Jeff Morris

Jeff Morris | Mediator | Lawyer | Artist

Jeff is one of Canada’s leading commercial and business mediators and works primarily out of Toronto. Selecting a Canadian mediator will provide international parties with the added comfort of retaining a truly neutral, unbiased and independent professional.

As an artist, Jeff possesses a unique perspective when it comes to mediating disputes in the art field.  Jeff is currently studying art under Jason Patrick Jenkins. Jason is an Associate Living Master status with the Art Renewal Center. Jason’s work and his method have been detailed extensively in Fine Art Today and International Artist Magazine.  In the Summer and Fall of 2023, Jeff has been accepted to study portraiture at Ateliers, namely  Sarum Studio in Salisbury, UK and the Charles H. Cecil Studio in Florence, Italy.

One of the critical considerations in successfully resolving disputes is the selection of the mediator. Jeff has achieved a high rate of settlement in over 4,000 mediated cases, resolving about 4 out of 5 cases. He has the key qualities required in a mediator, including broad-ranging experience, ability to understand complex issues, persistence, problem-solving ability, trustworthiness, and strong inter-personal skills.

ONLINE MEDIATION EXPERTISE using Zoom, Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams – Jeff has also recently co-authored an in-depth publication for the ADR Institute about online video mediations.

In 2020, Jeff was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (CADN), which is the sister organization to the US based National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

The Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals consists of ADR professionals distinguished by their hands-on experience in the field of civil and commercial conflict resolution. Membership is by invitation only and all Academy members have been thoroughly reviewed and found to meet stringent practice criteria. Members are amongst the most in-demand neutrals in their respective provinces, as nominated by their peers and approved by local litigators.

In 2018, Jeff received his CEDR Accreditation, internationally recognized as the standard of excellence for mediators from the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, London, UK

CADN-ON-JeffMorris
CEDRSM

Over twenty-one years’ experience practicing as a commercial/litigation lawyer and serving as law firm Managing Partner. Legal background includes advising clients on commercial contracts and leases, labour and employment matters, residential and commercial real estate, condominium development, business acquisitions, corporate finance and banking security, collection and insolvency, insurance claims, shareholder agreements and disputes, tax reorganizations, wills and estates.

Acting as a commercial and insurance Mediator in over 4,000 cases, including as a Mediator under the Superior Court Mandatory Mediation Program-Toronto. Formerly served as a mediator for the Small Claims Court. ADR Experience includes mediating employment and wrongful dismissal claims, contract disputes, real estate and conveyancing claims, partnership and shareholder disputes, workplace conflicts, contractual disputes, construction-related claims, residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes, accident claims and insurance claims of all forms.

ADR INSTITUTE OF ONTARIO,
Co-author: “Online Video Mediation” (2020)

STRAUS INSTITUTE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION, Pepperdine University School of Law, Los Angeles, CA.
“Advanced Mediation Certificate” (2019)

CEDR ACCREDITED MEDIATOR, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, International Dispute Resolution Centre, London, UK.
“CEDR Mediator Skills Training” (2018)

STRAUS INSTITUTE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION, Pepperdine University School of Law, Los Angeles, CA.
“Mediator Boot Camp” (2014)

PRESENTER, CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/ADR INSTITUTE OF CANADA, “Marketing your ADR Practice” (2013)

PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR, ADR INSTITUTE OF ONTARIO, “Building a Successful Mediation Practice” (2013)

STRAUS INSTITUTE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION, Pepperdine University School of Law, Los Angeles, CA.
“Mediating in the Red Zone” (2011)

VERMONT LAW SCHOOL, Professional Skills Program, Vermont
“Advanced Mediation: Skills and Techniques” (2010)

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Advanced Mediation Program, Los Angeles, CA.
“Mediating Employment, Personal Injury and Professional Liability Cases” (2009)

PUBLISHED ARTICLE FOR THE ADR INSTITUTE OF ONTARIO
“Mandatory Mediation – Changes and Update 2010”

PUBLISHED MEDIATION ARTICLE FOR CONDOBUSINESS MAGAZINE
“Unit changes and upgrade disputes: why they don’t get resolved“ (December, 2009)

PUBLISHED MEDIATION ARTICLE FOR CONDOBUSINESS MAGAZINE
“Noise, Dogs & Décor: Resolving resident conflicts quickly and efficiently“ ( May, 2008)

PRESENTER, LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA “The Six-Minute Debtor-Creditor Lawyer” conference.
“Creative Strategies for Mediating Collection Cases Under the New Practice Direction” (2005)

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, Boston, MASS.
“Preventing and Resolving Family and Family-Business Disputes” (2004)

ADR INSTITUTE OF ONTARIO. Toronto, ON
Wrongful Dismissal Seminar (2004)

