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Since 1935, Thomson Rogers LLP has built a reputation for advocacy, mentorship, and litigation excellence. As the firm celebrates 90 years, its lawyers reflect on a legacy that continues to shape the personal injury field in Canada

THE ROOTS of Thomson Rogers LLP were set down in 1935, when Edson Haines hung out his shingle on Richmond Street as a sole practitioner. Initially working in insurance defense, a few years later Haines was joined by his brother, and the tide turned to see the duo become outspoken advocates for the rights of accident victims. While personal injury law was the central pillar into the 1940s, Thomson Rogers has since diversified its practice. Its medical malpractice team traces back to the 1960s, while the family law litigation group and municipal law team were established in the 1970s. Over the years, the firm produced not just a deep bench of respected litigators but also judicial and political leaders, including a former minister of energy, chairs of the Ontario Energy Board and the Ontario Municipal Board, and multiple justices. If you ask current managing partner, Stephen D’Agostino, the firm’s impact on the legal landscape of Ontario has been nothing short of formative – and shows no sign of lessening. “We’re the history of Bay Street litigation and continue to shape the field today,” he distills, underscoring that the enduring commitment to advocacy, litigation excellence, and meaningful mentorship has defined Thomson Rogers since its inception.

Celebrating 90 years of advocacy, Thomson Rogers LLP is one of Ontario’s most trusted and long-standing law firms. Since 1935, the firm has represented individuals and families facing life-altering injuries and complex legal challenges. Our lawyers lead high-stakes cases in personal injury, medical malpractice, family law, and municipal planning and expropriation. Known for shaping precedents at all levels of court in Ontario, Thomson Rogers is ranked by numerous respected legal publishers and directories, including The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, and The Best Lawyers™ in Canada for multiple practice areas. On this 90th anniversary, we look ahead to the next 90 years, guided by the voices of those we advocate for, and the real-life counsel we aim to deliver in every case.

“I’m leveraging the depth and richness of our past to focus on a clear future – one that puts clients first, emphasizes outcomes, and maintains our tradition of excellence”

Stephen D’Agostino, Thomson Rogers LLP

‘A real history of excellence here’

Published May 26, 2025

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D’Agostino, who first came aboard Thomson Rogers as an articling student, had a front-row seat to some of the firm’s greats. Shaping the vision of the firm early were Patrick Schmidt, a former family law partner, who continuously drove home the fundamental values of vigorously protecting clients’ rights, and Ken Howie – “Mr. Personal Injury in his day,” D’Agostino notes – whose results earned him a stellar reputation as a fierce adversary. “Howie got outstanding results for the people he represented and was always prepared to say to insurance companies, ‘I’ll see you in the courtroom,’” he says. “That attitude is deeply embedded in our firm’s DNA to this day.” Ian Furlong, partner in the firm’s personal injury law group, says the enduring reputation of former colleagues continues to shape the firm’s success. He often hears from people across the province who come to Thomson Rogers because they’re familiar with legacy talent like formidable partners Lawrence Mandel and David Payne.

“I get these calls because somebody that was once sitting at my desk did a good job for them,” he says, noting that even though some of these partners are long since retired or have passed away, their work endures – and contributes to the firm’s overall reputation. The TR brand carries a credibility that paves the way for clients and lawyers alike, Furlong adds. “It really is circular, and it’s something to be proud of. You don’t survive this long without consistently superior results.” Deanna Gilbert echoes Furlong’s experience, stating that across the board, whether you’re a client, opposing counsel,

an insurance company, or a trier of fact, “there’s a baseline: you know what you’re getting when you’ve got a TR lawyer on a file.” The lawyers at Thomson Rogers are prepared, ethical, knowledgeable about the case at hand and the law, and demonstrate that signature fierce advocacy. There’s a level of consistency and professionalism that’s sewn into the fibre of being a lawyer at the firm, and while there’s no doubt Thomson Rogers attracts the best and the brightest, it also comes down to the investment made from the ground up.

Purposeful and strategic mentorship

There’s a focus on ensuring associates gain meaningful experience today to serve them well as the partners of tomorrow. Gilbert stresses there’s a mentorship system, meaning it’s purposeful and strategic – not just a more experienced lawyer’s door to knock on when you have a question or someone to sit down for a quarterly lunch with. It’s more than lip service at Thomson Rogers, as she experienced first-hand. A senior partner, Sloan Mandel, brought Gilbert, as an articling student, on a complex, multi-party mediation. At that stage in her career, she had little to contribute substantively – but she wasn’t

In 1950, B.J. Thomson and W.P. Rogers (pictured), become the named partners of the firm Haines, Thomson, Rogers. Various names were added along the way; ultimately, in 1966, it was shortened to the same two names it goes by today: Thomson, Rogers.

brought along just to carry a briefcase. She was involved in the client briefing so that from the jump she understood the human side of the case. As they walked to the reporting centre, the senior partner talked to her about the issues in the case and where he expected the mediation to be most challenging. They walked into the room, filled with senior male defense lawyers, and Mandel introduced Gilbert to every single one of them. “He knew I represented the next generation of TR, and he wanted to open the lines of communication for me early,” Gilbert recalls, adding that there’s a lot of downtime in a mediation but instead of checking emails or chit-chatting, the senior partner used that downtime to explain to her his strategy and to show her how the time could be spent speaking to the other parties to see where they might be able to align.

