Richard Shekter, recipient of the Ontario Bar Association Award for Excellence in Insurance Law 2021, graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1973 as a Bronze Medallist. Following completion of his term of articles with Eddie Greenspan, Michael Moldaver and Alan Gold, he obtained an LL.M. from the University of California at Berkeley, summa cum laude, on a Laidlaw Foundation Scholarship, before being called to the bar in 1976. Richard served one year as law clerk to the Chief Justice of Ontario before entering private practice in 1977.
His advocacy practice has ranged from criminal law, civil, personal injury and insurance litigation, medical malpractice, administrative and health law, and appellate advocacy.
Richard is widely known for his meticulous preparation, formidable and creative trial advocacy, and encyclopedic legal knowledge.
As Justice Joe O’Brien put it, in the seminal and ground-breaking case of Roberts v. Morana, “I have never seen a case which has been better prepared or presented than this one. A number of matters arose during the trial which demonstrated to me the thorough, sophisticated, and ingenious way in which all aspects of this case were prepared.” That dedication to excellence in the pursuit of justice for his clients has never waned.
For over 45 years, Richard has also been a generous contributor to the legal profession. He served as a director of both OTLA and the Advocates’ Society, co-founded the Health Law Section of the OBA, and has held chair, vice-chair and executive roles on the OBA and CBA.
Widely known as a prolific and sought-after author, lecturer, and speaker, Richard has served generations of the legal profession, as well as community and professional groups, with his contributions to continuing legal education. Richard has written extensively on topics as varied as general litigation, civil procedure, trial advocacy, insurance, criminal procedure, evidence, medical-legal concerns, health law and ethics, privacy, and administrative law.
Richard is a recipient of the OBA Distinguished Service Award, and in 1998 was the second recipient of the Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association’s T. Bruce Hillyer Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Cause of Civil Justice.
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