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16 www.canadianlawyermag.com 16 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP PERSONAL INJURY BOUTIQUES 2026 MOST CASES never reach trial, but every case has a turning point. Canada's best personal injury law firms stand apart by not only seeing that point coming, but by seizing the initiative and acting on it. That reality sets the bar. Canadian Lawyer's Top Personal Injury Law Firms 2026 reflect that standard and, as a collec- tive, they build their cases early and drive them to resolution. Trial remains the exception in personal injury litigation. Ontario Superior Court figures and Statistics Canada civil courts data place rates at about: • 7.5 percent for non-motor-vehicle matters • 10.2 percent when motor-vehicle claims are included • a broader national range of approxi- mately one in 20 to one in 10 cases proceeding that far CL's readers ranked the countr y 's leading personal injur y firms from a preliminary list, generating 1,753 votes across 57 nominated firms, with the option to nominate additional practices. Rankings were calc ulated using a points-based system weighted by position, with firms grouped by region, including the Top 10 in Ontario and the Top 5 in both Western and Atlantic Canada. The data was combined with Lexpert p e e r i n p u t , s e n i o r b a r f e e d b a c k , and regional diversity considerations. PREPARED AND TRIAL-READY What has changed in personal injury practice Personal injury litigation is being reshaped by changes in lawyer workflows, prolonged timelines, and client expectations. Across CL's best personal injury law firms in Canada, four themes stand out: • in-person interaction has declined • structural and legislative factors are shifting leverage toward insurers • delays and benefit disputes are driving more aggressive litigation • clients are arriving better informed and expecting a more active role in their cases Less human interaction is changing how cases are managed Remote work and virtual communica- tion have become the norm, changing how lawyers interact with clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel. What was once built through in-person meetings is now handled largely online. Data from provincial law societies and court administration updates show that virtual proceedings remain widely used across civil litigation, particularly for case conferences, motions, and mediations, reinforcing a shift that began during the pandemic and has not reversed. "We're now settling cases where I've never been in the same room as the client … some- thing is lost. I value a handshake and sitting in the same room for important conversa- tions," says David Levy, managing partner at Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP. He notes the impact extends beyond client relationships to internal collabora- tion and relationships with the defence bar, where fewer in-person meetings have reduced opportunities to build working rapport. In some cases, in-person settlement meetings have become rare. Firms also say virtual platforms have changed access to the process itself. Discov- eries, mediations, and client meetings are now routinely conducted online, making it easier for injured clients to participate, says Stephen Birman, partner at Thomson Rogers LLP. He notes that convenience comes with trade-offs. His firm has responded by giving clients the option to attend virtual "Relationship-building is different when people aren't physically together" David Levy, Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP SPECIAL REPORT