To compare cerebral palsy lawyers serving Markham, this evidence-based 2026 list uses published results, considers each practice's focus and draws on client reviews.
Our featured firm in Markham is Diamond & Diamond Lawyers LLP, where Jeremy Syrtash leads the medical malpractice group. With a published $14 million birth-injury result and cerebral palsy work, Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers stands out among the firms we reviewed. Before calling, ask who would take on your child's file and who pays the costs. Once you've checked where you'll meet, ask about the Ontario limitation rules.
Jeremy Syrtash leads the medical malpractice litigation practice at Diamond & Diamond Lawyers LLP. He earned a BA from Yeshiva University (2010) and a JD from the University of Ottawa (2013), was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2014, and has acted as counsel and co-counsel in medical malpractice cases across Canada, many involving pediatric and obstetrical negligence.
Called to the Bar of Ontario, 2014 · JD, University of Ottawa · Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada, Health Care Law (2024 to 2027)
Best for: Families seeking published birth-injury results
The clearest reason for Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers' rank is its published $14 million birth-injury result. Besides listing cerebral palsy and HIE, the firm's site reports several medical-negligence results that involved brain injury. Google lists 593 reviews.
Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and the recognition it has earned.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
Paul Cahill's published $11.5 million jury verdict for a child born with cerebral palsy gives families a directly relevant result to discuss. His practice centres on medical negligence, with birth injury and hospital negligence among the areas listed. Reviews often describe clear explanations and availability; one reports poor communication.
Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and how much of its work is medical malpractice.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
Not sure who to call first?
Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Markham can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.
Best for: Families valuing established litigation history
Established in 1935, Thomson Rogers LLP continues today. A more recent court result appears on its site: medical malpractice success upheld in Denman v. Radovanovic, 2024 ONCA 276. Alongside its listed cerebral palsy and birth injury work, the firm handles family law and other kinds of civil matters.
Stood out in our review for its years of experience and what its clients say.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
With reported recoveries of $9.5 million and $9.2 million, Harte Law publishes cases where delayed deliveries were followed by brain injury and cerebral palsy. When you ask about labour records or fetal monitoring, those cases give you something concrete to discuss. Instead of handling a broader mix of accident claims, the practice devotes its work to medical malpractice.
Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice and the results it publishes.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
When you speak to the lawyer, explain what happened and when you learned of the possible injury. To check the deadline, they'll consider Ontario's discovery-based 2-year period and the rules for children who have no litigation guardian. Before waiting for more records, ask when you need to act.
Records and medical assessment
Before gathering records, ask which ones the lawyer needs and how they'll arrange medical opinions. Under Ontario's court rules, expert reports must address the standard of care (what care was expected), along with causation: whether that care caused or contributed to injury.
Starting the claim
To move ahead with the claim, the lawyer prepares a statement of claim. Filing it starts the lawsuit. Although Ontario doesn't require an affidavit or certificate of merit at the outset, you'll still need expert reports under the court's rules.
Developing the case
To support the claim, the lawyer gathers evidence about the care and claimed losses. How would they assess future care needs? While Ontario has no statutory cap on economic losses such as future care, non-pecuniary damages are limited by a judge-made national cap.
Resolution or trial
If the claim doesn't settle, it may reach trial. Alongside Harte Law's published cerebral palsy settlements, you'll find Paul Cahill's published cerebral palsy jury verdict. Before considering a proposed resolution, ask how the lawyer would weigh it against the evidence and your child's needs.
Malpractice claims in Markham: the rules that matter
The filing deadline in Ontario
The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
At the very most15 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
Limits on damages in Ontario
Pain and sufferingCapped at about $484,330
All damages togetherNo overall cap
Expert paperworkNo affidavit or certificate of merit is required to start a claim.
A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
If a claim fails under the contingency arrangements several listed firms offer, the lawyer receives no legal fee; otherwise, they receive a share of the recovery. Expenses aren't included. Besides court fees, you may have to pay for medical records and medical opinions. Before proceeding, ask who advances that money and who must repay it if the claim fails. You won't find those answers in the listed fee information. Before you sign, request a written explanation showing the lawyer's recovery share and how expenses come out of it. Even with a free consultation, later services aren't necessarily free. Because Paul Cahill's consultation and contingency terms aren't stated, ask him directly to confirm what they are.
According to their listings, six of the seven firms offer a free consultation. Contingency work is offered by five.
What to bring to your first call
What happened, written down in a brief account
When treatment happened and when you learned of a possible injury
Records available from pregnancy and from labour and delivery
Your child's diagnosis letters and other medical records
Who provided the health care, listed by name
Care expenses recorded in bills or notes
What the hospital or insurer has sent you in letters
Documents you have about an existing claim or a litigation guardian
Questions to ask a lawyer
1Have you handled claims involving cerebral palsy or delivery?
2Whom would I rely on to manage my child's file?
3What would you need for records and medical opinions?
4When would Ontario's limitation rules require us to act?
5If the consultation is free, what work is included?
6If the claim succeeds or fails, what happens to our payment of legal fees and case expenses?
7How would we receive updates?
8Where would we meet, given that your office is outside Markham?
