Benson Percival Brown LLP
19 lawyers · Established 1956 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 306 handling Personal Injury.
About Benson Percival Brown LLP
Benson Percival Brown LLP is a Toronto litigation firm that has practised since 1956, when it was founded by Philip Benson and Roy McMurtry. McMurtry later left private practice for public life, serving as Ontario's Attorney General from 1975 to 1985 and as Chief Justice of Ontario from 1996 to 2007. Today the firm works from an office on Yonge Street in midtown Toronto with 18 lawyers, and it concentrates on insurance litigation, personal injury defence, professional liability and regulatory matters, and subrogation and loss transfer claims. It acts mainly for insurers and other institutional clients across Ontario, including in construction and commercial disputes.
For 2025-26, Canadian Lawyer named the firm a Top Insurance Defence Boutique, its thirteenth consecutive year receiving that recognition. The firm's list of alumni includes two Ontario attorneys general, a chief justice of Ontario, three Ontario Superior Court justices, two Ontario Court justices, and three masters. It also runs an articling program that hires two students a year, and every current partner started there as an articling student.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Founded in 1956 by Philip Benson and Roy McMurtry, making it one of Toronto's longer-established insurance defence litigation firms.
- Roy McMurtry went on to serve as Ontario's Attorney General from 1975 to 1985 and as Chief Justice of Ontario from 1996 to 2007.
- Canadian Lawyer named the firm a Top Insurance Defence Boutique for 2025-26, its thirteenth consecutive year with that recognition.
- The firm's alumni also include a second Ontario attorney general, three Ontario Superior Court justices, two Ontario Court justices, and three masters.
- A lawyer at the firm holds the King's Counsel designation, conferred in 2023.
- Lawyers at the firm have argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, including in Rankin's Garage & Sales v. J.J. (2018 SCC 19), on occupiers' liability and duty of care in tort law.
In the community
- A partner at the firm chaired the Insurance Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association in 2022.
- A lawyer at the firm has served three times on the selection committee for the David W. Mundell Medal, an Ontario award for distinguished legal writing.
- A lawyer at the firm represents healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, in proceedings before their regulatory colleges.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleLawyers 19
Alanna Marchese
Associate
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
Alycia Young
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
Christian P. Caffarena
Partner
Cory Young
Partner
Insurance LawPersonal Injury
Darren M. Delaney
Partner
Insurance LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
David A. Patton
Partner
Insurance LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
David S. Young, K.C.
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionPersonal Injury
Eli Lipetz
Partner
Construction LawPersonal Injury
Emma Najgoldberg
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
Evan Kopiak
Partner
Personal InjuryConstruction Law
Harvey Klein
Senior Partner
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
Heather J. Vaughan
Partner
Administrative & Regulatory LawInsurance Law
Isabella Finkel
Jiku Elamathail
Partner
Insurance LawConstruction Law
Kevin R. Bridel
Partner
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionPersonal Injury
Michelle Vinitsky
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
Naren Somayaji
Vanessa Corridore
Associate
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
Yasamin Pouragheli
Personal InjuryInsurance Law
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1978–1992 · median 41 years in practice 2 of 19 lawyers
- Law schools
- University of Windsor (8), Osgoode Hall Law School (4), Queen's University (3), Western University (2), Lakehead University, University of Saskatchewan 19 of 19 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm's office is on Yonge Street in Toronto's Mount Pleasant West neighbourhood, about a two minute walk from Davisville subway station on the Yonge line. That gives a litigation practice like this one a direct subway route into the downtown court district without needing a downtown address. The surrounding stretch of Yonge is a working mix of small businesses, medical and dental offices, and mid-rise residential buildings rather than a legal or financial district, which fits a firm built mainly around insurer and institutional clients rather than local walk-in traffic.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of legal work does Benson Percival Brown LLP do?
- The firm is an insurance defence litigation practice. It handles insurance litigation, personal injury defence, professional liability and regulatory matters, subrogation and loss transfer claims, and construction and commercial disputes.
- Does the firm represent injured people or insurance companies?
- The firm acts mainly for insurers and other institutional clients as defendants, including in motor vehicle accident and other personal injury litigation. It isn't a plaintiff-side personal injury firm.
- Can Benson Percival Brown LLP defend a professional facing a regulatory complaint?
- Yes. Lawyers at the firm handle professional liability and regulatory matters, including representing healthcare professionals such as pharmacists in proceedings before their regulatory colleges.
- How long has Benson Percival Brown LLP been practising in Toronto?
- Since 1956, when it was founded by Philip Benson and Roy McMurtry. Canadian Lawyer has named it a Top Insurance Defence Boutique for 2025-26, its thirteenth consecutive year with that recognition.
- Does the firm hire articling students?
- Yes, the firm hires two articling students a year, and every current partner started at the firm as an articling student. The application deadline for the current cycle is Friday, October 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
- Where is Benson Percival Brown LLP located and how do I contact the firm?
- The office is at 801-1881 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4S 3C4, near Davisville subway station. The firm can be reached at 416-977-9777 or info@bensonpercival.com.
Where to find them
801-1881 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4S 3C4 · 416-977-9777
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