Don is a mediator and investigator with ADR Chambers.
Don’s areas of expertise include commercial and construction disputes, insurance, real estate, insolvency and employment matters.
Don served as a Case Management Master of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice from 2009 to 2021. As a Master, Don conducted pretrial settlement conferences in civil matters, and specialized in settling major construction litigation prior to scheduled trials. In 2012 Don was appointed Registrar in Bankruptcy for Superior Court, where he heard bankruptcy and insolvency-related motions. Prior to those appointments he was recognized by the Law Society as a Certified Specialist in Construction Law and elected as a Fellow of The Canadian College of Construction Lawyers. From 2000 to 2009, Don was a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, where he chaired the firm’s construction law group and practiced all areas of civil litigation with a focus on commercial, insolvency, ADR and health law matters. Starting in 1973, Don was an associate and then partner with one of Fasken’s predecessor firm, Campbell Godfrey and Lewtas.
Don became a Chartered Arbitrator (C.Arb.) in 2007. He served as National President of the ADR Institute of Canada, and as Vice-President of the Canadian Foundation for Dispute Resolution. Don became a Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb.) since 2003 until he joined the bench. He is an active member of the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association, having sat on numerous councils and committees, including the National Council of the Canadian Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association’s Provincial Executive Committee.
In 1993 Don was asked to join the pilot project to evaluate mediation in Ontario. Through his involvement in forming the project by hiring mediators and drafting rules and guidelines, he made a significant contribution to the development of the Mandatory Mediation Program in Ontario. Since 2009, he was a member of the Toronto Local Mediation Committee that oversaw the Program.
Don earned a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Toronto (Political Science) and his LL.B. from the University of Toronto Law School. He was called to the Bar in 1975 and completed his LL.M. (ADR) from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1998.
