Jim Vigmond Named 2025 Lawyer of the Year: A Catalyst in Personal Injury Law
We are proud to share that Jim Vigmond, one of the founding members and managing partner of Oatley Vigmond, is the recipient of the 2025 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Personal Injury Litigation in Toronto.
This award is based solely on peer reviews, with nominations voted on by recognized Best Lawyers within the same practice area and region.
To receive this honor, nominees must undergo a thorough verification process, ensuring they are upholding the highest professional standards. The “Lawyer of the Year” designation is one of the most prestigious honors in the legal field, awarded to one lawyer per practice area in each metropolitan region. This tribute reflects the respect Jim has earned from his peers.
Raised in a hardworking Canadian family, Jim’s values were shaped by his upbringing. His father, a tool and die maker turned teacher, and his mother, a retail store manager, instilled in him the importance of humility, hard work, and integrity. These core principles became the foundation of his character and continued to guide him throughout his life and career.
“My dad’s biggest quality was humility. I think if you see the world through a lens of humility, you look beyond yourself to the needs of others. It’s a quality that initiates a culture of caring and draws like-minded people together. I’m privileged to have some success in what I do. It feels like the right thing to share what I can with others.”
Jim’s humility, deeply rooted in his upbringing, sparked a profound interest in connecting with vulnerable populations. With extensive experience as counsel at all court levels, Jim is also a respected thought leader, regularly publishing articles and presenting on personal injury litigation and trial advocacy at conferences hosted by the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, and the Advocates’ Society.
For Jim, family is everything. This belief extends beyond his own household and into his professional life, where he sees his colleagues and clients as an extension of his family. In his practice, Jim is not just an advocate; he is a partner, standing alongside his clients and their families during some of the most challenging times in their lives. He believes in educating his clients, because in doing so he empowers them. At the heart of Jim’s work is a unique blend of legal expertise and humility.
This philosophy is at the core of his practice. For Jim, every client is like family, and this perspective drives him to deliver not just legal victories but also lasting, positive impacts on the lives of those he serves. His work is not just about winning cases; it’s about making a difference in people’s lives, one family at a time.
Beyond his career in law, Jim has dedicated immeasurable time and effort in furthering the goals of several non-profit organizations. This includes leading the Cancer Care Centre at Royal Victoria Hospital and acting as the founding director of the Thompson Foundation Centre. Jim has made a significant mark in his time with Spinal Cord Injury Ontario where he was the director and fundraising chair.
Outside his contributions to the medical community, Jim is dedicated to improving his local community in Barrie. This includes supporting the MacLaren Art Centre, sponsoring Barrie’s minor lacrosse team, and serving as the Director of the Robert Thompson Youth and Family Centre, a social services organization.
Receiving the “Lawyer of the Year” award highlights how Jim continues to set himself apart as a lawyer.
