Meet Sandev S. Purewal

Sandev is a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer whose practice focuses on tort and insurance litigation, privacy law, education law, and class actions. He has over 23 years of legal experience and is a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Ontario. He has experience in a wide range of civil and commercial litigation matters and is a skilled and effective advocate with a client-centred approach to resolving issues. He has appeared as counsel before the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, Financial Services Commission of Ontario, License Appeal Tribunal, and the Tax Court of Canada. His education law practice focuses on civil litigation, litigation risk management, school board liability, and privacy law.  Sandev has also been an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) since 1996.

Sandev has completed The Osgoode Certificate in Privacy & Cybersecurity Law, and has obtained a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Director’s College (McMaster University – Degroote School of Business).  Sandev also earned a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the University of Toronto.

Sandev is the President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association for the 2024/25 term and a Director since 2015.  He is recognized as an outstanding litigation lawyer and was awarded a Lexpert Zenith Award for Mid-Career Excellence in the Legal Profession in 2018.  He was also honoured to receive the FACL Lawyer of Distinction Award from the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers in 2022.  Sandev also leads the “Helmets on Kids” community project in the Peel Region, which provides free bicycle helmets to children in need, along with safety education.

Outside of his legal career, Sandev is a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon-Do and former soccer player, captain and coach, who has transferred leadership skills honed as a former athlete to his work as an advocate.

• Privacy Law in Canada (LL.M. course), Osgoode Hall Law School (2023)
• Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Director’s College /McMaster University – Degroote School of Business (2023)
• The Osgoode Certificate in Privacy & Cybersecurity Law, Osgoode Hall Law School (2022)
• Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation (C.S.), Law Society of Ontario (2017)
• Admitted to Ontario Bar (2001)
• Juris Doctor, Osgoode Hall Law School (1999)
• Certificate in Dispute Resolution, University of Toronto (1998)
• Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) / Ontario Teacher’s Certificate, Ontario College of Teachers (1996)
• Bachelor of Education, Concurrent Program, York University (1996)
• Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), Dean’s Honour List, York University (1996)

• Partner – Lerners LLP (2022-Present)
• Senior Litigation Lawyer – Gluckstein Lawyers (2010-2022)
• Litigation Lawyer – Pace Law Firm (2007-2010)
• Litigation Lawyer – Greg Monforton & Partners (2002-2007)
• Law Teacher – Peel District School Board (2002)
• Litigation Lawyer – Poss & Halfnight (2001)
• Articling Student – Thomson Rogers (1999-2000)

• International Association of Privacy of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
• Ontario Bar Association (OBA) - Privacy and Access to Information Law section
• Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
• The Advocates' Society (TAS)
• Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA)
• South Asian Bar Association (SABA Toronto)
• Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL Ontario)
• Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA)

• President (2024/25*) and Director (2015-2025*), Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
• Chair, Peel Helmets on Kids (2007-date)
• Past President (2010-2013) and Director (2007-2010), Brain Injury Association of Peel & Halton
• Mentor, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL Ontario), Mentorship Program (2021-date)
• Mentor, South Asian Bar Association (SABA Toronto), Mentorship Program (2021-date)

• FACL Lawyer of Distinction Award, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL Ontario) (2022)
• Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada (2022)
• LEXPERT Zenith Award for Mid-Career Excellence in the Legal Profession (2018)
• Commendation from the Chief of the Peel Regional Police and awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and Challenge Coin (2017)
• Award of Excellence, Peel District School Board (2017)
• Leadership Development & School Support Services Award of Distinction, Peel District School Board (2017)
• Certificate of Appreciation, Brain Injury Association of Peel & Halton (2013)

• Speaker/Panelist, “Vantage Points: An Evolving Profession”, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association 2023 Spring Conference, Toronto (May 12, 2023)
• Conference Co-Chair: Ontario Trial Lawyers Association 2022 Spring Conference: Better Than Ever: Inspired Legal Strategies for Our New Normal, Toronto, (May 13, 2022)
• Panelist: “Consideration for Examination: Effectively Preparing clients from Diverse Backgrounds to Give Evidence”, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association 2021 Fall Conference (October 22, 2021)
• Webinar Chair: “COVID-19 Vaccination Workplace Policies for Law Firms”, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (October 7, 2021)
• Paper Presented: “Tort Law Update 2020”, The Advocates Society, Tricks of the Trade, (January 29, 2021)
• Conference Co-Chair: OTLA Long Term Disability Conference (Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Toronto), September 19, 2019