35 Years, 35 Voices: Meet Sandev S. Purewal, C.S.
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 Sandev S. Purewal, C.S., OTLA Past President and member since 1998.
Member Profile
Name: Sandev Singh Purewal
Firm: Lerners LLP
Year called to the bar: 2001
Joined OTLA: In 1998 as a law student at Osgoode Hall
We asked Sandev 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?
Honestly, as a law student interested in plaintiff tort litigation, OTLA just felt like home. The reputation, the education, the access to justice mission — it was an easy decision.
If you’ve been a member for more than five years, what has inspired you to renew your membership?
Simply put — the people, the programming and the mission. OTLA has been a fundamental part of my education, growth and success as a plaintiff litigation lawyer.
OTLA’s number one strength is its membership. The collegiality, mentorship and shared purpose among our members is something I haven’t found replicated anywhere else.
Do you have a memorable OTLA moment or story you’d like to share?
In 2015, Past President, and respected friend, Laura Hillyer encouraged me to join the OTLA Board and I was later asked to join the Executive Committee in 2019. I truly appreciate her persistence, ongoing encouragement and support. That initial nudge set me on a path I never could have anticipated — one that ultimately led to serving as OTLA President in 2024/25. You never know where saying “yes” will take you.
What is something you learned at an OTLA event that you still use in your practice today?
Too many things to count! OTLA’s continuing education programs have been an invaluable resource throughout my career. From trial advocacy techniques to better understanding complex areas like catastrophic impairment under the SABS, I’ve consistently brought what I’ve learned at OTLA conferences and seminars back to my law practice.
Have you made any meaningful professional connections through OTLA? If so, who or in what way?
Without question. Over the years, OTLA has connected me with people who have genuinely shaped my career and my life. My wonderful mentors, Graham Bennett (Past OTLA Director) and Andrew Murray (Past OTLA President), have been constant sources of guidance and support. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary directors, past presidents like Laurie Tucker, Maria Damiano and Laura Hillyer, and recent leaders like Mary-Anne Strong and Jay Ralston.
From my earliest conferences as a young lawyer to my time on the board and executive, OTLA has consistently brought incredible people into my life. These aren’t just professional connections — they’re friendships built on shared purpose.
How has OTLA influenced your practice or contributed to your career growth?
OTLA has shaped every stage of my career. My journey began as a law student at Osgoode Hall and carries on today as a Partner at Lerners LLP. OTLA provided the education, the network and the sense of mission that helped me grow from a young lawyer into a certified specialist and, ultimately, into a Past President of this organization. It has also, in part, inspired my community involvement, including establishing the Peel Helmets on Kids project in 2007/2008, through which we have delivered almost 10,000 free bicycle helmets to children in need.
What advice would you give to new OTLA members or lawyers just starting out?
Get involved early and stay involved. Attend the conferences, volunteer for committees, contribute to continuing legal education programming and say yes when someone encourages you to step up.
Trust me — in a post-COVID world, mentorship, connection and support are more important than ever. Even one hour a month of solid mentorship can make a real difference in your career and your mental health. Strive to maintain the highest standards of advocacy, civility and professionalism — and when the time comes, pay it forward.
What does being part of the OTLA community mean to you?
It’s been an absolute honour and privilege to lead this organization. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson said, “a life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives.” That quote continually makes me think about my life as a plaintiff litigation lawyer and the impact that others within OTLA have had on me. Being part of this community means being part of something bigger than yourself — an organization dedicated to justice, fairness, and the professional betterment of its members. I’m confident our members will carry this organization’s proud legacy forward for the next 35 years and beyond.