My mediation practice typically involves disputes around money. Plaintiffs seek to maximize their recovery at mediation. Defendants seek to minimize their payout. Perhaps surprising to some, the strategies and tactics to achieve these objectives are virtually the same. What follows is not revolutionary, but helpful to...
Successful negotiation isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about what the numbers communicate. Here are three points I encourage my clients to consider in mediation: 1. How The Offer Is Presented By breaking an offer down into each head of damages, plus costs and disbursements, you help the...
In roster mediations, time is limited and the degree of preparation determines productivity. A strong mediation brief does more than summarize the file. It can help focus the negotiation on the issues that matter most. Here are 5 tips for writing strong and effective mediation briefs for...
Ontario’s auto insurance regime is undergoing a significant structural shift. Effective July 1, 2026, the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) moves from a largely standardized system to an “optional benefits” model. At its core, medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits remain mandatory, but all other accident benefits...
As we close out 2025, one theme stands out across Ontario’s legal landscape: adaptation. Over the past year, lawyers, insurers, and mediators have all navigated shifting case law, evolving procedures, and new pressures on claims handling. Looking ahead to 2026, the question is not whether...
You're invited to Logan Cooper's FREE interactive webinar, "Lessons From 2025 — What’s Coming In 2026," worth 1 hour of substantive CPD. This webinar connects substantive legal changes to practical mediation strategy. You’ll walk away with insights you can use immediately in your files. Some topics covered include: *Important...
Cooper Mediation Inc. is pleased to announce that Toronto mediator Vance Cooper has been recognized in the 20ᵗʰ edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for his work in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Best Lawyers is a peer-review publication that, for over two decades in Canada, has...
Cooper Mediation's Jonathan Cooper often describes opening offers in mediation using a boxing analogy. Imagine you’ve got two boxers starting from their respective corners inside the ring. Until the boxers get close enough to one another to land a punch, neither side will make contact. Getting...
Cooper Mediation Inc. is pleased to announce that Toronto mediator Vance Cooper is co-presenting at the Law Society of Ontario’s 8th Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit alongside Penny Georgoudis (Beard Winter LLP). Their session, Mediation and Sticky Situations, will run from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and...
On October 1, 2025, Ontario is bumping the Small Claims Court ceiling from $35,000 to $50,000 per plaintiff. The Ministry’s stated goal is plain: free up Superior-Court dockets and make justice more accessible and affordable. Wrongful Dismissal Claims Fit the New Sweet Spot Most wrongful-dismissal claims for non-executive...
