Dempsey ADR Services Inc., committed to resolving disputes in a civil, effective and sustainable manner.

Colleen L. Dempsey
Tel 416.571.3240
colleen@cdempsey.ca
Admitted:
Ontario, 2000
Education:
LL.B, Queen’s University at Kingston, Faculty of Law
BA (Hons), Queen’s University at Kingston, Faculty of Arts & Science
Certificate in Advanced Mediation of Complex Disputes, Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation
Certificate in Mediating Disputes, Harvard Law School, Program of Negotiation
Certificate in Negotiation & Leadership, Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation
Certificate in Commercial Mediation, New York State Bar Association
Certificate in Comprehensive Commercial Arbitration, New York State Bar Association
Certificate in Applied Alternative Dispute Resolution, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Certificate in Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Executive Certificate in Conflict Management, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Certificate in Negotiation, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Certificate in Dealing with Difficult People, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Certificate in Difficult Conversations, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards & Tribunals, Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (SOAR) and Osgoode Professional Development
Certificate in Effective Decision Writing, Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (SOAR) and Osgoode Professional Development
Memberships
The Law Society of Ontario
Refer To Her
The Advocatesʼ Society
ADR Institute of Ontario
ADR Institute of Canada
Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center
Jurismediation – International Mediation Network (Panel Member)
Colleen is a trained mediator and adjudicator. She completed intensive, advanced mediation and negotiation training with leading mediators and negotiators at Harvard Law School (Program on Negotiation), as well as completing advanced mediation training through the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law. Colleen also completed intensive and advanced adjudication and decision-writing experience with the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators, and spent 14 years as a Vice-Chair adjudicating more than 200 appeals. Colleen has served as a member-at-large, Secretary, Vice-Chair and Chair of the The Advocates’ Society Arbitration and Mediation Practice Group.
Colleen combines her experience as a lawyer, General Counsel, adjudicator and professor to provide principled alternative dispute resolution services with a keen awareness of the need for effective and efficient services that are alive to civility, efficacy and fiscally minded settlement agreements. She has excellent ‘horse trading’ skills and an eye for the commercially reasonable. Colleen is willing to ask reality-testing questions that both challenge and engage all parties.
In 2001, Colleen became General Counsel to a publicly reporting, multinational, software corporation and its New York and Australian subsidiaries. During her tenure as General Counsel, Colleen negotiated agreements with investment banks, brokerage houses, private equity firms, telecommunications providers, wireless technology developers, insurance companies, service providers and other software firms. In this capacity, Colleen also provided corporate commercial, litigation and employment law counsel. Colleen continued as Canadian General Counsel after acquisition by Sanchez Computer Associates. As General Counsel, Colleen also handled, either personally or in conjunction with external counsel, the firm’s litigation needs. She litigated commercial, intellectual property and employment disputes and negotiated settlement agreements where appropriate. After the firm was acquired by Fidelity National Financial (Fortune 500), Colleen was engaged as Transitional Counsel to facilitate the transmission of institutional knowledge. acquisition. Following this engagement, Colleen provided pro bono legal counsel to various Toronto communities.
In 2005, Colleen was appointed to sit as a Vice-Chair on one of Ontario’s administrative appeals Tribunals. Colleen adjudicated appeals ranging from simple to complex matters and rendered more than 200 written decisions as a sitting Vice-Chair on one of the province’s most respected appeals tribunals. She adjudicated hearings that ranged from half a day to thirteen days, and has extensive experience with contested hearings, working with multiple parties, receiving and assessing evidence from multiple witnesses, and dealing with counsel, self-represented parties and testimony through interpreters. Colleen’s appointment was renewed twice and in 2019 she elected not to seek reappointment. Colleen represented corporations, individuals and large groups. She appeared pro hac vice for matters heard in New York State and Texas and as counsel in American arbitration.
Current:
- Provides ADR Services – Mediation, Arbitration, Neutral Evaluation & Facilitation. Colleen has expertise in corporate/commercial disputes, as well as technology, IT/IP, medical and employment law disputes. Experience in cross-cultural, university code of conduct and construction disputes.
- Is an Adjunct Associate Professor, Queen’s University at Kingston, Faculty of Law and teaches Workplace Law.
- Is an external consultant/Returning Officer to Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and is responsible for conducting neutral, transparent and fair Board of Governors elections and referenda, as well as investigating and adjudicating complaints related thereto. Instituted policy changes to enhance existing EDI principles.
- Provides advice to a group of companies, both domestic and international members, on employment law matters, including employment agreements, just cause, wrongful dismissal, and human rights.