LORRAINE A. BORTOLUSSI, B.A., LL.B, LL.M (ADR), ACC. FM (OAFM)

Family Lawyer

Lorraine is an accredited Family Mediator and Family Law Arbitrator who has been practising Family Law since 1984. In her private practice, she represents high net worth individuals in complex cases as well as clients in the Collaborative Family Practice process.

Since receiving her Call to the Ontario Bar in 1984, Lorraine has enhanced her mediation and arbitration skills through ongoing negotiations on behalf of her private Family Law clients, and by her advocacy in court. She is an accredited family mediator with the Ontario Association of Family Mediators (OAFM), as well as being on the Board of Directors for the OAFM. Lorraine’s mediation specialty includes completion of the Harvard University Law School Mediation Workshop in 2001 and a Master of Laws degree specializing in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in 2006. She has also assisted as a guest lecturer and mediation coach for law students in Alternative Dispute Resolution courses at Osgoode Hall, and has served as an instructor at the Bar Admission Course, Family Law Section.

In addition to her extensive Family Law knowledge, Lorraine has several years of experience as an adjudicator. She is a Family Law Arbitrator. Her past experience includes serving as a Vice-Chair of the Province of Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), the final level of appeal for final decisions of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Prior to that, she spent five years as member of the Province of Ontario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal. She currently sits as a Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court, a branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Lorraine maintains membership in key professional associations, including: the Law Society of Upper Canada, the York Region Law Association, the Ontario Association for Family Mediation, the ADR Institute, the York Region Collaborative Practice Group, the Collaborative Practice Toronto Group, the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association, and the Canadian Italian Advocates Organization. Her community involvement includes past positions as director for the Friuli Benevolent Corporation (a home for seniors); Mater Dei (a rehabilitation program for women); Women in Crisis (a shelter for abused women); and, Centred on Children Daycare (a childcare program). At present, she serves on the Board of Directors at Villa Colombo Vaughan (a long term care home for seniors).

To discuss the possibility of retaining Lorraine as your Family Law lawyer or as your Family Mediator or Arbitrator, she can be contacted at:

or by calling 416-987-3300 ext. 210