“You must be taught on the job, on your feet, and that’s where TR has excelled for generations. It’s the approach I now take in coaching the younger lawyers coming up through the ranks”

Deanna Gilbert, Thomson Rogers LLP

“It’s big-picture, forward-thinking advocacy that you just don’t learn in textbooks in law school,” Gilbert says. “You must be taught on the job, on your feet, and that’s where TR has excelled for generations. It’s the approach I now take in coaching the younger lawyers coming up through the ranks.” That culture of rigorous advocacy permeates the firm and continues to shape its trajectory. Those core values of preparedness, knowledge, ethics, and relationship-building lay the groundwork for a high-calibre team that’s able to grow and adapt, while staying true to its foundation.

Furlong says the firm’s history speaks for itself, and while they’re proud to showcase the success and milestones, it doesn’t play into the too-common “we’re the best” advertising – simply because it doesn’t have to. Its history translates to peace of mind for clients. “After nine decades, clients have reassurance that we’ll be there not just on the day we’re retained, but until the case is over, no matter how long it takes,” he says. “It all comes down to allaying the uncertainties of injured people, and a good place to start is to convey that we’ve been doing this since 1935.”

“After nine decades, clients have reassurance that we’ll be there not just on the day we’re retained, but until the case is over, no matter how long it takes”

Ian Furlong, Thomson Rogers LLP

Evolving ahead of the industry

Reflecting on his time at the firm, D’Agostino says one thing stands out: “We’ve always evolved just a bit ahead of the industry,” he says. Thomson Rogers was instrumental in many landmark cases over the years, for example, leading early mass tort efforts, such as the 1980s Mississauga train derailment, before class actions were formally codified in Canada. The firm also served as one of the lead counsel in the residential schools class action, a watershed moment in Canadian legal and political history. Thomson Rogers’ protection of Canadians’ rights also extends outside the courtroom. Constantly seeking out opportunities to impact policy such as pushing for insurance reforms, it was a true pioneer in the evolution of group litigation and systemic advocacy. This same spirit is reflected within the firm itself, where it leveraged technology long before it became a buzzword.

In the 1980s, Thomson Rogers became an IBM display centre. Showcasing how early computing systems could support law firms, D’Agostino recalls people coming from all over North America to see how it was done. By the early 2000s, the firm had developed a proprietary document management system – a prescient move that gave it an operational edge. Most recently, the firm is taking a thoughtful approach to artificial intelligence, which it sees as a support for advocates, not a fundamental revolution. A working group comprised of legal assistants, associates, and partners is evaluating products to determine which are the most supportive of

optimal outcomes for clients, the bar by which any technological tool is measured. “TR has always been an innovator,” D’Agostino notes. “That’s what’s driven our litigation practice to where we are today.”

A future 90 years in the making

For the lawyers of Thomson Rogers, the firm’s 90th anniversary isn’t simply a retrospective – it’s a standard to exceed; it’s a launching point. While it’s firmly cemented as a major force in personal injury, having trained and influenced many of the field’s leading lawyers as well as taken part in landmark litigation, its forward momentum is equally unmistakable. Ultimately, today’s team benefits from – and contributes to – a legacy almost 100 years in the making. Thomson Rogers’ foundation of leadership, mentorship, and advocacy is what will sustain it for decades to come. “I’m leveraging the depth and richness of our past to focus on a clear future – one that puts clients first, emphasizes outcomes, and maintains our tradition of excellence,” D’Agostino says. “That’s where I want to take this firm. And I can only do it because of the 90 years of excellence behind me.”

The evolution of Thomson Rogers

Click on a year to learn more

1938

1970s

1990s

2020s

1935

1960s

1980s

2000s

2025

Edson Haines creates E.L. Haines and Company, with a focus on insurance defence.

1935

Douglas Haines joins his brother, practising personal injury law. The firm becomes Haines & Haines.

1938

Thomson, Rogers is the new name of the firm. Medical malpractice is added.

1960s

The municipal team is established at the firm, and the firm moves to 390 Bay St.

1970s

The firm’s family law department is re-established with the arrival of Pat Schmidt.

1980s

Thomson Rogers transitions to a dedicated plaintiff personal injury firm, while maintaining its other practice areas.

1990s

The firm is involved in landmark cases, including the historic residential school class action.

2000s

The firm demonstrates resilience and adaptability in the face of a global pandemic.

2020s

Celebrating 90 years of excellence, the firm continues to grow from strength to strength.

2025

The evolution of Thomson Rogers

Click on a year to learn more

2025

2020s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1938

1935

Thomson, Rogers is the new name of the firm. Medical malpractice is added.

1935

Douglas Haines joins his brother, practicing personal injury law. The firm becomes Haines & Haines.

1938

Thomson, Rogers is the new name of the firm. Medical malpractice is added.

1960s

The municipal team is established at the firm, and the firm moves to 390 Bay St.

1970s

The firm’s family law department is re-established with the arrival of Pat Schmidt.

1980s

Thomson Rogers transitions to a dedicated plaintiff personal injury firm, while maintaining its other practice areas.

1990s

The firm is involved in landmark cases, including the historic Residential School class action.

2000s

The firm demonstrates resilience and adaptability in the face of a global pandemic.

2020s

Celebrating 90 years of excellence, the firm continues to grow from strength to strength.

2025