About Rachlin & Wolfson LLP

Rachlin & Wolfson LLP is a Toronto personal injury and insurance litigation firm founded in 1973 by Theodore H. Rachlin, Q.C. and Herbert Wolfson. The firm has practiced from downtown Toronto for more than fifty years, acting for both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving motor vehicle accidents, occupiers' liability, product liability, professional negligence, wrongful death, and insurance coverage disputes. Its lawyers appear before every level of the Ontario courts and before several administrative tribunals.

Theodore Rachlin was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1959, appointed Queen's Counsel in 1975, and served as a founding member and past president of the Advocates' Society from 1981 to 1982. Rachlin was also the first Canadian on the American Association for Justice's board of governors, a role held for fifteen years, and was a Law Society certified specialist in civil litigation from 1988. Managing partner Alan Rachlin, Theodore's son, was admitted to the bar in 1987 and holds the same certification today.

The firm describes itself as deliberately small, saying it avoids taking on more work than it can handle properly, and that it relies mainly on referrals from former clients and other lawyers rather than advertising. Several of its current partners, including Joseph Grossman and David O'Brien, articled at the firm before becoming associates and then partners there.

Practice areas

Personal Injury Insurance Law Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Construction Law

Milestones & recognition

  • Founded in 1973 by Theodore H. Rachlin, Q.C. (1933 to 2019) and Herbert Wolfson (1932 to 2018).
  • Theodore Rachlin was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1975 and became a founding member and past president of the Advocates' Society, serving from 1981 to 1982.
  • Theodore Rachlin was the first Canadian to serve on the board of governors of the American Association for Justice, a position held for fifteen years, and was a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers.
  • Managing partner Alan Rachlin has been recognized in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory for Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation since 2013.
  • Martindale-Hubbell has given the firm its highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.

In the community

  • The University of Toronto Faculty of Law established the Theodore "Ted" Rachlin Fellowships, a two million dollar fund built from gifts by the Rachlin family and the Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman Foundation, matched by the university, supporting JD students who design their own summer fellowships in tort law and access to justice.

Good to know

A person using a wheelchairWheelchair accessibleA calendar with a checkmark beside a clockBy appointment

Lawyers 9

Alan L. Rachlin Managing Partner Personal InjuryInsurance Law David P. O'Brien Partner Personal InjuryInsurance Law Jame Pedro Partner Personal InjuryCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Jeffrey Small Partner Insurance LawConstruction Law Joseph M. Grossman Partner Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionInsurance Law Jozsef Horvath Associate Laleh Hedayati Associate Personal InjuryInsurance Law Lori Visconti Senior Litigator Personal InjuryCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Michael Hoffman Associate

This firm’s lawyers at a glance

Called to the bar
1987–2021 · median 24 years in practice 8 of 9 lawyers
Law schools
Osgoode Hall Law School (4), Osgoode Hall, University of Leicester, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Windsor 9 of 9 lawyers
Languages on the roster
Portuguese

Who handles what

The neighbourhood

Rachlin & Wolfson's office is Suite 1500 of 390 Bay Street, a 33 storey tower at Bay and Richmond in Toronto's Financial District. The building connects directly into the PATH, the city's underground pedestrian network, and sits about a five minute walk from Toronto City Hall. It's a dense, transit served block, close to Queen subway station and the 501 and 504 streetcar lines, so clients coming from across the city have several ways to reach the office without a car.

Frequently asked questions

I was hurt in a car accident in Toronto. Can Rachlin & Wolfson help?
Yes. Motor vehicle accident claims are one of the firm's core areas, and it has represented injured people in this kind of case since it was founded in 1973.
Does Rachlin & Wolfson only represent injured people, or does it also act for insurers?
Both. The firm takes on plaintiff and defence work, representing injured claimants in some matters and insurers or defendants in others.
I slipped and fell at a store or on someone else's property. Does the firm handle that?
Occupiers' liability, including slip and fall claims, is one of the firm's listed practice areas.
Does Rachlin & Wolfson handle construction disputes or professional negligence claims?
Yes, construction litigation and professional negligence are both among the matters the firm practices.
Is anyone at the firm able to help a client who speaks Portuguese?
Partner Jame Pedro is fluent in Portuguese, according to the firm's team page.
How long has Rachlin & Wolfson been practicing, and does it train its own lawyers?
The firm was founded in 1973 and says most of the lawyers currently at the firm articled there before becoming associates and, in several cases, partners.

Where to find them

390 Bay Street, Suite 1500 Toronto, ON M5H 2Y2 · 416-367-0202

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Listing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