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 Kristian (Kris) Bonn, OTLA Past President and member since 2002.
Member Profile
Name: Kris Bonn
Firm: Bonn Law
Year called to the bar: 2002
Joined OTLA: 2002
We asked Kris 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?
I joined OTLA in 2002, motivated by the example set by my father, George Bonn, a founding member of OTLA and its president from 1999 to 2000. Growing up, I saw first‑hand the importance of a strong, principled plaintiffs’ bar and the role OTLA plays in protecting access to justice for injured people and their families. Joining OTLA felt like both a professional commitment and a continuation of that legacy.
If you’ve been a member for more than five years, what has inspired you to renew your membership?
My continued involvement with OTLA is driven by the organization’s unwavering dedication to helping people whose lives have been altered or devastated by the wrongful conduct of others. OTLA remains a vital forum for connecting with leaders in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation, sharing knowledge and advancing high‑quality advocacy. The excellence of OTLA’s continuing legal education and its commitment to principled litigation continue to inspire me to remain engaged and to contribute where I can. Most importantly, OTLA allows me to be part of a collective effort that truly makes a difference.
Do you have a memorable OTLA moment or story you’d like to share?
I have several memorable OTLA moments. Representing OTLA as an intervenor at the Ontario Court of Appeal in Cadieux stands out as a particularly meaningful experience, underscoring the Association’s important role in shaping the law in the public interest. I have also had the privilege of being OTLA President in 2021, speaking at OTLA conferences, participating in long‑range planning sessions with the OTLA Board and attending the Annual Celebration of the Personal Injury Bar.
What is something you learned at an OTLA event that you still use in your practice today?
I recall one conference where one of our members, a leading trial lawyer emphasized that facts win cases. Through OTLA conferences and discussions, I learned how to use clients’ stories supported by medical records and documentary evidence to tell a coherent, compelling story grounded in common sense and fairness. That lesson continues to shape how I prepare and try cases.
Have you made any meaningful professional connections through OTLA? If so, who or in what way?
OTLA has provided me with the opportunity to make many meaningful connections, both in the medical malpractice world and across the personal injury bar. When I started practicing medical malpractice ten years ago, I reached out to Paul Harte and Maria Damiano. They helped me learn how to prepare and try medical malpractice cases. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of trying two successful medical malpractices cases with them. OTLA has also provided me with great friends that I spend time with outside of law. Friends like Laura Hillyer, Russ Howe and Charles Gluckstein.
What advice would you give to new OTLA members or lawyers just starting out?
As a member of OTLA, don’t just stand on the sidelines, get involved. I got the most out of OTLA when I joined the Board, volunteered for committees, spoke at conferences and participated on the Listserve. Connect with other members. This starts with attending our conferences and making a point to go and speak to people and introduce yourself. From my experience everyone is willing to speak and help out a fellow OTLA colleague.
What does being part of the OTLA community mean to you?
Being part of OTLA is like being part of a law firm of 1,300+ like-minded professionals. I would not be where I am today without the support and resources of OTLA. The Association has made me a better lawyer and enriched my legal career. If you practice personal injury, disability law or medical malpractice, you need to be an active member of OTLA; you will not regret getting involved with this great organization.
