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Marc D. Isaacs

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Partner

marc@iolaw.ca
416.271.7133


Practice Areas

  • Maritime and Admiralty Law
  • Transportation
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Insurance Defence
  • Civil and Commercial Litigation
  • Professional Liability
  • Subrogation


Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 1996

 

Education

  • LL.B (Osgoode Hall), 1994
  • LL.M. in Admiralty, with Distinction (Tulane University), 2002

 

Marc Isaacs is one of Canada’s leading Admiralty, Maritime, Transportation and Insurance lawyers.  Over the last 24 years, Marc has had a varied litigation practice, with a special emphasis on insurance and transportation related cases.

Following his law school graduation and several years in practice, in 2001 Marc was awarded the Stiles Graduate Fellowship from the Admiralty Law Institute at Tulane University School of Law to pursue graduate studies in Maritime Law.  In 2002 Marc received his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Admiralty (with distinction) from Tulane University School of Law and the Edward A. Dodd Jr. Award as the outstanding candidate in the graduate Admiralty Law programme. In addition, Marc was a member of the editorial board for the Tulane Maritime Law Journal.

Marc returned to Toronto and joined the predecessor to Isaacs Odinocki LLP in 2003, and became a partner in 2006. Marc primarily practices Maritime, Transportation and Insurance Law, although he frequently handles other civil and commercial litigation matters. Often, Marc receives referrals from other lawyers to assist in handling transportation and insurance related cases and appeals.

Marc has been involved in a number of precedent setting maritime law cases including cases defining the scope of Canada’s Admiralty jurisdiction, the effect of forum selection clauses in bills of lading under Canada’s Marine Liability Act, the interpretation of “freight pre-paid” on shipping documents, maritime liens and limitation of liability.  Marc has responded to client’s legal emergencies for the arrest or release of ships, the freeing of detained cargo and similar injunctions. Outside the courtroom, Marc’s experience includes being involved in the immediate on-scene response to ship casualties including crew injuries, oil spills, dock strikings and ship-board fires.

In addition to his maritime practice, Marc has an extensive background in all types of insurance related cases from complex product liability matters to professional errors and omissions claims to personal injury incidents. Marc has been retained to handle a number of complex insurance coverage disputes and has had a number of precedent setting cases.  Marc has conducted several trials and appeals and appears in the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal regularly.

Since 2009, Marc has been included in the peer reviewed publication Best Lawyers in Canada for maritime law.  In addition, Marc has been named in the International Who’s Who of Maritime and Shipping Lawyers, and Canadian Lawyer Magazine has named Isaacs & Co. one of Canada’s top Maritime law boutique firms. Some of the other awards Marc and his firm have received include:

  • Ranked in Chambers Global (Band 1) for Shipping Law
  • Ranked in Lexpert (Most Frequently Recommended) for Shipping and Maritime Law
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Maritime Law, since 2009, Lawyer of the year 2015
  • The International Who’s Who of Shipping and Maritime Lawyers
  • Who’s Who Legal: Canada; Shipping & Maritime Law
  • Canadian Lawyer Magazine, Canada’s Leading Law Firm Boutiques: Admiralty & Transportation Law,

 

In 2017 Marc became the President of the Canadian Maritime Law Association.  Marc is also a Past President of the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association and a Past President of the Marine Club.  In addition Marc is an active speaker and participant in the Canadian Board of Marine Underwriters and a member of the Advocates’ Society. Marc is also an Adjunct Professor of Admiralty Law at the University of Toronto Law School.

Outside of his legal practice Marc is an avid Advanced SCUBA diver, having dived throughout the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii and Micronesia.  True to form, Marc’s favourite dives are on sunken wrecks.  Marc lives in Toronto with his wife, Elizabeth.

Publications

Law Journals:

  • M.D. Isaacs, A Critical Defect in the Shipowner’s Limitation of Liability Act: The Exclusion of the Master and Crew, (2003) 27 T.M.L.J. 335.

 

Professional Conferences, Presentations and related publications:

