Elyse Bruce
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, NL
Elyse holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Memorial University, a Bachelor of Laws and a Certificate in Health Law from Dalhousie University. Elyse is the Corporate Counsel and Director of Complaints, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and has worked in private practice as an Associate Lawyer.
Cynthia D. Clarke
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Toronto, ON
As the National Group Head, Clients, Sectors & New Services, Cindy uses her extensive management, legal and business experience to ensure that all clients benefit from BLG’s unconditional commitment to providing the highest level of service. Clients trust Cindy to act as their advisor. She liaises with the client’s general counsel and assembles the best representation within the firm to handle their needs.
In her practice, Cindy represents hospitals and health organizations with all manner of complex issues and she has a class action defence practice focused on defending actions alleging improper claims were made about the health effects of a product or pharmaceutical. Cindy is regularly recognized by colleagues as outstanding in her field by ranking bodies including Chambers Canada, Benchmark Litigation, Lexpert, Best Lawyers and many more.
Graeme V.R. Keirstead, K.C.
College of Physicians & Surgeons of BC
Vancouver, BC
Mr. Graeme Keirstead graduated with a law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992. He worked at the Law Society from 1999, responsible for a number of different portfolios, until joining the College in 2013 as chief legal counsel.
Thomas P. Laughlin
Stewart McKelvey
Charlottetown, PE
Working with a diverse group of clients which include professional associations, government and an energy utility, some of the ways Thomas has helped his clients are by:
-Representing professional associations in the defence of medical malpractice claims and before administrative tribunals in disciplinary and liability matters.
-Acting as a prosecutor for the Federal Public Prosecution Service of Canada and conducting many complex and lengthy criminal conspiracy prosecutions.
-Representing an energy utility at a number of administrative tribunal hearings, court appearances and various negotiations.
Robert A. Sheahan
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Ottawa, ON
Robert Sheahan is a partner at Gowling WLG practising in health law and solicitors’ negligence. He acts as General Counsel to the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), assisting physicians in the context of professional discipline matters and professional negligence. He also manages solicitors’ negligence claims and errors & omissions matters for the Ottawa office of Gowling WLG.
Robert is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a secialist in health law and has consistently been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada and Lexpert as a leader in the fields of health care law and medical negligence, including being distinguished as Lawyer of the Year
in Health Care Law for Ottawa in 2017.
He is currently an Honorary Member of the Executive of the National Health Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. He has been an active member of the Executive since 2009 and served as Section Chair in 2011-2012. Previously, he served on the Executive of the Health
Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association, including as regional representative for the East Region.
A passionate and enthusiastic speaker, Robert is an instructor at the Osgoode Hall LL.M Health Law Program and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa Faculties of Law and Medicine. He regularly presents on health law before groups, including the American
Bar Association, the International Bar Association and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Robert is an active supporter and coordinator of the firm’s participation in events to support REACH Canada, a national non-profit charitable organization for persons with disabilities. Having been bless with wonderful mentors over the years, Robert is committed to mentoring
associates and students, and actively participating in the firm’s student recruitment initiatives.
In addition to serving on the editorial board of the Electronic Healthcare Law Review, Robert has authored a number of papers, including “Liability and Privacy Considerations with Personal Health Records,” “Unbundling Healthcare: The Changing Nature of the Practitioner-Patient Relationship As a Result of Electronic Health Records,” “Limiting Non-Pecuniary Damages: The Effectiveness of Caps,” “Expert Immunity: Canadian Implications of Jones v. Kaney” and “The Value of a Trusted Advisor.”
Robert has appeared before the Ontario Provincial Court, Superior Court of Justice, Court of Appeal, as well as various administrative boards and tribunals, such as health professions boards and commercial tribunals. He is also an active member of The Advocates' Society, the International Bar Association, the County of Carleton Law Association, and a volunteer judge at moot competitions and other legal education initiatives, including serving as co-chair of the annual Courthouse Series in Ottawa from 2009 to 2015.
Maia Tomljanovic
Cuming & Gillespie
Calgary, AB
Maia joined Cuming & Gillespie Lawyers as an articling student in 2012 and was named Partner in June 2020. Maia's practice focuses on medical malpractice, personal injury and professional negligence actions. In all areas, she acts exclusively for injured parties and their families, not for insurers.
