James Norton

James studied science as an undergraduate and subsequently completed a Master’s Degree in embryology before completing his Juris Doctor in 1979 at Queens Law School. He was called to the bar of Ontario in 1981 and subsequently, in order to represent mining clients in Saskatchewan, became a member of the bar of that province in 1985.

James joined Zuber & Company on January 1, 2016. Prior to that, he was a founding partner of a prominent litigation boutique in Toronto where he practiced for 10 years before ultimately becoming Counsel at another litigation boutique. He has been a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation for over 15 years. Having obtained his certification as a Chartered Arbitrator through the Chartered Institute in London UK, James spent the better part of 6 years in Asia sitting as a sole arbitrator and on panels including ICC administered international commercial arbitrations.

James is recognized as offering specialization in discreet practice areas: construction liability and insurance coverage, property insurance defence and subrogation, liability defence, both property and liability insurance coverage, product liability and cargo liability. He has defended companies and individuals charged with offences under the Ontario Health and Safety Act. Having represented clients in complex cases, he has considerable experience with document intensive litigation utilizing electronic document management systems. He has appeared before all Ontario courts, the Saskatchewan Queen’s Bench and Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal of British Columbia. He has acted as counsel in both mediations and private arbitrations.

James is a member of the Advocates Society, the Canadian and Ontario Bar Association’s, Canadian Defence Lawyers and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London). He was a Founding Director and General Counsel to the Canadian Foundation for the International Space University and Past Vice-Chairman and Director of the Lycée Français de Toronto.