Continental Who's Who

Hon. Dennis Lane, QC

Hon. Dennis Lane, QC. is recognized as a Pinnacle Professional in the field of Legal Services, as a result of his lengthy career as an Advocate, Judge and presently his role as Arbitrator and Mediator with ADR Chambers in Toronto. Mr. Lane was appointed to the Superior Court of Ontario in October, 1989, after a thirty year career as a commercial litigator primarily with Osler Hoskin and Harcourt in Toronto. While at the Bar he taught the Bar Admission Course, wrote a number of articles on legal subjects and participated in panels at meetings of the Canadian and Ontario Bars, the Canadian Institute, the American Bar, the International Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada and frequently in the Court’s own educational programs.

While on the Court, he presided in every section of the Court’s work, although in recent years his focus was on the Commercial List and the Divisional Court (an appeal Court). Mr. Lane served as Acting Regional Senior Justice for Toronto in the Summer and Fall of 2007 and chaired the Court’s Facilities Committee for 16 years. In that capacity, he chaired committees planning courthouses throughout Ontario. In 2007 he retired from the Court and opened Lane Arbitration and Mediation Inc. to provide ADR services.

He also established a consulting practice advising Litigators on their cases, including reviewing and advising on their written arguments, appeal documents and the like. In 2013 he moved his practice into ADR Chambers, a group of lawyers and former judges providing arbitration and mediation services. In this environment he is glad to leave the administrative functions to others. In his current position, in addition to arbitrating and mediating, Mr. Lane continues his consulting practice, working with lawyers to develop the strong points in their case and the best language in which to put them to the court. After 50 years experience, he is a valuable resource for advice in the field of advocacy.

Mr. Lane earned his LLB Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a B.A. in History and Economics from Victoria College, University of Toronto. He is presently a member of the Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society, the London Court of International Arbitration, ADR Institute of Canada, and the Law Society of Upper Canada. He was a founding member of the Canadian Lawyers Liability Assurance Society and of the Advocates’ Society Institute. For some years he was a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (U.S.), while successfully representing Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in the largest litigation in its corporate history.