35 Years, 35 Voices highlights the members who have contributed to the Ontario Trial Lawyers Associations (OTLA) growth, strengthened access to justice and supported a collaborative plaintiff-side community across Ontario over the past 35 years.
Meet Greg Monforton, OTLA Past President and member since 1995.
Member Profile
Name: Greg Monforton
Firm: Greg Monforton and Partners
Year called to the bar: 1981
Joined OTLA: 1995
We asked Greg to reflect on his time with OTLA, the role the association has played in his career and what being part of the OTLA community means to him.
What motivated you to join?
From its earliest years, OTLA has been known as an organization of Ontario plaintiffs’ lawyers dedicated to elevating their craft in order to more effectively represent the innocently injured – and thereby level the playing field with the defence bar. Before joining OTLA, I knew a number of its founders, though at the time only by reputation. The combination of their reputations for excellence and OTLA’s mission deeply appealed to me, inspiring me to join first as a general member and then as a member of its Board of Directors.
If you’ve been a member for more than five years, what has inspired you to renew your membership?
I continue to renew my membership because of the tremendous value OTLA offers to all of its members. Its CLEs are of the highest quality and its numerous resources are of immense practical utility for both junior members and those of us a bit more seasoned. But OTLA’s greatest value lies in the innumerable friendships it has enabled me to make and nurture.
Do you have a memorable OTLA moment or story you’d like to share?
It is impossible to restrict my “memorable events” to a single one. They largely center on the people I have met—lawyers, judges, political figures and thought leaders (both Canadian and beyond)—who have had monumental impacts on both my practice—and my life! But I would be remiss not to mention when I was granted the Plaintiffs’ Counsel Award at the 2019 Celebration of the Personal Injury Bar. Needless to say, that was an honour – and an evening – that I will never forget! And of course, also topping the list would be my privilege to serve as OTLA’s President from 2005 to 2006.
What is something you learned at an OTLA event that you still use in your practice today?
Every time I attend an OTLA CLE, I come away with a new idea to implement. I also ask that my fellow lawyers at our firm, who regularly attend OTLA’s CLEs, do the same. The cumulative impact of the implementation of these ideas over the years is simply impossible to overstate. It has made all of us at Greg Monforton and Partners better lawyers, and our firm something that I am immensely proud of.
Have you made any meaningful professional connections through OTLA? If so, who or in what way?
I have made too many wonderful professional connections with other leaders of the Plaintiffs’ Bar to mention. Simply put, I have come to know so many of “the best of the best.” These connections can’t help but make one a much better lawyer. At the same time, they make your practice a lot more interesting and a lot more fun!
How has OTLA influenced your practice or contributed to your career growth?
OTLA has made my practice, and my firm, better through not only my involvement but through the involvement of all of the lawyers and many of the clerks at our firm. Our lawyers not only regularly attend virtually every OTLA CLE but they are also significantly involved in OTLA’s leadership. For instance, my law partner Joanna Sweet is presently serving as OTLA’s Vice-President and two of our associates – Jaclyn Habas and Irina Rosca, presently sit on OTLA’s Board of Directors.
What advice would you give to new OTLA members or lawyers just starting out?
I would advise all new OTLA members who are just starting out to attend as many CLE opportunities as you can and to make use of OTLA’s other resources. I would also urge new members to always “take that first step” and introduce themselves to other OTLA members whenever the opportunity arises. Volunteer whenever you learn of some committee or working group that can use some help. I can guarantee you that by doing so, you will not only become a much better lawyer but will also make new friendships that will last a lifetime.
What does being part of the OTLA community mean to you?
Being part of the OTLA community has been profoundly beneficial to both my career and my life. That includes not only OTLA’s members but also its excellent, highly professional staff and executive leadership. We can all, regardless of our level of experience, use a little encouragement, as well as the benefit of a fresh set of eyes, from time to time. And you can be sure that when you interact with your fellow OTLA members you will be interacting with people dedicated to OTLA’s mission. People who practice at the highest level. And people whose lives and careers manifest the quest for justice, fairness, service and fellowship.
