Geoffrey D.E. "Geoff" Adair KC

Geoff is one of Canada’s best-known trial and appellate counsel. The breadth of his experience is virtually unmatched among Canadian litigators.

Early on in his career Geoff practiced criminal law where he gained invaluable courtroom experience trying to verdict among other cases, an even dozen murder trials. His practice evolved over a few years into the field of civil litigation where he went on to try to verdict over 250 jury and non jury cases and argue in excess of 100 appeals before the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada in lawsuits involving sophisticated commercial disputes; professional liability claims; product liability claims; major commercial insurance coverage applications; directors and officers liability cases and significant tort litigation matters arising out of defamation, wrongful death, and personal injury situations.

Geoff’s current practice now largely centers on but is not confined to providing advice to other lawyers, arguing appeals, and engaging in claims against insurers and legal malpractice actions.

Over the years Geoff has been committed to teaching and writing in an effort to improve the quality of advocacy and develop future litigators of excellence. He is the author of On Trial, Advocacy Skills Law and Practice, a leading text on trial advocacy cited as an authority by numerous Ontario Superior Court of Justice trial judges and the Ontario Court of Appeal. He is also a contributing editor to Ontario Courtroom Procedure and has written articles on issues of concern to the profession.

Geoff regularly contributes to continuing education programs having lectured on four occasions at the Law Society of Upper Canada Annual Special Lecture Series. He has often been called upon to participate in trial and appeal demonstrations hosted by the Advocates’ Society, the Ontario Bar Association, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and some for profit groups. Geoff served for many years as an instructor in the Law Society of Upper Canada Bar Admission course in civil litigation and is a past President of the Canadian Bar Association – Ontario Branch Civil Litigation section.