CPD-ACCREDITED Risky Business 2025 Conference - The Changing Landscape: Medical Malpractice in a New Era

Speakers.

• Charles
  Gluckstein

  Charles is the owner and managing partner of Gluckstein Lawyers and has guided the firm to become the leaders in Personal Injury in Canada. He succeeded his father Bernard who founded the practice in 1962. He has been endorsed by his peers as a leading personal injury lawyer in both Best Lawyers in Canada and Lexpert directories. Charles has been successful at trial in both jury and judge alone cases.  In 2001, Charles was recognized as a Specialist in Civil Litigation. He frequently lectures at conferences for legal organizations, both locally as well as outside of Ontario on all topics of personal injury as well as the modernization of the profession using technology.

   

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• Richard
  Halpern

  Richard Halpern is a senior lawyer acting exclusively for injured people in medical negligence cases, with a special focus on infants injured at or around the time of birth. Richard is known across Canada for his expertise in birth injury cases. He has more than 30 years of experience representing seriously injured people.

  Richard has a detailed understanding of the highly technical medical issues, particularly relating to birth injury cases. His experience allows him to provide meaningful advice and direction to families considering a medical negligence lawsuit following a review of the medical records.

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• Pinta
  Maguire

  Pinta is an experienced trial lawyer practising primarily in the area of complex medical negligence. She has extensive experience advocating for plaintiffs in cases involving birth injuries, surgical errors, delayed diagnoses, hospital negligence, and catastrophic brain injuries. Pinta represents clients in actions against physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions. Uniquely positioned as former defence counsel for physicians in both civil and regulatory proceedings, she brings a dual perspective that strengthens her ability to advocate for injured patients. With a commitment to compassionate advocacy and a strong litigation background, Pinta guides clients through some of the most challenging times in their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights protected.

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• Dr. Laura
  MacGregor

  Laura MacGregor writes about disability, extreme caregiving, and medical malpractice. Her essay 'The Invisible Woman,' describing life parenting her disabled son, Matthew, won the prestigious 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize. She completed a PhD in her early fifties and spent the COVID pandemic studying creative nonfiction at The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University. She is the author of several articles about mothering a disabled child, including 'Unspoken Wounds: A Mother's Experience of Medical Error,' recently published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal. When she isn't writing, she enjoys hiking, knitting, reading, and spending time with her family.
• Risa
  Kirshblum

  Risa co-heads Lenczner Slaght’s Professional Liability and Regulation group, with a particular focus on the practice in the defence of physicians. Her health law practice encompasses civil litigation and regulatory matters. Balancing skillful strategy with seasoned counsel, Risa regularly provides advice in many contexts in which legal issues arise in medical practice.

  Risa is experienced in resolving complex disputes by negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Risa recently completed the Mediating Disputes course at Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation.

  Risa frequently presents in continuing legal education programs for organizations such as the Law Society of Upper Canada and The Advocates' Society. She has also presented in continuing education programs for a variety of medical organizations.

• Jan
  Marin

  Jan’s practice focuses on professional negligence matters with a particular interest in medical malpractice and birth injury litigation.

  Jan is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA). She is involved in their Interventions Committee, Litigator Editorial Board, Moot Organization Committee and the Practice Direction Committee. She is an active writer and contributor to the Litigator Magazine, OTLA Blog and Medical Malpractice Newsletter. She has acted as the chair of various OTLA sections, including the Medical Malpractice, New Lawyers and Women's sections.

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• Justin
  Monahan

  Justin is an associate at KMSC Law in Grande Prairie, Alberta. His practice is focused on personal injury, employment, and contracts litigation, as well as advising corporate clients on liability reduction.
  

  Justin studied law at Dalhousie University on a Schulich Scholarship. During his time at Dalhousie, Justin wrote two papers on Law and Technology, both of which were published, and one of which won the Canadian Bar Association’s James L. Thistle, Q.C. Memorial Award for best paper on Alternative Dispute Resolution.  After completing his J.D., Justin spent a year clerking with the Justices of the Alberta Court of Appeal.
  

  Justin is a member of KMSC’s Technology Adoption Group, helping his firm decide which technologies and digital services to adopt. He has consulted with several Venture Capital firms as regards legal AI services.

• Brenda
  Agnew

  Brenda is the proud mother of two boys, Chase and Maclain. Her son, Maclain, has severe Cerebral Palsy and profound hearing loss as a result of a condition known as Kernicterus, a brain injury that results from untreated jaundice. As a former Gluckstein client herself, Brenda acts as our Client Liaison to support and advise our clients and their families throughout their case.

  She tirelessly advocates for better systems and programs for children and individuals with cerebral palsy and other childhood onset disabilities and is passionate about accessibility and inclusion. Brenda has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Easter Seals Ontario, is a school board trustee for the Halton Catholic District School Board and is an active member for volunteer organizations such as CP-Net, CHILD-BRIGHT Citizen Engagement Committee, and the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee among others.

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• Bethany
  Nicholson

  Bethany is dedicated to advocating for individuals and families affected by medical negligence and birth injuries. Her practice is driven by a deep commitment to improving patient safety and ensuring accountability within the healthcare system. Bethany joined Gluckstein Lawyers as a summer student in 2021 and returned to complete her articles with the firm in 2022 after earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.  She returned to Gluckstein Lawyers as an Associate in 2023. 

  Bethany combines her legal expertise with a strong background in health sciences, allowing her to navigate complex medical issues with clarity and precision.  She works closely with clients to help them understand their rights, tell their stories, and seek meaningful resolution. 

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