Dana, an experienced litigation lawyer, now devotes her entire practice to full-time private mediation.  She has expertise in insurance and employment matters and has mediated and assisted parties in settling over 3,000 disputes.  She is known for her ability to establish a rapport with counsel and their clients, her knowledge and expertise and, most importantly, her persistence and creativity in guiding parties towards achieving solutions to even the most complex disputes.  Her LinkedIn profile contains numerous recommendations from experienced counsel.  She works diligently with parties and their counsel to ensure both sides feel heard and reach mutually agreeable solutions.  Dana has experience with global and multi-party mediations, including sexual assault, employment, disability, slip and fall, personal injury, product liability, property damage, general liability, medical malpractice and motor vehicle claims.

Dana was also on the ADRBO investigator roster from 2018 to 2025 where she investigated and mediated banking matters.  In 2021, she was ranked as the Mediator of the Year.  She is also on the roster for Health Canada where she mediates employment disputes and provides conflict coaching.  Dana often handles highly confidential matters.  She is also on the Sports Dispute Resolution Center of Canada's mediation and arbitration roster.  She is the Co-Instructor of the ADRIO and LSO accredited Comprehensive Arbitration Course.

Dana was called to the Ontario Bar in 2001 and is a member of the New York Bar.  She has worked in private practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, and has extensive experience, having worked as litigation counsel for one of the world’s largest life insurance companies. While working as in-house counsel, Dana developed a reputation for resolving her matters expeditiously.  She has presented on various topics, including taxability of arrears when settling disability matters, as well as the impact of offsets on settlement negotiations.  In addition, Dana has worked as senior litigation counsel for a property and casualty leader, specializing in catastrophic impairment claims, tort, priority and property matters.  She has also been a mediator and arbitrator at FSCO.

Prior to becoming a full-time private mediator, Dana represented clients before the License Appeal Tribunal, at various levels of court in Ontario, and the Federal Court of Canada.  

Dana Hirsh grduated from York University with a B.A. in Psychology (with Distinction).  She then completed her LL.B. at Osgoode Hall of York University and graduated in the top 5% of her class.  

• Law Society of Ontario
• New York Bar
• ADR Institute of Ontario/Canada
• Advocates Society

http://www.schmidtmediationgroup.com/dana-hirsh-fees-and-cancellations/

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