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Big Names. Impressive Advocacy. Personal injury lawyer, Derek Nicholson, heads up new Nicholson Gluckstein location in Ottawa to ensure best advocacy for injured victims and their families across Ontario. Often, Derek Nicholson meets people on the worst day of their life. An unimaginable tragedy has struck and left that person, or their loved one, with injuries so profound their world has been changed forever. "It's especially difficult when it's the parents I see when I first get to the hospital," says the Ottawa-based, veteran civil trial lawyer who is renowned for his agility in the courtroom and large settlement outcomes. "Their child may be lying there in a coma, they them- selves don't know what to do, and they look at you for help. You're right in the thick of humanity … you have to have the heart for it." Nicholson recently joined To- ronto-headquartered Gluckstein Lawyers to head up Nicholson Gluckstein, the firm's new location in the nation's capital. The union not only marks the uniting of two big names in personal injury law, but also expands Gluckstein's physical presence in Ontario. The firm, which was founded in 1962 by Bernard Gluckstein, now covers a vast region from Niagara to Toronto to Ottawa. Charles Gluckstein, the innova- tor behind the recent and im- pressive expansion of the firm, has positioned Gluckstein to provide top quality representa- tion to injured people across the province, and beyond. "With Derek, we gain decades of experience in serious, complex litigation and because he is so well known in the Ottawa region and knows it inside and out, we're enjoying a smooth transition," he says. "Through our new office, we continue to provide the best in advocacy in all personal injury matters across Ontario … with a focus on medical malpractice and catastrophic injury." Earlier this year, the firm's Med- ical Malpractice Group received a big boost when it added Richard Halpern, a leading medical mal- practice lawyer with a special interest in birth injury, to the roster. The move positioned Gluckstein as a leading birth injury firm in Canada. "Now, we think we're in a position to take a leadership role in med- ical malpractice in Ottawa" says Gluckstein, "Our Toronto group will be working closely with Derek and his team to service medical malpractice and catastrophic injury clients throughout the east- ern Ontario region." Med mal, Gluckstein warns, is a daunting, costly and time-consum- ing area of law in which the stakes are high and so is the risk. While the firm appreciates and respects referrals, it is willing to share its knowledge and expertise. "We're willing and able to take on the financial risk, and happy to mentor and to teach. For those who want to work on the case and gain valuable experience, we can bring you in as co-counsel."