CANADA Trends and Developments
Trends and Developments Contributed by: Elizabeth Bowker, Shadi Katirai, Christian Breukelman and Grace Murdoch Stieber Berlach LLP
Stieber Berlach LLP is a Toronto-based, 33-lawyer boutique firm recognised across Canada for its lead- ing insurance disputes and coverage practice. The firm represents domestic and international insurers, corporations, municipalities, healthcare institutions, professionals, and other organisations in complex matters across Canada. Its core areas of expertise include insurance coverage, casualty, property, class action defence (for which it is ranked by Chambers and Partners), medical malpractice, directors’ and officers’ liability, professional and products liability,
financial institutions, fidelity and commercial crime insurance, fraud recovery, municipal liability, and en- vironmental matters. Stieber Berlach regularly acts in high-exposure litigation, precedent-setting coverage disputes, class actions, and appeals, including mat- ters before the Supreme Court of Canada and appel- late courts across the country. The firm’s lawyers are known for delivering strategic, practical, and results- driven advice while helping clients navigate complex claims, emerging risks, and evolving legal develop- ments affecting the insurance industry. technically complex product liability claims. She holds a Master of Laws in health law from Georgetown University and serves as a board member of the Council of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association
Authors
Elizabeth Bowker is a partner at Stieber Berlach LLP with a broad insurance litigation practice spanning class actions, professional liability, products liability, medical malpractice, municipal liability, employment
practices, and insurance coverage disputes. She has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Courts of Appeal for Ontario and New Brunswick, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, and numerous administrative tribunals. Elizabeth serves on Ontario’s Class Proceedings Committee as a joint appointee of the Law Foundation of Ontario and the Attorney General of Ontario and is a member of The Advocates’ Society and the Ontario Bar Association. She is recognised in Chambers and Partners Canada for Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence).
Christian Breukelman is a partner at Stieber Berlach LLP with a broad litigation practice focused on the defence of professionals, directors and officers, and insurers in complex disputes. He represents clients in
class actions, professional negligence claims, medical malpractice matters, commercial disputes, condominium litigation, and employment-related proceedings. Christian has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court, and numerous administrative tribunals. He regularly presents on emerging issues in civil litigation. He is a member of the Toronto Lawyers Association, the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, and The Advocates’ Society.
Shadi Katirai is a partner at Stieber Berlach LLP whose practice focuses on professional liability, class actions, product liability, and regulatory defence matters. She regularly represents architects, engineers,
Grace Murdoch is an associate at Stieber Berlach LLP whose practice focuses on insurance-related disputes, including class actions, professional negligence, healthcare, personal injury, and construction
building inspectors, healthcare professionals, and other regulated professionals in complex disputes, disciplinary proceedings, mediations, and tribunal matters. Shadi also advises clients on risk management and has particular experience handling
57 I NSURANCE L I T IGATI O N 2026
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