Practice highlights
Biography
Stephen Birman graduated from the University of Toronto law school in 2007.
Stephen joined Thomson Rogers as an Associate in 2009, where his practice has focused largely on personal injury litigation and class action litigation.
Stephen has successfully litigated significant claims as lead counsel in the Ontario Superior Court and at the License Appeals Tribunal and Financial Services Commission of Ontario.
Stephen is relentless in pursuing claims against insurance companies on behalf of his clients. Stephen was most recently successful in 2022 in a 5 week jury trial over long-term disability benefits in the Ontario Superior Court, where the jury made the largest known punitive damages award and aggravated damages award against an insurance company in a disability claim. Stephen was also the first lawyer in Ontario to receive a maximum special award on behalf of his client at the License Appeals Tribunal in 2017.
Stephen has a long history of helping vulnerable individuals pursue class action litigation as well. He spent the first 3 years of his career working with residential school survivors and helped survivors advance compensation claims under Canada’s largest class action settlement. Stephen has been involved in numerous other class action decisions and is currently part of the Thomson, Rogers team pursuing claims arising out of alleged nursing home negligence and business interruption losses during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as significant claims regarding CPAP medical devices recalled by Philips Respironics.
Stephen prides himself on his ability to help clients understand and feel informed and in control throughout the various stages of the litigation process. Stephen is a Certified Litigation Specialist as recognized by the Law Society of Ontario. Stephen has been recognised as a leading lawyer in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. Stephen has earned the highest peer rating of AV Preeminent® in Martindale-Hubbell® for his legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards.
Stephen is past Vice-Chair of the Community Head Injury Resource Services – an organization that provides services to improve the quality of life of persons living with an acquired brain injury.
Stephen is an avid tennis player and follower of all things related to Canadian Sports. When out of the office, Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and daughter.
Year of Call
2008 Education
- Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Queen’s University, 2004
- Juris Doctorate, University of Toronto, 2007
Accreditations
- Certified Specialist (Civil Litigation)
- LEXPERT® Ranked Lawyer
- Martindale-Hubbell® Ranked Lawyer, AV Preeminent®
- Member of FAIR (Fair Association of Victims for Accident Insurance Reform)
