Our Lawyers

Heather J. Vaughan

Heather J. Vaughan (2001) obtained a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University in 1996. She studied Law at Osgoode Hall Law School and obtained her LL.B. in 1999. She articled with Benson Percival Brown and joined the firm upon her call to the bar in 2001. Heather was admitted to the partnership in 2007.

Heather’s litigation practice includes the defence of motor vehicle liability claims which vary in scope from maintaining threshold defence positions to managing complex and catastrophic personal injury claims.

Her defence practice also includes claims against daycares, long-term care facilities, private schools as well as professionals such as pharmacists, teachers, physiotherapists, nurses, and psychotherapists.  She defends and prosecutes negligence claims by and against builders, suppliers, and installers involved in the construction of residential and commercial projects.

In addition to her insurance law practice, she acts as Tribunal Counsel to the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO).   RIBO regulates the licensing, professional competence, ethical conduct, and financial obligations of its insurance broker members.  Her administrative law practice includes advocacy before tribunals such as Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB), and the Human Rights Tribunal (HRTO).  She frequently acts for pharmacists before their regulatory College in both ICRC and Discipline proceedings.

Heather acts as the Chair of the Canadian Defence Lawyers’ National Women’s Caucus.

In 2020 she was elected to serve as a member-at-large for the Insurance Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association.  At the national level, she served as a member-at-large in the Insurance Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association from 2018 to 2020 and now serves as the executive’s Communications Officer.

Heather is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Advocates Society, the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association, the Woman’s Law Association of Ontario and DRI – The Voice of the Defence Bar.  She also holds membership in the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (SOAR) and has successfully completed The Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards & Tribunals.

In the media:

2021 Top Insurance Defence Law Boutiques: Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Insurance Law Legal Report: The rise of climate change risk:  Aidan Macnab for Canadian Lawyer

Ensure your insurance policies are up to date during the pandemic: LegalMatters

Broker met duty of care, can’t be an ‘expert in all things’: LegalMatters

Back to Basics: Use of experts and introduction of technology challenging in defence bar:   Shannon Kari for Canadian Lawyer 

Federal insurance oversight bodies seeking input on customer service regulations: The Lawyer’s Daily

Car dealerships’ duty of care up in the air: LegalMatters

Pharmacists urged to report claims to insurers early: LegalMatters

Party hosts escape liability for guest’s fall: LegalMatters