Troy Lehman
Troy Lehman joined Oatley Vigmond in 2006 and became a partner in 2010. As a personal injury lawyer, his greatest satisfaction comes from helping people through to the other side of a difficult time in their lives. “We’re here to help and relieve stress,” Troy says. “When I walk into a first meeting with a client, people are often scared and anxious. And for me, the best thing that can happen at the end of the meeting is that they say, ‘I feel so much better.’
Since starting law school, Troy has wanted to be a litigator. He graduated from Western University’s Faculty of Law and earned the highest mark in his class of 2001 on the bar exam. After being called to the bar, Troy joined a London firm that specialized in defending doctors in medical malpractice cases. During his first six years, he averaged two to three trials a year.
In 2006, Troy did a trial against Oatley Vigmond. “I knew about the firm long before that trial,” Troy recalls. “The partners all had great reputations as trial lawyers and as leaders in demonstrative advocacy—the use of illustration and visual aids to great effect in the Courtroom.” After the trial was finished, Troy decided to join Oatley Vigmond.
Among the most famous personal injury actions Troy has argued is the case of Sarah Little, who was in grade eight when she sustained a severe brain injury after she jumped out of the back of a moving school bus on the last day of classes—a school tradition. With a range of cognitive, emotional and behavioural impairments, doctors testified that Little was not likely to ever be able to work. Troy’s advocacy earned Little a $7-million judgment for pain and suffering, lost wages and future care costs.
Throughout his career, Troy has been invited to educate other lawyers on personal injury law at conferences hosted by the Law Society of Ontario (formerly the Law Society of Upper Canada), the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and York University. He helped bring the Advocates Society’s Courthouse Series program to Barrie and has chaired that prestigious program for many years. He has been a guest lecturer at both Queen’s University and Western University, a director of the Simcoe County Law Association and was elected a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America—a prestigious accolade that fewer than one half of one percent of eligible lawyers receive.
When he’s not working to advance the rights of a client in need, Troy enjoys spending time with his three boys, especially if there’s a Cleveland Browns game on.
Accomplishments
- Director of Simcoe County Law Association 2014
- Guest Lecturer University of Western Ontario in 2001 and 2002
- Guest Lecturer Queens University since 2013
- Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation
- Listed in Best Lawyers
- Elected Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Less than one half of one percent of eligible lawyers are chosen.
- Appointed to the Board of Directors of The Advocates’ Society in 2023
Professional Involvement
Troy has been invited to educate other lawyers on various topics relating to personal injury law at conferences hosted by the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and York University. In addition to speaking frequently on various legal topics, Troy also chairs two leading educational programs, the Ontario Bar Association’s Anatomy of a Trial and The Advocates’ Society’s Barrie Courthouse Series.
He has represented many clients at trial and has been lead counsel in appeals to the Divisional Court and Court of Appeal.
When not working or spending time with his family, he volunteers his time supporting a number of charities and fundraisers.
