Troy Lehman CS

What makes my practice unique is that I have represented both sides of catastrophic injury litigation. Early in my career, I defended physicians in medical malpractice cases at one of Canada's largest law firms. More than twenty years ago, I tried a case against Oatley Vigmond. Shortly afterward, I joined the firm as an associate, became a partner in 2010, and co-managing partner in 2026.

That experience gave me a unique perspective on how serious injury cases are evaluated, defended, and ultimately resolved. Combined with more than 25 years of trial experience, it has helped me achieve life-changing results for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries.

I have also been fortunate to contribute to the profession by teaching Insurance Law and Personal Injury Advocacy at Queen's University, speaking at continuing legal education programs, and authoring Addressing the Jury, the only Canadian book devoted exclusively to jury advocacy in personal injury cases.

At its core, my practice is about using that experience, both inside and outside the courtroom, to help seriously injured people rebuild their lives.

We meet clients and their families at some of the most difficult moments of their lives. One of the things I enjoy most about my work is helping answer their questions and reduce some of the uncertainty they are facing.

Two of the most common questions I hear are:

How will I support my family if I can't work?

My answer is that it is our job to recover every dollar of income that has been lost because of the injury. That includes not only the income someone was earning at the time of the incident, but also future earning potential, promotions, and career opportunities that may have been lost.

We work to ensure that insurers, including auto and disability insurers, are paying all available income replacement benefits, and we pursue the at-fault party for any remaining losses.

Can you help me get the treatment I need to recover?

Absolutely. At Oatley Vigmond, we believe that proper treatment leads to the best outcomes. Helping clients access medical treatment and rehabilitation services that are not covered by OHIP is an important part of what we do.

We advocate with insurers to ensure that necessary treatment and rehabilitation costs are covered because helping our clients recover is just as important as helping them obtain compensation.

Two cases from the past year stand out because they reinforced something I have always believed: some of the best results come from being fully prepared to go to trial.

The first was a medical malpractice case involving a client with a rare condition that, if diagnosed in time, could have prevented a spinal cord injury. The defence obtained multiple expert reports supporting the physicians involved and maintained that they would never settle. We invested heavily in expert evidence and trial preparation. As the trial date approached, the defence changed its position and agreed to a settlement that will help provide for my client's future care and financial security.

The second involved a client who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after being struck by a large signboard that dislodged in a parking lot. The insurer offered its full policy limits, but given the severity of the injuries and the defendant's assets, I did not believe that was enough. We obtained a trial date and continued to prepare the case. With trial looming, the defendant made a substantial additional contribution to a settlement that better reflected my client's long-term needs.

Both cases were reminders that trial readiness often makes the difference between an adequate result and a fair one.

The most challenging and, frankly, frustrating part of my practice is that insurers often do not make fair settlement offers until they are facing real trial pressure.

Catastrophic injury cases are too important to the injured person and their family to settle at a discount. In an ideal world, fair compensation would be offered early in the process. In reality, that is often not what happens.

To achieve the best result, we frequently have to invest significant time and resources developing the evidence and preparing the case for trial. In many cases, meaningful settlement offers do not arrive until a trial date is approaching.

That is why I have always believed in being prepared to take a case to trial when necessary. Every case I have taken to trial has involved an offer that I did not believe fairly reflected my client's losses or future needs. While that reality can be frustrating, it reinforces the importance of persistence, preparation, and strong advocacy on behalf of seriously injured people.

Absolutely. I have been fortunate to have two extraordinary mentors who inspired my career in litigation and personal injury law: Alan Bryant and Roger Oatley.

I met Alan Bryant while I was a law student at Western University. He was a practising lawyer who volunteered his time to teach students, and I later worked with him on what became Canada's leading textbook on the law of evidence. Spending hundreds of hours immersed in evidence law gave me an early appreciation for the foundations of trial advocacy.

After law school, I joined McCarthy Tétrault largely because Alan practised there. He was one of the hardest-working lawyers I have ever known and set an example that continues to influence me today. During one of my first major trials, we lived in the same house near the courthouse for six weeks. Every morning, Alan, who was already in his 60s, would knock on my door at 5:30 a.m. with a coffee in hand, ready to prepare for another day in court. We worked from early morning until late at night. The experience was exhausting, intellectually challenging, and exhilarating. It confirmed that trial work was what I wanted to do.

The second major influence on my career was Roger Oatley, the founding partner of Oatley Vigmond. I first met Roger when we were opposing counsel in a trial. He already had a reputation as one of Canada's leading personal injury lawyers, and seeing him advocate in court showed me why.

Shortly after that trial, McCarthy Tétrault announced it was closing its London office. Rather than relocate, I joined Oatley Vigmond, a decision that proved to be one of the best of my career. I had the privilege of working alongside Roger for more than a decade before his retirement in 2016. Together, we tried many cases and achieved life-changing results for seriously injured clients, including a case involving two young women who suffered catastrophic spinal cord injuries because a roadway had been left in disrepair.

Roger was an exceptional trial lawyer, but what inspired me most was his combination of skill, pragmatism, respect for others, and genuine empathy for clients. The examples set by Alan and Roger, and the opportunity to see how effective advocacy can truly change lives, are what inspired my commitment to personal injury law and continue to shape my practice today.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my three sons, who are now all in university. As a family, we love travel, sports, and a little friendly competition.

My dad coached me in baseball and hockey when I was growing up, and I was fortunate to do the same for my boys. I've since retired my coaching baseball pants (they never looked good on me anyway), but I still play slo-pitch with my twin sons when they're home for the summer.

We also recently played together on the Oatley Vigmond team at a charity hockey tournament supporting Sunnybrook Hospital. They scored; I didn't.

I also enjoy visiting my oldest son in Calgary, where we spend time skiing and hiking in the Rockies.

In 2025 I was honoured to receive the Ontario Bar Association’s Award for Excellence in Insurance Law. The best part of that was that my parents got to come. My acceptance speech was mostly about them, because they taught me the importance of kindness, being yourself, taking responsibilities for your actions, and hard work – the values that have guided me through my career.