Our Team

Pearl’s passion for the law and litigation may be due to her Mediterranean blood.  It may also contribute to her being competitive when litigating at court – or playing board games or bowling with her family. 

Over the years, Pearl has practiced in many areas of civil, commercial, and insurance litigation.  Since 2004, her practice has focused on a diverse range of insurance defence and coverage litigation.  Her clients have included Canadian, US & UK insurers and re-insurers, self-insured corporations, hospitals, Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company, and individual professionals.  She also enjoys handling commercial litigation and employment & wrongful dismissal claims.    

As defence counsel, Pearl has defended a wide array of complex and large loss casualty, property, and professional liability claims.  Her caseload has included defending liability in wrongful death, occupiers’, taverners, municipal and road design, product, construction/building developer/contractor negligence, defamation, property fire and water damage, railway derailments, environmental contamination, aviation and marine claims, and motor vehicle accidents.  Pearl also defends insurers in commercial first-party property, Builder’s Risk/COC, equipment breakdown, and professional liability/mitigation claims.

When wearing the hat of coverage counsel, Pearl drafts opinions, reservation of rights and position letters, and defence cost-sharing agreements.  She has also represented clients in court applications, at trial and on appeal, in cases involving duty to defend, additional insureds, equitable contribution, breach of condition(s), relief from forfeiture issues, and bad faith claims.  She has secured several very favourable costs awards for her insurer clients, at motions, applications, and trial.

Pearl’s past in-house counsel experience gives her invaluable insight into Canadian insurer client operations and needs.  As well, her ability to view legal disputes from the perspective of a defence and coverage counsel allows her to identify potential issues and areas of concern for her clients.    

Pearl is a lifelong learner and regularly attends CPD events.  She keeps abreast of legal trends by actively participating in various organizations, which are outlined below.

When she is not practicing law, Pearl enjoys cooking and trying out new restaurants with family and friends, dancing at Zumba classes, and travelling in and outside of Canada.