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Big Names. Extraordinary Times. Personal injury lawyer, Steve Rastin, heads up new Rastin Gluckstein location in Barrie to ensure best advocacy for injured victims and their families across Ontario. Steve Rastin understands that no amount of money will ever give his clients their lives back. This knowledge only makes him work harder when he's advocating for catastrophically injured people and their families. By settling for nothing less than the best, the Bar- rie-based personal injury lawyer has earned himself a reputation as a small-town advocate with big-time wins. These days, however, he has to fight even more aggressively on his client's behalf. "The pandemic has made a bad situation worse," he says. "Folks are grappling with devastating physical and emotional challeng- es. Now, they also have to deal with court delays due to shut- downs and very limited access to doctors, physiotherapists and other experts. Add to that, the agony of loneliness brought on by restrictions, especially for those in long-term care." Recently, Rastin joined Gluckstein Lawyers to helm the firm's new Barrie location. The union marks the coming together of big names in personal injury law and medical malpractice, and expands Gluck- stein's physical presence across the province. Founded in 1962 by Bernard Gluckstein, the firm now covers a vast region that includes Toronto, Niagara, Ottawa and Barrie. To Charles Gluckstein, the inno- vator behind 2020's impressive expansion, the addition of Rastin extends the firm's unparalleled representation to injured people living not only in, but outside of, major urban centres. "With Steve at the helm of our Barrie location, folks living in the area can rely on local represen- tation from a highly reputable and respected advocate who understands the community and is familiar with the courts," says Gluckstein. "This translates into a real hometown advantage." Rastin is thrilled the union allows him to continue contributing to his community. "Part of small-town living is com- munity involvement. Among the initiatives closest to my heart is an annual program we do that puts 500-plus helmets on the heads of local school kids. It's an amazing thing to know you're helping out the people of the county." Feel-good work, he continues, can help to offset the complex and difficult aspects of personal injury law wherein lawyers must be prepared to take on multi-bil- lion-dollar insurance companies with unlimited resources, sway skeptical juries, and work around a system many argue does not work to the victims' advantage. "Sometimes, you have to have the courage to tell people that it's not in their best interest to go forward. If it is, and you do open the case, you have to get the right experts, the right witnesses, and the right evidence. Most importantly, the in- surance companies have to know you'll go to trial." While Gluckstein Lawyers appre- ciates and respects referrals, it is willing to share its knowledge and expertise with other lawyers. The firm is able to take on financial risk, to mentor and to teach. In many cases, the team is happy to bring in lawyers as co-counsel.