Mr. Danson graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada on June 9, 1978 and was called to the Ontario Bar, having graduated from the Bar Admission Course, Law Society of Upper Canada, on April 10, 1980.
Mr. Danson’s litigation and appellate practice is broad based and diverse, covering many areas of law including: constitutional, corporate/commercial, sports, contract negotiations, fidelity/fraud, administrative, medical malpractice, personal injuries, insurance, libel and slander, criminal, environmental protection, conservation and wrongful dismissal. Expertise in these areas of law provide Tim with a very unique perspective in problem identification and resolution. Tim appears before all levels of Court, including numerous appearances before the Divisional Court of Ontario, the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada on issues of considerable public interest and importance. Mr. Danson also appears before a variety of administrative tribunals, including many domestic and international sports tribunals, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
While publicly Mr. Danson is known for his courtroom advocacy, much of his practice is focused on avoiding court through problem identification, consensus building and finding creative and discreet solutions to very difficult, complex and challenging problems.
Mr. Danson has also gained a unique perspective on problem identification and resolution as a result of being exposed throughout his life, to the diversity and challenges of Canadian and International politics, where viewing complex problems requires the ability to listen and to see issues from many different perspectives. Mr. Danson was fortunate to have a father who was also his mentor. This very positive influence has had a profound impact on the way Mr. Danson approaches problems and conducts his affairs. Mr. Danson’s father, The Honourable Barnett J. Danson, P.C., C.C., LL.D; Leg.d’honneur (Fr.), held a number of portfolios in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the last of which was Minister of National Defence of Canada, making him a member of the Privy Council (P.C.). Barnett Danson was decorated with Canada’s highest distinction and honour, the Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.); France’s highest distinction and honour, the Chevalier (Knight) of the Order of the Legion of Honour (Leg. d’honneur (Fr.)), an honour created by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 19, 1802; he also received an Honorary Doctorate of Law (LL.D) from York University; an Honorary degree from the Royal Military College, of which he was a former chancellor; named an Officer of France’s Order of National Merit; received the Churchill Society’s Award for Excellence in the cause of Parliamentary Democracy; and the Vimy Award of the Conference of Defence Associations from Her Excellency, the Governor General for “a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values”. Barney Danson was a principal person instrumental in the creation of Canada’s new national War Museum in Ottawa, and the Minister in charge and principal founder and creator of Canada’s Katimavik youth program. Mr. Danson Sr. instilled in his four sons a strong sense of public service, discipline, hard work, and to conduct one’s affairs with integrity, civility and honour.
Tim loves all sports, and in particular, hockey, extreme deep powder skiing, horseback riding, tennis and angling.
Speaking Engagements
Mr. Danson is regularly invited to speak at numerous functions and seminars. This has included his attendance at the International Bar Association in Berlin, Germany as a principal speaker where approximately 4,000 lawyers and judges from around the world had attended this conference. Mr. Danson regularly participates as a panellist in various ongoing educational forums on a variety of topics such as participating with the Honourable Mr. Justice Watt and others at the Criminal Justice meeting of the Canadian Bar Association – Ontario, to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Carosella. He was the keynote speaker at a Child Find conference. He has also lectured at Osgoode Hall Law School, the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, the University of Western, Faculty of Law, the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, The University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Law, Fordham University School of Law in New York, The Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch, The Canadian Institute, and at various other continuing education forums. Mr. Danson, along with Dr. John Bradford, was a guest speaker at the Annual Departmental Public Lecture Series, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa and Ottawa General Hospital, addressing the topic of “The Solution to Sexual Violence: Punishment or Treatment”. Mr. Danson was also a guest speaker at the University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, continuing education conference, in collaboration with the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators where he lectured doctors and students on the legal requirements and methods of qualifying and disqualifying expert witnesses and what to look for in examination-in-chief and cross-examination. From time-to-time Mr. Danson has been invited to speak at Judges conferences to speak to developments in the law and how to maintain public respect for the rule of law. Mr. Danson spoke at the World Federation of Chiropractic in Orlando, Florida on litigation issues relating to chiropractic, as well as playing a principal role in a mock trial. He has also spoken on issues of racial profiling, DNA testing and the Criminal Code provisions pertaining to those found not criminally responsible, at the annual National Association of Professional Police in Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Danson is regularly contacted by electronic and print media to address legal issues of the day.
Timothy S.B. Danson