Choose around your child's records and your family's needs
Before relying on a firm's cerebral palsy page, look at its work. While Harte Law publishes delivery-related cerebral palsy recoveries, Paul Cahill reports a jury verdict involving a child who has cerebral palsy. Use those cases to open a conversation, not to predict a recovery. If your child's records raise a concern such as delayed delivery, ask whether the lawyer has handled that kind of issue.
Where's the office you'll visit? Whether in Toronto, Richmond Hill or elsewhere, every listed office is outside Markham. If travelling is difficult, ask whether discussions can happen remotely and where you'd meet. Don't assume the name you see on the website belongs to whoever will manage your file. Once you have that person's name, ask who'll respond when you're looking for an update.
Before deciding whether the claim can proceed, what would the lawyer need to review? Although Ontario doesn't require a certificate of merit to start a claim, the court's rules require service of expert reports addressing care and causation.
How will you keep in touch? Before you need an update, ask who sends them and how to reach that person, including when they're away. When reviewing some firms here, clients describe delays or follow-ups that didn't happen.
When checking published results, look for cases involving your concerns. Even if a firm reports a brain-injury recovery or has reviews, neither tells you how a cerebral palsy claim will turn out.
If you book a free consultation, you can discuss the file without paying for that first conversation. Before proceeding, ask separately about later work, including what medical opinions will cost. If the claim fails under a contingency arrangement, there's no legal fee; otherwise, the lawyer receives a share of any recovery. When discussing expenses, ask who advances them and whether you could owe that money if the claim recovers nothing.
If someone promises a particular recovery, take that as a warning sign. Be wary of unclear fee terms too, or being pushed to sign before your questions have been answered. Before signing, take time to read the agreement. Because this is general information rather than legal advice, ask an Ontario lawyer how the limitation rules apply to your family.
Questions people ask
Which listed firm has published cerebral palsy results?
For a child born with cerebral palsy, Paul Cahill reports a published jury verdict of $11.5 million. A published $14 million birth-injury result appears on Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers' site. What happened in those cases? Even if another family recovered money, that doesn't establish what your child's claim could achieve.
How long do we have to start a claim in Ontario?
Once discovery occurs, Ontario's basic limitation period runs for 2 years. You must know, or reasonably be expected to know, about the injury and how a health care provider contributed to it, along with whether bringing a lawsuit was appropriate. Under the Limitations Act, 2002, there's also a 15-year ultimate period. If the claim involves a child, that calculation can change. Have an Ontario lawyer check the dates with you.
Does the deadline run while my child is under 18?
Until a person turns 18, Ontario's 2-year period doesn't run if they have no litigation guardian for the claim. If the claim arises while the claimant is a minor without a litigation guardian, the 15-year ultimate period is suspended too, as addressed in Wong v. Lui, 2023 ONCA 272. Don't overlook those conditions. Rather than assuming every child has the same deadline, ask a lawyer what those conditions mean for your child's claim.
Do we need a medical certificate before filing?
To start a claim in Ontario, you don't need an affidavit or certificate of merit. Even so, you must serve expert reports addressing the standard of care and causation, as the court's rules require. To address those questions, the reports explain what care was expected and whether the care caused or contributed to injury. Before proceeding, ask who would pay for the medical opinions and how the lawyer would arrange them.
Can we speak with a lawyer without paying for the first meeting?
Six listed firms say they offer a free consultation; Paul Cahill's consultation terms aren't stated. Confirm the terms when you book. Ask what the conversation covers and whether it includes reviewing any records. A free first discussion is separate from the fee agreement for pursuing a claim, so find out about later charges before authorizing more work.
What does a contingency fee mean for our family?
If your claim fails under a contingency arrangement, the lawyer gets no legal fee; otherwise, they receive a share of the recovery. According to their listings, five firms work this way. Because medical opinions and court fees may have different payment terms, talk separately about those case expenses. If the claim fails, could you still owe expenses, and who pays those costs in the first place? Before signing, read through the terms.
Is there a limit on compensation for future care?
For economic losses such as future care or lost income, Ontario doesn't set a statutory cap. Although those financial losses are separate, non-pecuniary damages fall under a judge-made trilogy cap that applies nationally. Even without a statutory cap, you can't assume you'll recover a particular amount to pay for future care. To understand how your child's needs would be assessed and supported in the claim, speak with an Ontario lawyer.
How long will a cerebral palsy claim take?
We can't give your family a supported timetable for completion. Because claims can take different paths, the listed results include both settlements and a jury verdict. Before proceeding, ask what happens next and how the lawyer plans to arrange medical opinions. Given that some client reviews report delays, also ask how the lawyer will keep you informed as the claim moves forward.
What should we do before choosing a firm?
When did treatment happen, and when did you first learn of a possible injury? Gather whatever records you have already. While gathering the rest, don't delay asking when the limitation period requires you to act. Before confirming who will handle your file, compare the lawyer's published results with the directly relevant work they've done. Because none of the listed offices are in Markham, check where you'd meet.
Can a listed firm discuss a claim if a loved one died?
Among the firms listing wrongful death are Harte Law and Bogoroch & Associates LLP. After a mother's death following emergency care, Paul Cahill also reports a published successful trial verdict. While that gives you a reason to request an initial discussion, it doesn't establish which person can bring a claim for your family. To understand the rights and deadlines that apply, speak with an Ontario lawyer. The children's limitation rules don't necessarily apply to every member of your family.
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Jeremy Syrtash
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