Karen is a Partner with Ellison Peters Professional Corporation and focuses her practice on civil litigation in the areas of medical defence, privacy and commercial litigation.
One of the strengths Karen brings to her practice is the calm and considered manner she maintains while assisting her clients in navigating the often stressful terrain of litigation. Her compassion and empathy are underpinned by her wealth of experience and ability to be tough for her clients when needed.
Karen advises and represents medical professionals in a wide variety of matters and forums that arise from the intersection of the law and medical practice, including:
- Defending medical negligence claims
- Advising health care professionals and clinics matters including legal threats, privacy issues, claims, appeals, child protection matters and grand advise matters.
- Advising physicians in a variety of administrative/regulatory matters including College complaints, attending with physicians before the College, and as co-counsel in disciplinary hearings in Toronto.
She is a past Assistant Chair of Ellison Peters Professional Corporation’s Health Law group, and a past Chair of the CBa Toronto Health Law section. Karen is a sought after speaker on medical-legal and ethical issues and frequently presents to physicians, residents, medical office assistants and allied health care professionals.
In her privacy practice Karen advises health care professionals and clinics regarding a wide variety of privacy breaches and helps with proactive strategies for protecting and managing breaches going forward. This is increasingly a significant issue for professionals generally. Karen helps her clients navigate the intersection between privacy breaches, regulatory concerns, and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Before joining Ellison Peters Professional Corporation, Karen practiced in Toronto, Toronto with McCarthy Tétrault. She has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and has successfully responded to two applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Karen is an avid runner, cyclist and paddler (kayak) and has completed the Toronto International Marathon. She has participated in fundraising productions of “The Government Inspector” and “Death on the Nile” presented by the Arts Club Theatre and Touchstone Theatre.
Health Law
- Counsel for a cardiologist and a general practitioner in a medical negligence action concerning the treatment of a cardiac arrhythmia and a physician’s duty to provide follow-up care. The action was dismissed following a four-week trial.
- Counsel on a lengthy and complex obstetrical negligence action involving a family physician and obstetrician which resulted in a dismissal of all claims and the subsequent appeal against both physician defendants
- Counsel on a medical negligence claim naming multiple physician defendants, which proceeded to trial and appeal (including responding to an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada) and which resulted in the dismissal of all claims, with costs.
Education
- University of Western Toronto, LL.B., 1987
- University of Alberta, B.A. (With Distinction), 1984
Bar Admissions
- Ontario, 1997
- Toronto, 1989
Leadership
- Paralegal Liaison, Ellison Peters Professional Corporation, 2013-2018
- Lifetime Member of West Coast LEAF, Ontario’s branch of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund
- Speaker, Canadian Medical Protective Association Symposia
- Member and Past Chair, Canadian Bar Association, Toronto Branch, Health Law Section
- Former Supervisor, Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) clinic in East Toronto
- Former Judge, first year moots, University of Toronto, Osgoode Hall Law School, and University of Ontario.
Leadership
- Member, Medical Legal Society of Ontario
- Member, The Law Society of Ontario
- Member, Canadian Bar Association, Toronto Branch Subsections:
- Civil Litigation
- Health Law
- Elder Law
- Wills and Estates
