Ava Marion Hillier


Phone: 905-453-8636
Fax: 905-453-6267
Ava Marion Hillier was born in Montreal and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts ( BA) from Queen’s University. She graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in Toronto in 1980. She joined her mother Suzanne Hillier in legal practice in Brampton Ontario and carried on a general litigation practice in real estate and commercial litigation and criminal law until 1987, at which time she became a partner at Hiller and Hillier, thereafter specializing in personal injury litigation, including professional negligence claims. She co – founded the Ontario Trial Lawyer’s Association ( OTLA) in 1991. She has presented numerous lectures , presentations and written numerous articles on personal injury litigation for OTLA and for its magazine, The Litigator, since 1991. She has lectured and presented for or on behalf of, The Canadian Institute, The Ontario Bar Association, Queen’s University Law School, The Canadian Bar Association, Insight, The American Association of Justice (AAJ), The American Trial Lawyers Association ( ATLA), The Canadian Medical – Legal Society, MAAD ( Mothers Against Drunk Driving), the Osgoode Hall Law Association and The Advocates Society. She served as a Director and Vice -President of The Ontario Trial Association for over 7 years. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association in October of 2004. In 1998 and 1995 OTLA awarded her The Most Popular Professor in the Trial Advocacy Course at Queen’s University. She was invited to act as a Director of the Advocate’s Society from 2007 to 2010, and she has presented on behalf of the Advocate’s Society in Canada, Mexico and in the Cayman Islands.
Ava has appeared in trial courts at every level in Ontario representing injured Plaintiffs, and at the Court of Appeal. Her legal practice is restricted to personal injury litigation, claims arising from denied disability and other insurance applications including SABS claims as well as professional negligence claims. She continues to present on behalf of OTLA and has chaired numerous conventions since its inception in 1991.
She has no plans to retire.
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Ontario, 1980
Education
- Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada – 1978
- Queen’s University
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts – 1975
Classes/Seminars
- Lecturer and Presenter, Canadian Institute
- Lecturer and Presenter, Ontario Bar Association
- Lecturer and Presenter, Queen’s University Law School
- Lecturer and Presenter, Canadian Bar Association
- Lecturer and Presenter, Insight
- Lecturer and Presenter, American Association of Justice
- Lecturer and Presenter, American Trial Lawyers Association
- Lecturer and Presenter, Canadian Medical – Legal Society
- Lecturer and Presenter, MAAD
- Lecturer and Presenter, Osgoode Hall Law Association
- Lecturer and Presenter, Advocates Society
- Advocate’s Society, Canada, Presenter
- Advocate’s Society, Mexico, Presenter
- Advocate’s Society, Cayman Islands, Presenter
- Presenter, OTLA
Honors and Awards
- Distinguished Service Award, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, 2004
- Awardee, Most Popular Professor, OTLA, 1995 and 1998
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Ontario Trial Lawyer’s Association, Co-founder, 1991
- Ontario Trial Association, Director and Vice-President
Lectures
- Special Considerations in Handling Complex Brain Injury Clients: Advancing or Defending The Brain Injury Case
Presented by Osgoode Hall Law School
April 2015
- The Short Course on Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Claims — Panel Speaker: Building the Case
Presented by Osgoode Hall Law School
November 2014
- The Osgoode Short Course in Mediation Advocacy — Panel Speaker: Mediation Advocacy II
Presented by Osgoode Hall Law School
September 2014
- Tricks of the Trade Conference Presenter
Presented by The Advocates’ Society
2013
- Moderator of Panel of Doctors (Dr. Moran and Dr. Barry etc.) Topic: Chronic Pain
Presented by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
Fall Conference 2011
- Jury Trial Practice from A to Verdict, topic: Surveillance — A New Lawyers Division Primer
Presented by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association at the Fall Conference
September 24, 2010
- Damages Assessment: The Times they are a Changing — Panel Speaker: Special Lectures on Personal Injury Law
Presented by The Law Society of Upper Canada
April 2008
- New Cases You Need to Know — The Liability Toolbox II
Presented by Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
May 2008
- Damages Assessment Panel
Insurance Law Seminar presented by Dutton Brock LLP
January 2008
- Does Private Mediation Add Value to the MVA Litigation Process?
Panel Speaker: Advanced Forum on Motor Vehicle Accident Litigation, Latest Development & Trends in Advancing & Defending First Party and Liability Claims
Presented by The Canadian Institute
September 2007
- How to Deal with Harmful Clinical Notes & Records and Use them to Build Your Case
Presented by Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
May 2007
- Retaining Experts: When, Who and How
Presented by Ontario Trial Lawyers Association: Young Lawyers Division
March 2007
- Special Litigation Skills Certificate Program: Jury Advocacy — Panel Speaker: When Counsel Should Open & Use of Exhibits/Demonstrative Aids in Opening
Presented by the Advocates Society
April 2006
- Client Management Tips
Presented by the Ontario Bar Association
February 2006