Kaitlyn MacDonell
Partner
647-260-4498
Kaitlyn’s practice is devoted to personal injury litigation, long term disability claims, dog bite cases, accident benefits claims and other disability and insurance litigation. She understands – both personally and legally – all aspects of the devastation caused when someone falls victim to serious personal injury. Kaitlyn has first-hand experience with brain injury as her father was diagnosed with one following a serious assault. Here is Kaitlyn’s story.
It is this understanding that motivates Kaitlyn to be an effective advocate for her clients and to protect their rights. She represents her clients in court, on Motions, Trials and Appeals before the courts and administrative tribunals.
After personally experiencing the adjustments that a family encounters when a loved one suffers a brain injury, I understand the importance of having good legal representation. It is this unique perspective that has driven me to become an advocate for injured victims.
In 2014, she was appointed as a director of the Brain Injury Association – Peterborough Region (BIAPR) and is now the President of this organization. In 2016, she was selected as the editor in chief of the Long-Term Disability Section of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association newsletter.
Kaitlyn was recently awarded the prestigious Martin Wunder, Q.C. Outstanding New Lawyer Award by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) in recognition of her active commitment to improving the legal system and its responsiveness to vulnerable plaintiffs. She is also a published author for Court Practices.
Practice Focus
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Accident Benefits Claims
- Medical Malpractice
- Slip and Fall Claims
- Long-Term and Short-Term Disability Claims
- Dog Bites, Burning, and Scarring Cases
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Professional Success
Representative Cases
Charbonneau v. First Choice Canada Inc., 2016 ONSC 7140 – motion at Superior Court of Justice where Kaitlyn successfully won a motion to examine a witness in advance of a summary judgment motion
Moretto v. Nicolini-Femia 2017 ONSC 3945 – Trial where Kaitlyn successfully advocated for her client with a serious dog bite
Veeran v. State Farm, 2016 Arbitration, Final Decision, FSCO 4934 – Arbitration where Kaitlyn successfully advocated for the entitlement of income replacement benefits for her client with chronic pain
Thought Leadership
Articles
Victory in court for assault victim, but can they collect on $6-million judgment?, The Lawyer’s Daily, June 2020
Can I File a Long-Term Disability Claim During COVID?, HSH Blog, April 2020
Taking the pulse of disability rights in Canada, The Lawyer’s Daily, December 2019
Conservative Budget Changes: Restoring Catastrophic Injury Cap, HSH E-News, June 2019
Long-Term Disability Series: Employer’s Release Deemed Improvident, HSH Blog, October 2018
Long-Term Disability Series: Opioid Alternatives and Chronic Pain, HSH Blog, August 2017
Acquired Brain Injury – Navigating the Waters and The Importance Of Self-Advocacy, HSH Blog, June 2017
Broker Negligence Claims: Are You Adequately Covered?, HSH E-News, November 2016
Uber – Are you covered under insurance if injured?, HSH E-News, September 2016
Landriault v. Sun Life, 2015 ONSC 3196, OTLA Blog, December 2015
Proposed Ontario Budget Slashes Mandatory Accident Benefits. Why You Should Care, HSH E-News, April 2015
Chronic Pain: An Invisible Injury, HSH E-News, March 2015
New PJI Changes Effective January 1, 2015 – Retroactive or Prospective?, HSH E-News, February 2015
The 2013 Guide to Motor Vehicle Litigation, Book
The Guide to Scheduling Civil Trials and Other Matters in Ontario Courthouses, Book, April 2013
Speaking Engagements
“The Hybrid World of Attendances: Virtual or In-Person”, Law Society of Ontario’s 5th Annual Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit, September 2022
Too Many IEs!, OTLA webinar, April 2022
Preliminary Considerations: Pre‑Assessment File Review and Assessing the Case, Osgoode Certificate in Motor Vehicle Accident Law and Practice, April 2022
Life After Trent: Women in Law, Trent University, March 2022
New Contingency Fee Regime, ezCPD, September 2021
Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit, Law Society of Ontario, September 2021
OBA Webinar “Litigating and Defending Insurance Broker’s Negligence Claims”, Ontario Bar Association, May 2020
OTLA Webinar: ABC’s of Dog Bite Cases for Minors, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, March 2020
2019 LTD Conference, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, September 2019
2018 LTD Workshop, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, September 2018
Using Social Media: Risk Management, Ontario Brain Injury Association – Advisory Council, June 2015
Personal Injury and Bankruptcy: What to do When a Party is Bankrupt, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, September 2014
News & Media
Risk Not Resolved by Ride-Sharing Insurance, The Law Times, October 2016
New Mom Developed Chronic Pain After Car Accident Awarded Income Replacement, HSH Blog, July 2016
Client Testimonials
Personal, Industry and Community Activity
Education
Called to the Ontario Bar, 2013
JD, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, 2012
BSc, Trent University, Faculty of Forensic Science, 2009
Community Involvement
President of the Brain Injury Association – Peterborough Region
Honours and Awards
Best Lawyers in Canada, Personal Injury Law
Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) 2021 Martin Wunder, Q.C. Outstanding New Lawyer Award
Chosen by the Chief Justice of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism as a recipient of the 2012 Rueter Scargall Bennett LLP prize in legal ethics for her essay entitled “Ethics of Class Counsel: Is there a need for restrictions on investigating class claims?”
Professional Associations and Memberships
Ontario Bar Association
Toronto Lawyers Association
Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
The Advocates’ Society
Ontario Brain Injury Association
Young Women in the Law
Kaitlyn MacDonell’s Team
| Name | Title | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Christina Mitchell |
Assistant to Kaitlyn MacDonell |
416-644-5847
|
Christina Mitchell
Assistant to Kaitlyn MacDonell
416-644-5847
cmitchell@hshlawyers.com
Among the best in Canada
Since 2011, our peers have consistently voted for us as one of Canada’s top personal injury firms in Canadian Lawyer magazine’s annual rankings of the top personal injury boutiques in Canada. With decades of experience helping accident victims and their families, our firm understands the laws that affect your right to compensation because we’ve helped shape those laws in favour of accident victims.
Among the best in Canada
Since 2011 Canadian Lawyer Magazine rated us one of the top personal injury law firms in Canada. Why? With close to 20 years helping accident victims and their families, our firm understands the laws that affect your rights to compensation because we’ve helped shape those laws in favour of accident victims.
Tell Us What Happened.
Our team of highly-trained lawyers are here to listen and help.
Call
We’re available 24/7 for a free consultation.