I began my legal career in 1985 articling at Gowling WLG in Ottawa under the mentorship of some of the city’s most prominent litigators. I was called to the bar that same year, and over the course of the next four decades built one of the most accomplished insurance litigation practices in eastern Ontario. For the better part of twenty years, I served as head of the insurance law practice group at Gowling WLG, a large international law firm, where I led a team of dedicated associates and partners in the defence of complex insurance and negligence claims.

Throughout my career, I have acted as senior counsel, trial counsel, and appellate counsel in a wide variety of disputes. My litigation practice has encompassed all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, with particular depth in insurance defence, negligence law, personal injury litigation (on both the plaintiff and defence sides), property and casualty claims, errors and omissions, insurance coverage disputes, product liability, and estate litigation. I have appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, and the Court of Appeal, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada in 2025.

My Supreme Court experience was a defining feature of my career. In 2025, I appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada as lead counsel for Trillium Mutual Insurance Company in Emond v. Trillium Mutual Insurance Co., 2026 SCC 3. The case arose from a 2019 flood that left the insured’s home on the Ottawa River a total loss. At issue was whether a Guaranteed Rebuilding Cost (GRC) endorsement obligated Trillium to cover the substantial additional costs required for the homeowners to comply with Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority regulations in rebuilding their property. The application judge had found in favour of the insured. The Ontario Court of Appeal reversed that decision, and the homeowners appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and ruled in favour of Trillium in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Rowe. The decision has been recognized as one of the most significant rulings on insurance policy interpretation in recent years, reaffirming and refining the interpretive principles established in Ledcor and Progressive Homes and providing critical guidance on the scope of endorsements, the threshold for ambiguity, and the nullification of coverage doctrine. My work on this file, from the Court of Appeal through to the Supreme Court, stands as a landmark achievement in my career and a significant victory for the Canadian insurance industry.

My contributions to the profession extend well beyond the courtroom. I have been consistently recognized in the Best Lawyers in Canada since 2013 in the areas of Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation. In 2022, I was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for Insurance Law in Ottawa, a recognition given to the lawyer who receives the highest overall peer-feedback rating in a given region and practice area. I have also been repeatedly recognized by LEXPERT as a leading practitioner in Litigation – Commercial Insurance.

In the last decade, I have gained extensive experience as a mediator and arbitrator across a broad range of civil disputes, with particular emphasis on insurance and commercial matters. As the founder of Peloso Mediation, through which I offer mediation and arbitration services in personal injury litigation, accident benefits disputes (including LAT proceedings), property damage claims, commercial litigation, professional liability, insurance coverage disputes, and estate litigation. My approach to mediation draws on decades of trial and appellate experience, and my reputation for fairness, preparation, and practical judgment has led to my recognition as a neutral for complex and high-value matters.

In 2025, I joined Cavanagh LLP, Ottawa’s well-regarded litigation boutique, where I continue to bring a depth of experience to the benefit of insurers and their counsel. My practice at Cavanagh LLP focuses on insurance litigation, mediation, and arbitration, with particular attention to the complex coverage and liability issues that arise across the full spectrum of property and casualty insurance.