Anna has an impressively broad range of insurance experience and expertise, and is widely recognised by British (her clients include a number of Lloyd’s syndicates), U.S. and domestic insurers for her depth of knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry. Anna is also the insurance representative of the Blaneys’ Cannabis Group.
A committed and experienced litigator, Anna’s practice is focused on insurance and commercial disputes. She is often sought out by insurers to defend insureds, render coverage advice, or provide claims-monitoring services with respect to professional indemnity (often involving engineers or medical / healthcare professionals), directors’ and officers’, environmental, political risks, film production, sports, products liability, and commercial general liability disputes. Anna has also provided both defence and coverage advice in the context of complex class actions, in which multi-layered insurance coverage is in play. Often, Anna’s mandates are sensitive, and require equally sensitive handling.
Anna’s pragmatic philosophy of quickly and efficiently getting to the crux of a dispute enables her to develop creative and effective exit strategies as early as possible. She appreciates that cases are often resolved outside of the courtroom (Anna has considerable experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution), and she has often, expertly and persuasively, resolved seemingly insoluble claims prior to trial. On the other hand, recognising that sometimes one needs to fight the good fight, Anna is a fearless and adept advocate.
Anna has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario. As well, she and a colleague successfully argued an appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada, on behalf of an international insurer, involving a cross-border coverage dispute (Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. v. Lloyd’s Underwriters, 2009 SCC 11).
Anna is a prolific author. She regularly writes articles, and speaks at conferences for the Lloyd’s insurance market and other insurers, on current Canadian legal topics of interest. She is also the co-editor of Blaneys’ Coffee House, a widely published newsletter, which caters primarily to the London insurance market.
Community
Anna is passionate about the inclusion of people with disabilities in everyday activities in society. She has been consulted by municipalities on issues of equality, and has made public submissions relating to the increase of funding for recreational activities for children with disabilities.
She also provides pro bono assistance and advice to parents of children with special needs on educational matters (both public and private sector), and is committed to removing barriers to equal education for students with disabilities.
Currently, Anna is a supporter of, and contributor to, the Hidden Project, which is a photo exhibition, inspired by Hospice Toronto’s Young Carers Program, of portraits of young carers, living in Ontario. The Young Carers Program supports kids, 5-18 years old, who care for family members who are ill, disabled, or experience mental illness or addiction.