SMALL CLAIMS COURT, Halifax, NS
Mediation mentoring project (2003)

UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR – STITT FELD HANDY, Toronto, ON
Advanced ADR Workshop Certificate (2002)

DALHOUSIE LAW SCHOOL – HENSON COLLEGE, Halifax, NS
Advanced Mediation Training Certificate (2001)

ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY, Halifax, NS
Basic Mediation Certificate (2000)

JEFF MORRIS MEDIATION
Mediation and dispute resolution services for all Superior Court litigation involving commercial, employment, property and insurance matters, business relationship disputes, condo and other commercial conflicts.
Mediator, 2004 – Current

BOYNE CLARKE, Barristers and Solicitors
Large law firm offering services in all areas of law.
Managing Partner, 2003 to 2004;
Decision making and management of all aspects of the law firm relating to human resources, marketing, strategic planning, compliance, professional development, recruiting, and client relations.
Partner, 2000 to 2003
Practice in the areas of commercial and corporate law, real estate, employment law, condominium law, insurance and insolvency law.

MORRIS AULD & O’HARA Barristers and Solicitors
Law firm serving individual, corporate and institutional clients in a wide variety of legal matters, including employment law, residential and commercial real estate, civil litigation, shareholder and partnership agreements and disputes, insolvence and banking matters, insurance and accident claims.
Partner, 1989 to 2000
Founding partner and responsible for day to day management of the law firm, including staffing, computer systems, trust and general accounting and marketing.

GREEN PARISH, Barristers and Solicitors
Mid-sized law firm offering services in all areas of law.
Associate lawyer, 1983 – 1989
Associate lawyer and Chair of the Corporate/Commercial Section of the law firm.

KITZ MATHESON GREEN MACISAAC, Barristers and Solicitors
Large law firm offering services in all areas of law.
Associate lawyer, 1982-1983
Associate in the Corporate Commercial Group.

Corporate/commercial/employment law: Experience includes advising business owners on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and banking security, shareholder agreements and disputes, tax reorganizations, estate freezes, family trusts, wills and estate planning, succession planning and implementation, contractual matters and disputes. Drafting employment and non-competition agreements.
Commercial leasing, real estate condominium law: Represented national restaurants and food retailers in connection with site acquisitions and developments. Acted for a major commercial real estate developer and has experience in the registration and conveyancing of multi-residential condominium projects, office buildings and apartment complexes.
Foreclosure and Insolvency: Foreclosure practice of residential properties and collections on unsecured term and credit card debt on behalf of a major chartered bank.
Commercial litigation and administrative law: Conducted trials in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, the Appeal Court of Nova Scotia and the Small Claims Court of Nova Scotia. Appeared before the Nova Scotia Liquor License Board, the Halifax Regional Assessment Appeal Court, the Nova Scotia Horse Racing Commission and the Public Utilities Board.

Wide range of experience from 1982 to 2010 as shareholder and director in business enterprises in the following sectors:
Residential real estate construction and development
Internet software and products marketing
Commercial and residential major appliance sales and service
Environmental engineering products development and sales

General Management Responsibilities. As a senior officer and director, has had responsibility for strategic planning and marketing, accounting system design and implementation, major capital acquisitions, term financing and operating credit lines, internal reorganizations and governance issues, raising capital through government equity tax credit legislation, acting as corporate secretary and general counsel, employee hiring and termination matters.

Experience in public and media relations. Has interviewed with major print media, with stories in Time magazine, Canadian Lawyer and The Halifax Herald Conducted numerous interviews for local television and also with a major US cable network program. Presenter at national marketing conferences held in New York, Chicago and San Francisco.

Program Instructor, ADR Institute of Ontario.
Lectured for the Bar Society at Continuing Legal Education seminars on “Commercial Leases” and on the “Use of the Internet for Lawyers”.
Presented a paper to the Canadian Bar Association (NS) Litigation and ADR section on “Mediation and Interest Based Negotiation in Litigation.”
Organized and taught commercial law to individuals who were undergoing retraining under the Federal “Self Employment Assistance” program.
Contributed to the Bar Admission Course by writing and providing materials on “Commercial Leases”.

DALHOUSIE LAW SCHOOL, Halifax, NS
LL.B. (1982)
President of the graduating class, Member of the Gale Cup Moot Team.
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA, Winnipeg, MAN.
B.A. (1978)

LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA
Admitted to the Bar

THE NOVA SCOTIA BARRISTERS’ SOCIETY
Admitted to the Bar (1982)

ADR INSTITUTE OF ONTARIO
Member

PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA
Notary Public

INTERNATIONAL UECHI-RYU KARATE FEDERATION
1st Degree Black Belt (2002)