Our Team

Kathleen O’Hara

Partner

416.679.2781 x 209
kohara@sbalawyers.ca

Clerk: Kristin Cooke
416.679.2781 x 207
kcooke@sbalawyers.ca

Assistant: Shellie Coghlan
416.679.2781 x 212
scoghlan@sbalawyers.ca

Kathleen is SBA’s Northern Ontario delegate. Despite growing up in the great white north, Kathleen is an avid summer athlete. When she isn’t finishing triathlons or trying to hit a ball out of a bunker, Kathleen somehow manages to run our SIU team. The team works closely with insurers and experts to conduct Examinations under Oath, obtain and preserve critical evidence, and defend / initiate the appropriate court actions.

Now calling Toronto her home, Kathleen is also the office cookie baker. Her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are delicious and the office is currently on the Keto diet as a result.

Primary Practice Areas
  • Accident Benefits
  • Fraud and Misrepresentation 
  • Priority and Loss Transfer 
  • Auto Insurance
Notable Matters
  • Sonnet Insurance Company vs. L.O. 004559/AABS, 2020 CanLII 30399 (ON LAT)
  • F.A. (18-008453) v. Wawanesa (2020) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2020 CanLII 27443 (ON LAT)
  • Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company v S.P., 2019 CanLII 126183 (ON LAT)
  • The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company v. The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group (2019), (Priority Dispute)
  • Z.Z. (17-007223) v. Wawanesa, 2019 CanLII 43919 (ON LAT Reconsideration)
  • R.A. (17-006363) v. The Guarantee (2018) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2018 CanLII 132568 (ON LAT)
  • C.S. (17-008727) v. Wawanesa (2018) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2018 CanLII 110944 (ON LAT)
  • J.B. (17-003860) v. The Guarantee (2018) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2018 CanLII 115740 (ON LAT)
  • W.E. (17-002054) v. Wawanesa (2018) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2018 CanLII 39471 (ON LAT)
  • K.B. (16-002633) v. Wawanesa (2018) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2018 CanLII 13182 (ON LAT)
  • A.R. (17-000149) v. Wawanesa (2018) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2018 CanLII 2308 (ON LAT)
  • H.N. (17-001083) v. Wawanesa (2017) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2017 CanLII 87545 (ON LAT)
  • A.N. (16-001539) v. Wawanesa (2017) Licence Appeal Tribunal, 2017 CanLII 82039 (ON LAT)
  • Rajaste v. Wawanesa (2017), FSCO Arbitration, FSCO 5279
  • Peel v. Wawanesa (2017), FSCO Arbitration, FSCO 5212
  • Mostarac v. Doe et al, 2014 ONSC 6622 (CanLII)
  • LaFayette v. Occhipinti, 2014 ONSC 5503 (CanLII)
  • Economical v. ACE INA (2014), Private Arbitration (Priority Dispute)
  • Gaudreau v. Scotiabank (2014), Small Claims Court (Trial, unreported)
  • Decision No. 1219/13 (2013), Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (co-counsel)
  • Hawkins v. Bank of Nova Scotia et al. (2013) (Summary Judgment Motion, costs, unreported)
  • Orsini v. Lombard (2010), Superior Court (Summary Judgment Motion, unreported)
  • Waxer v. State Farm (2009) Small Claims Court (Trial, unrepored)
Professional Achievements and Leadership
  • Founding Partner, Strigberger Brown Armstrong LLP, 2018
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Personal Injury Litigation, 2021-Present
Thought Leadership

Recent Publications

  • C’mon Join the Joyride – Rankin v. J.J. (SCC) – Blog Article May 2018
  • Evidentiary Dots fail to Connect – A.R. v. Wawanesa (LAT) – Blog Article February 2018

Recent Presentations

  • Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) Advocacy, The Advocates Society, panel member, April 2019
  • Priority / Loss Transfer, presentation to client, January 2019
  • Occupiers’ Liability Under Residential Policies, presentation to Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, November 2018
  • Catastrophic Impairment Definition and Tests, presentation to client, November 2018
  • Investigative Tips and Tools on Fraud Claims, presentation to client, June 2018
  • Investigating Fraud Claims, presentation to client, June 2018
  • WSIB & the SABS, presentation to client, May 2018
Professional Memberships
  • Member, A Call to Action Canada-Diversity in the Legal Profession
  • The Advocates Society
  • Canadian Defence Lawyers
  • Canadian Association of Special Investigation Units (CASIU)
Bar Admissions & Education
  • Ontario Bar, 2009
  • JD, Queens University, 2008