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.

Jamie is a former counsel for children through the Office of the Children's Lawyer and is often privately retained to represent children in custody and access disputes. He is now developing a special expertise in collaborative family law, and expanding his mediation practice in family, estate and insurance matters.

Jamie is a Deputy Court Judge in the Ontario Court (General Division) Small Claims Court. He is a guest lecturer for the Waterloo District School Board, Conestoga College, and Wilfrid Laurier University. 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 and has been a long time member of the local Family and Children's Services Board as well as the Board of the Grand River Hospital and various sub-committees.

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