  • M.D. Isaacs, “Navigating the Waters of Workplace Insurance Claims and Marine Employer Liability”, Presentation to the Canadian Passenger Vessel Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia, November 2015.
  • M.D. Isaacs, et.al. “Insurance Exposures in the Sharing Economy”, panel presentation for the Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association, November 2015.
  • M.D. Isaacs, “Motor Carrier Contract Essentials: Managing Cargo Risks”, Presentation to trucking insurance and brokers seminar, Hamilton, Ontario, September 2015.
  • M.D. Isaacs, “Shippers Liability for Vessel Damage”, Transportation Lawyers Association Annual Conference and Seminar, St. Petersburg, Florida, April 2014.
  • M.D. Isaacs & A. Odinocki, “Uncovering Coverage: A Roadmap to Effectively Addressing Coverage Issues”, Presented to large national insurance company (client) claims department, April 2012.
  • M.D. Isaacs, “Arrest and Sale of Maritime Property: The Mechanics and the Emergencies Part II – Sale<”, Presented at the National Judicial Institute, April 2011.
  • M.D. Isaacs & A. Odinocki, “The Meaning of “Freight Pre-Paid” in International Shipping Contracts”, The Transportation Lawyer, December 2010, Vol.12, No.3.
  • M.D Isaacs & B. Huen, “Incoterms 2010”, CBMU Annual Conference, December 2010.
  • M.D. Isaacs, “Legal Issues of Polar Shipping”, ACI Polar Shipping Summit, May 2010.
  • M.D. Isaacs, “Recent Developments in Canadian Maritime Law”, Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association, Annual Conference, October 2009.
  • M.D. Isaacs, “Damages, Interest and Costs in Canada”, paper presented at the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, September 2006 & published (partially) as “Personal Injury Claims and Cargo Damage Claims in Canada”, The Transportation Lawyer, Vol.8. No. 3, December 2006.
  • Giroux, M.D. Isaacs, R.Cox, “Practical Insights and Trends in Marine Subrogation”, Canadian Board of Marine Underwriters, Semi-Annual Conference, April 2004.
  • M.D. Isaacs, J.R. Pollack, “S.A.B.S: Caging the Paper Tiger”, ILCO Conference, 2001.
  • Pillegi, M.D. Isaacs, J.R. Pollack, “Catastrophic Injuries”, ILCO Conference, 2001.
  • M.D. Isaacs et al, “Proceed with Caution: Personal Injury Litigation”, Chair of the program and Speaker on Motor Vehicle Accident compensation, CBAO Seminar, June, 2000.
  • Rebelo, M.D. Isaacs et al, “MVA: Beyond the Mechanics – Strategies and Tactics of the Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s Case”, ILCO Conference, May 2000.
  • M.D. Isaacs, “OHIP’s Right of Subrogation: One Claim Avoids Another”, Canadian Bar Association of Ontario Young Lawyers Division Newsletter, Vol 7 No.1, January 2000.
  • Law Society of Upper Canada Paralegal Task Force, invited to speak as an Expert Witness on the subject of Statutory Accident Benefits, January 2000.
  • M.D. Isaacs & S.C. Tessis, Mastering Discovery in Personal Injury Cases: Examining the Tavern or Bar, Law Society of Upper Canada Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, April 1999.
  • M.D. Isaacs et al, “Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation in Ontario”, Presented to the Ministry of Attorney General, Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, Toronto, Ontario, December 1998, March, April and May 2000.
  • M.D. Isaacs & S.C. Tessis, The Legal Issues and Recent Changes Affecting the Trucking Industry in Ontario, Presented at the Sixth Annual Conference of the Trucking Industry Defense Association, Memphis, Tenn., October 1998.
  • M.D. Isaacs et al, “The Deductibility of Collateral Benefits under OMPP”, Memorandum to Insurance Clients, April 1998.
  • M.D. Isaacs & S.C. Tessis, “The Arbitration Hearing: Representing the Insurance Company”, presented at LSUC seminar, Toronto, Ontario, April 1997.

 

Arie Odinocki
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Managing Partner

arie@iolaw.ca
647.244.6891

Practice Areas

  • Insurance Coverage
  • Insurance Defence
  • Hotel Liability
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Property Loss
  • Product Liability

 

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 2001

 

Education

  • LL.B (Windsor), 1999
  • Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (Windsor), 1999
  • B.A., High Honours (Carleton), 1996

 

Arie is an experienced practitioner in the areas of insurance coverage, insurance defence, hotel liability and product liability law. He regularly acts for property and casualty insurers in Canada and internationally.

Arie leads our coverage group and provides advice in relation to commercial general liability, commercial property, homeowners and auto policies. Arie has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Canada in the field of Insurance Law. He has represented insurers at all levels of Court in Ontario on coverage applications and at trial, has drafted hundreds of coverage opinions and is regularly consulted about coverage issues.

Arie has extensive experience in handling large loss property disputes, including building collapses, arson cases and losses arising from construction defects. He also regularly represents owners of hotel properties and lectures on hospitality law.

Arie also provides advice in on-the-scene accident investigations and provides risk assessment and mitigation advice. He has advised our clients in numerous Transportation Safety Board, Ministry of Labour, police and regulatory investigations.

Arie lives in Toronto with his wife and two daughters.

 

Publications

 

George Nathanael

Associate

george@iolaw.ca
647.985.6974

 

Practice Areas

  • Insurance Defence
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Property Loss
  • Subrogation

 

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 2012

 

Education

  • J.D. (Osgoode Hall Law School), 2011
  • B.M.Sc., Honours (University of Western Ontario), 2007

 

George is interested in all aspects of litigation.  His practice includes insurance defence litigation involving motor vehicle accidents, occupier’s liability and commercial general liability claims.  He also provides coverage advice with respect to automobile and homeowner’s policies and subrogation claims.   He has experience defending third-party bodily injury and first-party accident benefits claims.

