JAMES H. BENNETT

Jamie Bennett completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Western Ontario and attended Law School at the University of Windsor. He articled at the firm in 1979 and has been a partner since 1984.

Jamie's litigation practice is restricted to civil litigation primarily in the areas of personal injury, estate, shareholder disputes and insurance work. Although Jamie's civil litigation practice is wide ranging, he places particular emphasis on representing liability insurers in the defence of claims brought against professionals, municipalities and police officers. Jamie has had cases before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also has extensive experience resolving disputes out of court through mediation and ADR, and is certified mediator.

For the last 3 years, Jamie has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in Canada as a specialist in Insurance Law. He is now developing a special expertise in collaborative family law, and expanding his mediation and arbitration practice in family, estate and insurance matters. He is a principal with Alternatives to Court, a private ADR service. See their website at www.alternativestocourt.com

Jamie is a Deputy Court Judge in the Ontario Court (General Division) Small Claims Court. He has been a lecturer for the Waterloo District School Board, Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo Law Association and the Advocates' Society. He is a member of the Advocates' Society, the Waterloo Law Association, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and is the treasurer of the Collaborative Family Law Association of Waterloo Region.

Jamie is actively involved in the community. He is a former Big Brother, Cancer Society volunteer and was a long time member of the local Family and Children's Services Board as well as the Board of the Grand River Hospital.

Jamie works and lives in Kitchener but was born and raised in Cambridge. His wife, Marlene, works in Cambridge and his two children attended school there, all of which gives him a unique regional perspective on local issues.