David S. Young, K.C.

BIOGRAPHY

David has established himself as a trusted and valuable partner to his clients, defending complex commercial and personal injury claims and class actions. The success that he achieves for his clients directly arises from the confident, in-depth and hands-on approach that have been trademarks of his expansive career in politics and law.

After serving on the North York Public School Board for six years, David was elected to the provincial legislature in the 1999 Ontario General Election and served as Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs; and as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. As Attorney General, David introduced a comprehensive Case Management Program, expanded the monetary limit for Simplified Procedure cases and introduced legislation reforming the Limitations Act. In his capacity as Minister of Native Affairs, David resolved numerous longstanding land claims and various other claims through mediation and negotiation.

In addition to regularly appearing before the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal, David has served as counsel in numerous high-profile cases that have shaped the direction of tort and contract law in Canada.  In 2017/18 David successfully argued the precedent-setting Supreme Court case of Rankin (Rankin’s Garage & Sales) v. JJ., 2018 SCC 19, which reaffirms the basic principles upon which tort law in Canada are premised. In Broutzas v. Rouge Valley Health System, 2018 ONSC 6315 the court limited the implications of a privacy breach and helped define the recently recognized tort of intrusion on seclusion. Sanofi Pasteur Limited v. UPS SCS, Inc., 2015 ONCA 88 extended the consequences of a covenant to insure to third party beneficiaries.

David has served as counsel to the Toronto Police, Hamilton Regional Police and at various public inquiries, including The Royal Commission into Deaths at the Hospital for Sick Children (Grange Commission), The Toronto External Leasing Inquiry (Bellamy Inquiry) and numerous inquests and tribunals.

David served as a member of the selection committee for the David W. Mundell Medal in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The committee recognizes an Ontario author of legal and professional works who has made a distinguished contribution to the law and letters.

In 2023 David was awarded the designation of King’s Counsel which is granted to lawyers who have demonstrated a commitment to the pursuit of legal excellence in service to the Crown, the public and their communities.