Rebecca Shoom

Rebecca Shoom is a partner in Lerners’ Toronto office, and Deputy Practice Group Leader of the Dispute Resolution and Advocacy practice group. Her practice focuses on dispute resolution in a wide range of areas, including commercial litigation and arbitration, appeals, defamation, securities law, employment law, public and administrative law, class actions, and professional regulation. She has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as numerous administrative tribunals and arbitral panels. Rebecca also advises companies and professional associations on governance and other business matters.

“I’m a lawyer who looks at the big picture,” says Rebecca. “I connect with my clients and understand their needs, both within and outside of a potential dispute. That helps me identify solutions others might not see. Then I fight as hard as I can to get it for them.”

Rebecca advises mid- to large-size companies on sophisticated legal issues. “My role is to help them navigate complex legal processes, explaining every step and option to them. I've always been very good at conceptualizing complex principles and breaking them down into understandable pieces. I'm not the one making the final decision, so it's important to me that the client makes an informed choice,” she says. “It is absolutely imperative to me that I never misrepresent things and that everything I say is supported and accurate.”

Also offering dispute resolution services in commercial arbitrations, Rebecca holds a Qualified Arbitrator (Q.Arb) designation from the ADR Institute of Canada and has been appointed as sole arbitrator in domestic and international commercial disputes, in both ad hoc and institutionally administered processes. She also has extensive experience as arbitration counsel. She completed the Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society’s Gold Standard Course in Commercial Arbitration and writes and speaks regularly on arbitration-related topics.

Being very active in the legal community adds value to Rebecca’s practice. “I draw on and bounce ideas off an extensive network. I'm very involved in The Advocates’ Society and the Women's Law Association of Ontario, and regularly attend events hosted by a variety of professional organizations relevant to my practice areas”.

“Junior associates or law students often reach out to me for insight into the profession or my practice area. I've never said ‘no’ to that. I want to give them an entry point into the legal world. In the legal industry, there's a big ‘pass it on’ mentality. We've all benefited from mentorship at some point.”