Overview
In addition to being a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Ontario, Chris Blom is an experienced insurance litigation lawyer with a practice that concentrates on insurance defence work in connection with both tort and accident benefit cases, including out-of-province and cross-border cases. Chris acts on behalf of insurers in the province of Ontario with respect to claims across Canada and in the United States regarding all aspects of general insurance liability, including historical sexual abuse claims, class actions, motor vehicle accidents, fire loss, construction negligence, CGL claims, occupier’s liability, slip and fall, and social host liability, as well as coverage opinions, accident benefit and bad faith litigation. He regularly represents clients at all levels of the provincial court system, including the Court of Appeal, and is also recognized for his extensive experience with mediation and private arbitration. Chris has also appeared in the Court of Queen’s Bench and the Court of Appeal in New Brunswick as well as the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Chris is recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for his practice in Insurance Law (2014 – 2024), as well as The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Personal Injury Law (2013 – 2024) and Litigation – Commercial Insurance (2017 – 2024).
Professional achievements & leadership
- The Best Lawyers in Canada - Insurance Law, 2014 - 2025; Personal Injury Litigation, 2021-2025
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - Personal Injury Law, 2013 - 2024; Litigation - Commercial Insurance, 2017 - 2024
- Certified Specialist (Civil Litigation), LSO
Thought leadership
- Social Host Liability, Canadian Defence Lawyers, 2019
- Trial Practice: Cross-examinations and Examinations-in-Chief, Miller Thomson, 2019
- Advancing/Defending Concussion Claims, Osgoode Hall Law School, 14th Annual Update, Personal Injury Law & Practice, November 2018
- Priority Claims, Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association, April 2015
- The Threshold in Automobile Insurance Claims, Miller Thomson LLP, October 2014
- Catastrophic Impairment Update, Ontario Insurance Institute, September 2014
- Catastrophic Impairment Update, North Waterloo Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, August 2014
- Miller Thomson, Top 10 Tort Cases, June 2014
- “Coverage Issues for Off-Road Vehicles,” The Oatley McLeish Guide to Motor Vehicle Litigation, The Law Society of Upper Canada, March 2014
- ADR Chambers, The Ins and Outs of Conducting FSCO Pre-Arbitration Conferences, November 2013
- Miller Thomson, The Obligations of the Insurer When the Limits are Exhausted, June 2013
- Miller Thomson, Arguing Motions and Appeals, September 2012
- ADR Institute, Mediators: What do our Client’s Expect From Us?, October 2011
- Osgoode Professional Development, Ethical Considerations Affecting the Practice of Law for Personal Injury Practitioners, September 2011
- Insurance Institute Trends in Litigation, Hot Topics: Loss Transfer Claims, May 2011
- Insurance Institute Trends in Litigation, Attendant Care Claims, October 2010
- Insurance Institute Trends in Litigation, Attendant Care Claims in Accident Benefits and Tort Actions, December 2009
- Insight: Litigating Motor Vehicle Accident Claims, The Role of the Health Professional as an Expert Witness, October 2009
- Effective Mediation Opening, Miller Thomson, Toronto, June 2009
- Product Liability Claims, Metro Ontario Inc. Toronto, May 2009
- Insurance Institute Trends in Litigation, Coverage for Punitive Damages under the Auto Policy, Update on Catastrophic Impairment, London, August 2008
- Miller Thomson Insurance Law Seminars, Structured Settlements, Toronto & Kitchener-Waterloo June 2008
- Insurance Institute Trends in Litigation, Coverage for Punitive Damages under the Auto Policy, Update on Catastrophic Impairment, Toronto April 2008
- Insight Seminars, Litigating Catastrophic Disability and Damages Co-chair with Michael Shannon of Cassels Brock, Catastrophic Impairment Update, Toronto, September 2007
- Miller Thomson Insurance Law Seminars, Underinsured Motorist Coverage, Toronto & Kitchener-Waterloo, May & June 2007
- Insurance Institute Trends in Litigation, Update on Damages, Update on Liability Issues, Vicarious Liability for Rented and Leased Vehicles, Toronto & Peterborough, February & March 2007
- Litigating Catastrophic Disability and Damages, When is an Expense Incurred? Insight Seminars, Toronto, December 2006
- Homeowner and Automobile Liability Insurance Issues, TD Insurance Company, Toronto, June 2006
- Threshold Claims under the Insurance Act, Miller Thomson Insurance Law Seminars, Toronto & Kitchener-Waterloo, May 2006
- Liability Insurance Coverage Issues, Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, Oakville, April 2006
- Communicating with your Expert, Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, Oakville, January 2006
- Judge, International Competition for Mediation Advocacy 2011
- Other Editorial Experience
- Advisory Board member, Thomson Reuters, Practical Law Canada – Litigation (Personal Injury)
- Issues of Coverage in Class Actions: Loblaw Companies Limited v. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada, Lloyd’s Bulletin, Miller Thomson March 2024
- “Property damage” in the context of the duty to defend, Lloyd’s Reporter, 2020
- Exemption Clauses Under Professional Liability Policies, Lloyd’s Reporter, 2020
- The Purpose of All Risk Builder’s Insurance, Lloyd’s Reporter, 2019
- Pierringer Agreements in Ontario, Practical Law, Thomson Reuters, 2019
- The Deduction of Collateral Benefits at Trial, Miller Thomson Blog, 2018
- Alcohol Consumption does not Equal Negligence, Miller Thomson Blog, 2018
- The Deduction of Accidental Benefits in Tort Actions, Miller Thomson Blog, 2018
- Mary Carter Agreements in Ontario, Practical Law, Thomson Reuters, 2017
- “Coverage Issues for Off-Road Vehicles,” The Oatley McLeish Guide to Motor Vehicle Litigation, The Law Society of Upper Canada, March, 2014
- Attendant Care Costs in Accident Benefits and Tort Claims, Insurance Institute, 2010
Professional memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario, 1987
- LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, 1985
- B.A., York University, 1982
