TestimonialsI enjoy working with Bernie. He is able to make both sides feel comfortable that their concerns are impartially and thoroughly addressed. Bernie offers thoughtful, well-prepared insight into my cases, and both sides are satisfied with the experience. Bernie provides excellent value for his services. - Toronto commercial litigation counsel Bernie's role as a mediator was important at several points in keeping the parties moving forward. He worked hard to get issues resolved. He cut through the nonsense well – and kept us on track…I liked Bernie and would definitely use him again. - Toronto insurance defence counsel I would characterize Bernie as someone with the highest integrity and professionalism. He possesses a keen sense of awareness of the significance of such attributes as discretion and impartiality in the execution of his role as a mediator. I know when I use Bernie as a mediator that we will get a balanced process. - Toronto employment lawyer I have participated in numerous mediations with Bernie acting as mediator and have found him to be extremely effective in settling cases. He is always well prepared, fair and highly skilled in assisting the parties in resolving their disputes. I would not hesitate to recommend Bernie as a mediator. - Toronto construction litigation counsel Mr. Morrow ran a fair hearing and issued a timely and well-reasoned decision. I would use him again. - Toronto counsel, commercial arbitration Mr. Morrow worked hard with both sides to craft an arbitration process that met our needs. Our hearing was focussed, fair and balanced. His decision was written in plain language and he provided clear reasons for his conclusions. I was pleased with the process and so was my client. - Toronto counsel, commercial arbitration Bernie, I just wanted to properly express how much I enjoyed the two day course you presented on negotiation and mediation. You made it interesting and relevant. No doubt, the information I learned will be helpful to me in managing a wide array of situations that I will be dealing with now and in the future. - Human Resources Consultant, Ministry of Community and Social Services Thank you, Bernie, for all your hard work with our team during a difficult period. I am confident that we have addressed the source of the problem and now have buy-in from all team members going forward. Your ability to connect easily with staff and gain their trust was impressive. I was also impressed by how quickly you grasped the subtleties of our workplace and offered ideas that made sense for us. Overall, a very positive learning experience. - Manager, technology company |
About Bernard MorrowClick here to download Bernard's professional profile Bernard Morrow is the principal of Morrow Mediation, a Toronto area based full-service alternative dispute resolution (ADR) firm that is focused on delivering timely, fair and balanced mediation, arbitration, appraisal umpiring services and responsive consulting solutions at a sensible price. Bernard has been successfully providing dispute resolution services since 1994.
Bernard offers his services in person and online. He delivers online dispute resolution (ODR) via various virtual platforms (including Zoom) and encourages the use of ODR in appropriate circumstances, including when health issues or travel distance makes meeting in person prohibitive. In addition to conducting his private ADR practice, Bernard serves as a Part-Time Vice-Chair with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. He was initially appointed in July 2020 and re-appointed in July 2022 for a further three-year term. He adjudicates complex medical-legal disputes initiated by workers or employers regarding final decisions of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board over entitlement to benefits, health care and vocational rehabilitation under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 and predecessor legislation. Bernard served as Co-Director and Adjunct Professor for the Osgoode Mediation Clinic (OMC) for the 2022-23 academic year. The OMC is an intensive clinical program open to second and third year law students enrolled at Osgoode Hall Law School. Bernard served two terms, between 2014 and 2018, as the Complaints Resolution Commissioner for the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) (formerly the Law Society of Upper Canada). The Commissioner performs an ombuds role, independently reviewing complaints against lawyers and paralegals that have been closed by the LSO to ensure they were handled appropriately and the results were reasonable. Having completed his time as Commissioner, Bernard now offers coaching and training to lawyers and paralegals who have an interest in improving client service and avoiding professional conduct complaints. Practising as a litigator in the early 1990s, Bernard was initially drawn to the ADR field by a desire to achieve more efficient client-centred resolutions to disputes. This led him to take considerable training in mediation and ADR consulting both in Canada and the U.S., making him a more complete advocate and awakening a passion for the field of conflict resolution. Bernard has conducted more than 1500 mediations. His mediation experience has included providing services to the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC), as well as conducting a variety of mediations as a private practitioner and as a member of the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program Roster - Toronto/Ottawa. His areas of focus as a mediator include employment and workplace disputes (including wrongful dismissal actions), business and commercial matters (including partnership and shareholder disputes), construction disputes, and insurance matters (including personal injury and disability claims). Bernard’s arbitration skills have been built on a strong foundation of adjudication work. Between February 2002 and July 2013, he served as an adjudicator with the IPC, adjudicating more than 300 appeals over that time. In his role at the IPC, he adjudicated complex access to information appeals and issued binding written decisions. To view Bernard’s IPC decisions click here. Bernard regularly serves as an umpire in appraisal hearings, conducted pursuant to section 128 of the Insurance Act, for disputes between insureds and their insurers over property damage claims arising under Statutory Condition #11 of Ontario property insurance policies. Prior to joining the IPC, Bernard worked for two years as Legal Counsel and Senior Facilitator with Ontario's Dispute Resolution Office where he developed and delivered ADR-focused training programs, facilitated complex workplace restorations, and designed and convened large-scale consulting projects involving public and private sector stakeholders. He has designed and delivered several of his own training programs, including an advanced negotiation course for the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies and a certificate program in ADR for the Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology. Be heard. Whether you wish to mediate, arbitrate, undertake training or design a particular dispute resolution intervention, Bernard will ensure that your needs are heard at every step of the process – from intake to delivery to implementation. EDUCATION, TRAINING & CREDENTIALS Bernard obtained his B.A. (political science) in 1982 and his LL.B. in 1985 from Western University. In 1988, he was awarded his LL.M. by the London School of Economics and Political Science in London, England, in the areas of labour, employment law and human rights. Bernard was called to the Ontario Bar in 1988. He has completed extensive skill and theory-based training in mediation practice and process, decision making and writing, and ADR systems design with such organizations as Canadian Dispute Resolution Corporation (Toronto, Canada), CDR Associates (Boulder, U.S.), Transformative Justice Australia (Sydney, Australia) and the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (Toronto, Canada). In May 2013, Bernard was awarded the Chartered Mediator (C. Med) designation by the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC), Canada’s only professional designation for practising mediators. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS In August 2020, Bernard was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (CADN). He has served as Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s (OBA) ADR Section Executive in 2008-2009 and currently serves on the Executive as Public Affairs Liaison. Bernard is also an active member of the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and the Forum of Canadian Ombudsman (FCO). AWARDS Bernard is the 2023 recipient of the OBA Award of Excellence for Alternative Dispute Resolution. PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
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PERSONAL Bernard is a devoted husband and proud father of two sons. He loves outdoor photography and alternative music. He is a passionate mountain biker and windsurfer. He is dedicated to the practice of yoga. |