Bernard Morrow is the principal of Morrow Mediation, a Toronto area based full-service alternative dispute resolution (ADR) firm. Bernard has been successfully providing fair and balanced dispute resolution services at a sensible price since 1994.

In addition to conducting his ADR practice, Bernard was appointed the Complaints Resolution Commissioner for the Law Society of Ontario for a two-year term commencing April 1, 2014. He was re-appointed for a second two-year term commencing April 1, 2016. The Commissioner performs an ombuds role, independently reviewing complaints against lawyers and paralegals that have been closed by the Law Society to ensure they were handled appropriately and the results were reasonable. Having completed his time as Commissioner, Bernard now offers coaching and training to lawyers and paralegals who have an interest in improving client service and avoiding professional conduct complaints.

Practising as a litigator in the early 1990s,Bernard was initially drawn to the ADR field by a desire to achieve more efficient client-centred resolutions to disputes. This led him to take considerable training in mediation and ADR consulting both in Canada and the U.S., making him a more complete advocate and awakening a passion for the field of conflict resolution. His mediation experience has includedproviding services to the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and the Information and Privacy Commissionerof Ontario (IPC), as well as conducting a variety of mediations as a private practitioner and as a member of the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program Roster - Toronto/Ottawa. Bernard has conducted more than 1500 mediations.

His areas of focus as a mediator include commercial, employment (including wrongful dismissals), human rights, partnership, shareholder, construction, estate and insurance (including personal injury and disability) disputes. Bernard prefers to deliver his services in person; however, he offers online dispute resolution (ODR) via various virtual platforms (including Zoom) and encourages the use of ODR in appropriate circumstances.

Bernard’s arbitration skills have been built on a strong foundation. Between February 2002 and July 2013, he served as an adjudicator with the IPC, adjudicating more than 300 appeals over that time. In his role at the IPC, he adjudicated complex access to information appeals and issued binding written decisions. Bernard also regularly serves as an umpire in appraisal hearings, conducted pursuant to section 128 of the Insurance Act, for disputes between insureds and their insurers over property damage claims arising under Statutory Condition #11 of Ontario property insurance policies.

Bernard obtained his B.A. (political science) in 1982 and his LL.B. in 1985 from Western University.  In 1988, he was awarded his LL.M. by the London School of Economics and Political Science in London, England, in the areas of labour, employment law and human rights.  Bernard was called to the Ontario Bar in 1988.  He has completed extensive skill and theory-based training in mediation practice and process, decision making and writing, and ADR systems design with such organizations as Canadian Dispute Resolution Corporation (Toronto, Canada), CDR Associates (Boulder, U.S.), Transformative Justice Australia (Sydney, Australia) and the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (Toronto, Canada).  In May 2013, Bernard was awarded the Chartered Mediator (C. Med) designation by the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC), Canada’s only professional designation for practising mediators.    

• Law Society of Ontario (LSO)
• Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
• Ontario Bar Association (OBA)
• ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)
• ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO)
• Forum of Canadian Ombudsman (FCO)

Please contact our office for fee information.

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