Mediation & Arbitration
Overview
While disputes are an inevitable part of doing business and everyday life, there are various alternate methods for resolving them without resorting to litigation depending on the circumstances. Many parties prefer, or are contractually obligated, to resolve their dispute with the assistance of a private neutral through mediation or arbitration, collectively known as alternative dispute resolution (ADR), a more expeditious and cost-effective means to advance their goals.
At Torkin Manes, we not only represent our clients in ADR proceedings, but also have a roster of distinguished qualified neutrals who are frequently sought out by litigants and their counsel to assist in bringing their dispute to a conclusion, via settlement or private adjudication. Areas of law in which we have active neutrals include family law, general commercial litigation, professional liability, commercial real estate, leasing and trusts and estates.
Parties who mediate their disputes can rely on our experienced mediators, who excel in facilitating negotiations to meet parties’ needs quickly at lower costs than court proceedings. When arbitration is required, parties can feel confident that our arbitrators govern a judicious and impartial process that yields a balanced outcome in a timely manner.
Over the years, our mediators and arbitrators have been commended for their knowledge of the subject matter, their steadfast impartiality and reliability, and their commitment to achieving objective resolutions. Each member of our team has a proven track record and has been recognized as a leader in their respective area of expertise.
Meet Our Neutrals
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Commercial Real Estate
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Having practised for more than 50 years as a solicitor in commercial real estate and leasing transactions, Sidney is one of only a few arbitrators or mediators in Ontario with hands on transactional real estate experience. He is a distinguished and trusted neutral with extensive experience as a mediator and arbitrator of real estate and commercial leasing disputes, including failed closings, forfeiture of deposit disputes, interpretation and breaches of real estate contracts and commercial and industrial leases, cost sharing agreements, condominium shared facilities agreements, valuations of property, determining fair market renewal rents, common area cost disputes, ground lease valuations. Regarded as a real estate problem solver, troubleshooter, litigation strategist, and noted expert on subdivision control, he brings this very specialized knowledge and perspective to every proceeding he conducts. To book a mediation or an arbitration with Sidney, please contact him at stroister@torkinmanes.com.
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Family Law
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An established Harvard-trained mediator, Daniel has been conducting family law mediations that include matters of property, spousal and child support, high net worth, high conflict and multi-jurisdictional matters, as well as all child-related issues. As a mediator and arbitrator, Daniel’s warm, even-tempered and trustworthy demeanour, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the law, has assisted family law lawyers and their clients to resolve matters in a sensible, efficient and private manner. To book a mediation or an arbitration with Daniel, please contact him at dmelamed@torkin.com.
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Laurie’s ADR practice includes all manner of family law, including high income disputes, significant property issues and parenting issues. She is adept at assessing and resolving high conflict matters. Parties benefit from her ability to understand the parties’ priorities and recognize the barriers which stand in the way of an agreement. In mediations, she is an empathetic and innovative problem solver. As one of the founders of the Minerva Group, an association of senior family lawyers who developed best practices for mediations and arbitrations, she employs its foundational principles. To book a mediation or an arbitration with Laurie, please contact her at lpawlitza@torkin.com.
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An established Harvard-trained neutral, Lorne is accredited as a family mediator and arbitrator by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation and by the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO). He is also a former Dispute Resolution Officer of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and has been practising family law for 50 years. Recognized for his extensive expertise, sound judgment, even-temperament and impartiality, Lorne’s mediation/arbitration practice encompasses all manner of family law, including divorce, custody and access, property, support, and domestic contracts. He is a well-known educator of family law arbitration and mediation courses and has authored numerous texts on dispute resolution. As a testament to his outstanding contributions to the profession, Lorne was honoured with the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Family Law. To book a mediation or an arbitration with Lorne, please contact him at lwolfson@torkin.com.
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General Commercial Litigation
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An established Harvard-trained mediator, Valerie’s mediation practice covers the areas of commercial contract lawsuits, shareholder claims under the OBCA, real property disputes, wills and estates litigation, professional negligence claims involving real estate agents, appraisers, accountants or lawyers, and franchise litigation. Valerie approaches mediation with the overriding goal of achieving a resolution before the end of the day, employing a combination of good judgment, patience, creativity and tenacity. For more information about Valerie’s mediation practice, please visit her website. To book a mediation with Valerie, please contact Lisa Bleiwas at 416 863 1188, x206, or lbleiwas@torkinmanes.com.
