Steven J. "Steve" Atkinson

Steven J. Atkinson is a Partner with the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group at Harrison Pensa.

He has a diverse litigation practice with 30 years of experience. He works for individuals, insurance companies and corporations of all sizes. Whatever the case, or whoever the client, Steve prides himself on his personal involvement with his clients and results-oriented approach to litigation.

Steve’s insurance clients do business across Canada, covering a wide range of exposures including home, auto, commercial general liability, course of construction/builders’ risk, marine, officers and directors “E&O” and professional negligence. In addition to his work defending third-party liability claims, he is often called upon to provide coverage opinions and strives to provide his clients with proactive advice wherever possible. As well as his work for the defence, a significant portion of Steve’s practice involves pursuing recovery of monies paid out by insurers by way of subrogated claims in a wide variety of situations.

Steve's efforts have repeatedly earned him a spot on the Best Lawyers® in Canada list for Insurance Law. Best Lawyers recognizes law firms and lawyers for their professional excellence and consistent top ratings from clients and peers. In fact, through Best Lawyers®, Steve has been selected by his peers as “Lawyer of the Year” for 2024 for the London/Windsor region. He is also perennially ranked in Lexpert as a leader in Commercial Insurance litigation.

Steve also serves many individual clients who have sustained personal injuries or the loss of a loved one. He has recovered millions of dollars for his clients to compensate them for their losses. Steve uses his experience to help guide individuals through the litigation process with as little anxiety as possible. Steve prides himself on his ability to ensure that his clients’ concerns are heard, understood and addressed so that they can achieve a sense of closure following their loss.

As an inaugural member of the Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Steve is also frequently hired to act as a Mediator by other lawyers representing individuals, insurance companies and corporations. During the mediation process, he is able to use his broad range of experience as a litigator, as well as his training as a mediator with the Harvard Negotiation Institute, to help litigants engage in a constructive discussion of the relevant issues. Mediation participants often comment on his tenacity and willingness to work hard to find a way to get the claim resolved.

Steve was a member of Harrison Pensa’s Partnership Board from 2008 to 2022 and Co-Managing Partner from 2014 to 2022. He is a member of the Middlesex Law Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the ADR Institute of Ontario and the Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.