Applied ADR Workshop

Paul Godin

Paul D. Godin is a Toronto-based mediator, lawyer, negotiator, facilitator, trainer, banking ombudsman, and ADR systems designer at the Stitt Feld Handy Group/ADR Chambers.  He has lectured for courses in Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the University of Toronto, University of Oregon, and University of Windsor Law Schools and teaches contracting principles to project and contract managers.  Paul has designed and led courses on ADR, Negotiation and System Design worldwide, teaching in Canada, the U.S.A., the U.K., Australia, Ethiopia and the Caribbean, for both the general public and organizations such as Qantas, BDO Seidman, Scotiabank, TD Bank, Vertex, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, Hill & Knowlton, the Trade Union Congress (Bahamas), Mattel, General Dynamics, INCO, YUM Brands (KFC/Pizza Hut), Ontario Power Generation, Alliance Atlantis, Canada Life, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the UN, the Governments of Ethiopia, Canada, Australia, Bermuda and others.

Paul articled at Osler Hoskin & Harcourt in Toronto, and began practice in 1997.  Prior to joining Stitt Feld Handy Group in 2001, he practiced law with the Toronto litigation boutique of Rogers Moore, gaining expertise in a number of areas of law.

While at the University of Toronto (U of T), Paul was the International Bar Association Client Counseling Competition World Champion, representing Canada, as well as an award winning mooter and varsity water polo player.  He represented the U of T with distinction in the American Bar Association Negotiation Competition.  Prior to law, Paul was a geologist, obtaining a B. A. (Anthropology), a B.Sc. (Geology) with High Distinction, both from the U of T, followed by two years of geology post-graduate work at the University of Southern California as a ‘NSERC 1967’ Scholar.  He obtained his LL.B. in 1995 from the U of T, where he was on the Dean's List and earned several scholarships.

Paul has acted in many complex mediations and negotiations, and has been before the Ontario Courts, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.  These disputes involved areas such as insurance coverage, commercial contracts, environmental issues, personal injury, professional liability, negligence, and accident benefits.  Paul is a Roster Mediator with ADR Chambers, the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program-Toronto, the Ontario Energy Board, the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, and is designated as a Chartered Mediator by the ADR Institute of Canada.  He is a member of the ADR Section Executive of the Ontario Bar Association and has published in law and geology, including papers on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, mediation and negotiation.  He is the author of the chapter “Principles of Negotiation” in the CCH (2010) ADR Practice Manual.