Sandra Dawe, the Firm's Managing Partner, thinks of herself as a barrister, in the classical sense of that word - an advocate whose primary skill is the ability to speak for her clients.
Sandra grew up in the second-largest city in Newfoundland, Corner Brook (pop. 25,000). But like many Newfoundlanders, Sandra is now "away", despite her still very strong links to the province of her youth. After obtaining her B. Comm. at Memorial University in Newfoundland, she toyed with the possibility of going into business. Instead, she came to the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. She articled at Shibley Righton, and joined the Firm as a litigation lawyer in 1989.
Today Sandra's practice is still based mainly on her business background. As a litigation partner, she has a practice encompassing commercial litigation, insurance and professional liability defence work, and construction litigation. Many of the proceedings she handles are complex and document-intensive, and involve multiple witnesses and expert opinion evidence. Her defence of professionals includes accountants, lawyers and architects, and typically relates to commercial disputes.
As a barrister, Sandra has appeared as an advocate before the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Tax Court of Canada and the Ontario Municipal Board. She also has significant experience in the negotiation of settlements and the use of A.D.R..
Sandra is the mother of one daughter, and the proud owner of Jesse, a Newfoundland Crackie. (In Newfoundland, "crackie" means a "mixed breed house dog". Everywhere else, Jesse is a mutt.)
Memberships
• Canadian Bar Association
• Ontario Bar Association
• Advocates Society