George holds a degree in biophysics.  Prior to his life in law, he had worked in positions involving medical imaging research.

George has worked solely for insurers since completing his law degree.  He has conducted numerous examinations for discovery, motions and mediations, and has experience conducting examinations under oath in suspected fraud cases. He has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the Small Claims Court and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

 

Publications

 

Victoria Dale

Associate

victoria@iolaw.ca
647.960.1216

 

Practice Areas

  • Insurance Coverage
  • Insurance Defence
  • Professional Liability
  • Subrogation
  • Commercial General Liability

 

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 2015

 

Education

  • J.D. (Queen’s University), 2014
  • B.A., Honours (Queen’s University), 2011

 

Victoria’s practice includes defending clients in civil litigation matters, including professional liability claims, and providing coverage advice.  She has experience with litigating disputes in the areas of professional negligence, occupiers’ liability, property damage, product liability and moor vehicle accidents.

Victoria’s practice has encompassed may areas of insurance defence and she has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Small Claims Court, Financial Services Commission of Ontario and the License Appeals Tribunal.  She has experience conducting mediations, examinations for discovery, cost assessment hearings, arbitrations and contested motions.

Outside of work, Victoria enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis and volunteering as a Girl Guide leader.

Michelle L. Staples

Associate

michelle@iolaw.ca
416.456.3834

 

Practice Areas

  • Insurance
  • Civil Litigation
  • Transportation
  • Maritime and Admiralty Law

 

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 2019

 

Education

  • J.D. (Osgoode Hall University), 2018
  • B.A., Honours (University of Ottawa), 2012

 

Michelle joined Isaacs Odinocki LLP as an associate in 2019 after articling with its predecessor firm Isaacs & Co. Michelle’s interest is in civil litigation with a focus on insurance and transportation law. She has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal.  Michelle has considerable knowledge using eDiscovery platforms and is an experienced user of Relativity.

Michelle has a degree in Geomatics and Spatial Analysis and had a career as a Geomatics Analyst prior to law school.

While in law school, Michelle participated in the Anti-Discrimination Intensive Program and was an active member in various associations and mentorship programs. Michelle lives in Toronto and continues to mentor law students.

Outside of the office, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling, and following Formula1 racing.

Erik Shum

Associate

erik@iolaw.ca
647.985.6943

 

Practice Areas

  • Insurance
  • Civil Litigation
  • Transportation
  • Commercial General Liability

 

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 2019

 

Education

  • J.D. (University of Ottawa), 2018
  • B.Sc., Honours (University of Toronto), 2005

 

Erik joined Isaacs Odinocki LLP in 2021.  Erik’s practice includes the defence of a broad range of claims, including commercial general liability, property and casualty claims, product liability and transportation matters.  He also provides advice with respect to insurance coverage matters.  He has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Human Rights Tribunal on motions and applications.

Prior to embarking on a career in law, Erik had a career as an insurance broker for a national insurer.

Outside of the office, Erik spends his time following (and occasionally playing) basketball, going to the gym and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Mariya Zekel

Associate

mariya@iolaw.ca
437.234.6415

 

Practice Areas

  • Insurance
  • Civil Litigation
  • Transportation

 

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 2020

 

Education

  • J.D. (University of Toronto), 2019
  • B.A. Honours (Queen’s University), 2015

 

Mariya joined Isaacs Odinocki as an associate in 2022.  Mariya’s practice focuses on insurance coverage advice and related litigation.  She is also involved in civil litigation matters arising in commercial liability and transportation context.   She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice the Tax Court of Canada and various municipal boards.

Mariya obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto in 2019 and a degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University in 2015. Before law school, she was a competitive ballroom dancer and rhythmic gymnast.

In her spare time, Mariya enjoys cooking new dishes, travelling, and tending to her houseplant collection.

Aleksandar Polic

Associate

aleks@iolaw.ca
437.214.8934

 

Practice Areas

  • Insurance Defence
  • Civil Litigation


Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 2021


Education

  • J.D. (Lakehead University), 2020
  • Honours Arts & Business (University of Waterloo), 2015

 

Aleksandar joined Isaacs Odinocki as an associate in 2023. Aleksandar’s practice focuses on insurance coverage and related litigation. He also has a background in insurance defence, and related litigation, including areas of casualty insurance claims, product liability, municipal liability, professional errors and omissions liability, property, subrogation, occupier’s liability and bodily injury. He has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Aleksandar obtained his Juris Doctor from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay in 2020, and a degree in Honours Arts & Business from the University of Waterloo with a major in Legal Studies. Prior to law school, Aleksandar was a mediator with a non-profit social services organization.

For leisure, Aleksandar enjoys rock climbing, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.