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Partner and Chair, Cannabis and Franchise Law GroupsMatt Maurer
Having received his accreditation from Harvard, Matt’s practice as a neutral encompasses general commercial litigation, including contract disputes, torts, and statutory claims (such as shareholder disputes and oppression remedy cases), as well as cannabis and franchise related disputes. Even-tempered and empathetic, Matt employs a practical and collaborative approach, always exercising sound judgment, discretion and the highest ethical standards. To book a mediation with Matt, please contact him at mmaurer@torkin.com.
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Labour & Employment
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With more than 40 years of employment and labour relations law experience, Irv’s practice as a neutral comprises dealing with complex workplace-related issues, including harassment complaints, allegations of wrongful dismissal, and a variety of compensation-related disputes. Irv has been an adjudicator appointed by the Minister of Housing to adjudicate Landlord and Tenant Disputes. In this role, he mediated and arbitrated disputes between parties.
He has also been appointed as an independent investigator/mediator in workplace disputes. As an impartial and trustworthy neutral appointment, Irv employs a flexible, creative and patient approach while always exercising sound judgment and the highest ethical standards. To book a mediation or an arbitration with Irv, please contact him at ikleiner@torkinmanes.com.
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Daniel is head of the firm’s labour and employment group and over the course of his 20 years in the field has acted as a workplace investigator, mediator, and adjudicator in labour and employment disputes. Daniel is also an adjudicator in the electrical industry and a member of the Electrical Safety Authority Review Panel, an administrative tribunal that hears and adjudicates disputes under the Electricity Act. Daniel takes a direct and practical approach, always with a view to getting to the heart of the issue and obtaining an efficient and thoughtful outcome. To book a mediation or an arbitration with Dan, please contact him at dpugen@torkin.com.
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Trusts & Estates
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Craig is an established neutral, whose mediation/arbitration practice encompasses all trusts and estates matters before and after a death, including disputes involving powers of attorney for property and/or personal care, guardianship, capacity, undue influence, estate or trust claims, breaches of trust, the validity or interpretation of wills, claims against an estate including dependant support claims, equalization claims, simple and complex trust administrations, simple and complex estate administrations, passing of accounts, the appointment or removal of estate trustees, trustees or guardians, and disputes involving minors and/or the incapable. A Certified Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law (by the Law Society of Ontario), Craig brings over 30 years of experience, coupled with a pragmatic yet compassionate approach to each of the proceedings he leads. Craig is recognized and ranked by preeminent legal directories. To book a mediation or an arbitration with Craig, please contact him at cvanderzee@torkin.com.
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Insights
News, Events & Webinars
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Torkin Manes lawyers featured in Best Lawyers in Canada 2027 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Canada) 2027
Neil M. Abramson | Jeffrey Alpert | Christine Ashbourne | Risa Awerbuck | Robert Barbiero | Kenneth Beallor | Kobi Bessin | Andrew Biderman | Adam N. Black | Doug Bourassa | Sarah Boyle | Allan S. Bronstein | Jeffrey I. Cohen | Lisa Corrente | Sumeet (Sonu) Dhanju-Dhillon | Valerie A. Edwards | Stephanie Eiley | Aaron English | Matthew Getzler | Linda J. Godel | David M. Golden | Rachel Goldman Robinson | Ryan Hauk | Gregory D. Hersen | Aleksandar Jovanovic | Ruth Kalnitsky Roth | Irv Kleiner | Kayla Kwinter | Kay Leung | Lisa R. Lifshitz | Ronald D. Manes | M. Scott Martin | Matt Maurer | Daniel S. Melamed | Adrian Myers | Laurie H. Pawlitza | Daniel Pugen | Sammy Redlick | Leonard D. Rodness | Anthony Scane | Daniel Stober | Brittany Sud | Michael Tamblyn | Matthew Tevlin | Sidney H. Troister, KC, LSM | Tanisha Tulloch | Craig Vander Zee | Justyna A. Waxman | Andrew J. Wilder | Jennifer L. Wilson | Lorne H. Wolfson | Seth Zuk | Jessica Chan | Anthony D’Angelo | Hannah Lank | Jennifer Lewis | Tamara Markovic | Nikita Mathew | Victoria Ourumis | Annie (Qurrat-ul-ain) Tayyab| Health -
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Torkin Manes ranked as #1 Ontario Regional Law Firm by Canadian Lawyer
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