Peter Downard for Bencher 2015

For more than 25 years I have acted as litigation counsel at trial and on appeal in all courts, in public inquiries and alternative dispute resolution. I am the author of the legal text Libel (LexisNexis, Third Edition, 2014) and the volume Defamation in Halsbury’s Laws of Canada. My writings on defamation have been cited as authority by courts across Canada. I was also one of three appointed members of the Advisory Panel to the Attorney General of Ontario on Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (“SLAPP”).

I am very proud to be a lawyer and would like to make a contribution to the profession by participating in the regulatory process in a manner that reflects professional values, common sense and respect for the interests of every member of the profession. If elected as Bencher, I will make a positive contribution by promoting:

• equality and diversity in our profession, including the achievement of professional success by women, persons of diverse races and cultures, persons of different faiths, the LGBT community and persons with disabilities;
• access to justice;
• the self-renewal of our profession through effective mentoring;  and
• the clear articulation of professional standards and regulatory administration which will allow our members to get on with doing what they do best – the practice of law – with no more regulatory engagement than is clearly required.

If you would like to learn more about my candidacy, please visit www.peterdownard.ca; or if you have any questions feel free to send me an email (pdownard@fasken.com) or call me directly (416-865 4369).

I hope I can count on your support.

– Peter