambers Canada in the area of Healthcare law (2020)
Ranked in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Medical Negligence (represents defendants) (2014-2022)
Selected by her peers to be included in Best Lawyers in Canada for Administrative and Public Law, Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Medical Negligence, Professional Malpractice Law
Ontario Review Board, Legal Member and Alternate Chair
University of Toronto Instructor Trial Advocacy
Skills Instructor for The Advocates’ Society

Selected Presentations/Publications

The Advocates’ Society: Spring Symposium, Demonstration and Discussion on Expert Testimony, 2019
"Demonstration & Discussion: What Category of Expert is Your Opponent Calling and Why Does it Matter?", The Advocates' Society 18th Annual Spring Symposium Program, April 24, 2019
The Advocates' Society: Exercising Professionalism and Civility, Co-Chair December 2018
The Law Society of Ontario: Best Practices in Medical Negligence Cases, Speaker, 2018
The Advocates' Society: Exercising Professionalism and Civility, Co-Chair December 2017
The Advocates’ Society: Administrative Tribunal Advocacy, Co-Chair and Speaker 2017
The Advocates’ Society: Objection Your Honour, June 2016
The Advocates’ Society: Trial from A to Z, February 2016
Ontario Hospital Association: Medico-legal aspects of Psychiatric Emergencies, 2016
The Advocates' Society: Women in Litigation Symposium, Co-chair 2015
The Advocates’ Society Courthouse Series: Marshalling the Evidence, February 27, 2014
Law and Mental Disorder: A Comprehensive and Practical Approach, Irwin Law 2013, Contributor
The Advocates’ Society, “Opening Statements”, demonstration and panel discussion, December 10, 2013
Osgoode Professional Programme, “Current and Emerging Issues on Medical Practice”, part of the Personal Injury Update, September 27, 2013
Osgoode Hall Law School Master’s Programme, Trial Advocacy, February 23, 2013
The Advocates’ Society, “Cross-Examination Strategies”, January 30, 2013
Osgoode Professional Programme, “Medical Malpractice”, January 22, 2013
Current and Emerging Issues in Medical Malpractice, Osgoode Hall Professional Development Fifth Annual Update on Personal Injury Law, 2009
Medical Directors and the Law, Annual Conference of Geriatric Medicine, 2009
Legal Risk Management for Nurses, 2007
Canadian Institute Obstetrical Malpractice 2004 and 2007
Hospital Employment Law for the 21st Century, presented by the Ontario Hospital Association, April 1999
Hospital Liability-Hot Topics, presented by the Ontario Hospital Association, May 1999

Memberships

Member, Board of Directors, The Advocates’ Society
Canadian Bar Association
Past Member, Board of Directors , Wychwood Park Ratepayers Association

Education

B.Sc.(Nursing) Université Laval, (1983)
Called to the Massachusetts Bar (1987)
LL.B. and B.C.L. McGill University Faculty of Law (1987)
Admitted to Ontario Bar (1990)
LL.M. conferred, The University of Toronto (2000)

Personal Information

Anne is bilingual (fluent in French)

Professional History

Managing Partner, Lerners LLP Toronto office (2020 to present)
Partner, Lerners LLP (2003 to present)
Associate lawyer, Lerners LLP (2001-2002)
Partner, Litigation Group, Borden & Elliot (now Borden Ladner Gervais) (1990-2000)
Associate lawyer, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae in Boston (1987-1988)

Professional History

Managing Partner, Lerners LLP Toronto office (2020 to present)
Partner, Lerners LLP (2003 to present)
Associate lawyer, Lerners LLP (2001-2002)
Partner, Litigation Group, Borden & Elliot (now Borden Ladner Gervais) (1990-2000)
Associate lawyer, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae in Boston (1987-1988)

Representative Work