I’m a personal injury lawyer (what you’d call a “trial lawyer”) in Hamilton, Ontario. I’ve have served clients for over two decades in all areas of personal injury law. That said, I am an avid cyclist and this passion manifests itself in my work, particularly through my focus upon the law as it relates to people on bikes, and cyclists injured by drivers in crashes. I engage in cycling and active transportation public interest advocacy, and use my law practice at Martin & Hillyer to amplify the voices of seriously injured cyclists through www.velolaw.ca.
I am proud to have been honoured as one of Canada’s “Best Lawyers” in the personal injury field annually since 2020, recognition based entirely upon peer review. I have appeared as trial and appellate counsel before all levels of Ontario courts, and have extensive experience advocating before various administrative tribunals.
I have long demonstrated my commitment to sharing my time and energy with my community through volunteerism, primarily in leadership and governance roles.
I have served my profession as a chair or member of numerous Hamilton Law Association committees, and currently as a trustee of the Halton County Law Association.
I am also deeply engaged in the community outside the legal profession, currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hamilton Foundation for Student Success, and as a member of the Board of Supercrawl. I previously served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens, as Chair of the Official Board of Melrose United Church, and as a member of the Boards of: Share the Road Cycling Coalition; Hamilton Bikeshare Inc.; the United Way of Halton and Hamilton Campaign Cabinet; and the Board of Governors of the City of Hamilton Future Fund.
I am also a current member of The Advocates Society, the Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association and the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario).
I have completed an Ironman triathlon, six marathons including two Boston Marathons, a dozen Around the Bay 30km road races and many Paris to Ancaster cycling races, amongst many, many others.
Hamilton and Halton are truly home for me. I grew up in Burlington, Ontario and live with my family in Hamilton’s Southwest. I was granted my B.A. (Hons.) degree from Queen’s University in 1996 and my LL.B. from Queen’s University in 2000. I was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2002.
I’ve been fortunate to have survived many near misses resulting from driver negligence, but it took being struck by a driver right-hooking me in a Gran Fondo in 2014 for me to appreciate just how vulnerable we are as cyclists, even when we do everything right.