Mary Lynn Gleason

Partner

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6112

Mary Lynn's practice focuses on the defence of hospitals and their staff in medical malpractice claims. A veteran litigator, Mary Lynn has acted as counsel for hospitals, nurses, physicians, and other health practitioners at inquests, various courts, and administrative tribunals, including the Health Appeal and Review Board.

She has extensive experience in the defence of obstetrical brain injury medical malpractice cases. She has acted as general counsel to hospitals on a wide range of issues including privileges, policy, risk management, and privacy issues. She also acts for a number of institutions in the defence of assault allegations and provides practical, sensitive real-time advice regarding the management of assault and harassment allegations.

Experience

  • Acts for Health Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC) in defence of medical malpractice claims.
  • Successfully defended at trial the following complex birth injury cases: Holder et al v. Greater Niagara General Hospital et al Reasons for Judgment, released October 6, 1997; Stuckless et al v. Rouge Valley Health Systems Reasons for Judgment released January 18, 2005; McGregor et al v. Grand River Hospital et al Reasons for Judgment released August 27, 2009.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto
  • Member, The Advocates’ Society
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association (Health Law section)

Community Involvement

  • Volunteer, BLG Reads to Kids Program

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2012) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Health Care Law, Medical Negligence, Personal Injury Litigation) and was previously named Lawyer of the Year for Medical Negligence
  • Recognized in the 2025 edition of Chambers Canada (Healthcare: Contentious (Nationwide - Canada))
  • Recognized in the 2020 edition of Chambers Canada (Healthcare)
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2013) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Medical Negligence) and since 2022 (Personal Injury)
  • Recognized as a leading litigator in the 2018 edition of the Lexpert®/Report on Business Litigation Special Edition

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 1987
  • LLB, University of Western Ontario, 1985
  • BA, Brock University, 1982