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Professional Biography
STEVEN C. GAON, B.A., LL.B., C.Med.

ADDRESS
150 Isabella Street, Suite 305
Ottawa, ON K1S 1V7
Canada
 
TEL / FAX / E-MAIL
Tel(613) 565.6215
Fax(613) 565.9715
E-mail  gaon@adrottawa.com

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

2008 - Chartered Mediator designation given by ADR Institute of Canada
2007 – Arbitrator Certification under the amended Arbitration Act
2006 - Collaborative Family Law Certification
2001 - Advanced Mediation Certification, Osgoode Hall Law School / Law Society of Upper Canada
2001 - Mediation Certification, University of Windsor Faculty of Law / Stitt, Feld, Handy & Houston
1989 - Ontario Bar Admission Courses, called to the Bar of Ontario
1987 - LL.B., University of Ottawa
1984 - B. A., Concordia University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mr. Gaon is a bilingual lawyer and alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") professional who has handled a range of complex matters involving legal and public affairs issues. As a lawyer, he managed numerous transactions and appeared before a wide variety of courts and tribunals. Mr. Gaon now serves principally as a mediator, arbitrator and specialist in workplace conflict investigation and resolution. He is an active mediator in the Ontario Attorney General's Mandatory Mediation Program. In 2008, Mr. Gaon was accredited by the ADR Institute of Canada as a Chartered Mediator.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Mediation and arbitrations – employment law and workplace conflict, corporate and commercial disputes, personal injuries and insurance matters, professional malpractice, construction disputes, landlord-tenant matters, residential & commercial real estate issues, wills & estates problems. Mr. Gaon has also acted as a Negotiator, appointed to mediate and resolve real property and environmental issues under the National Energy Board Act.

Workplace investigations and examinations – Mr. Gaon has provided workplace examinations and harassment investigation work for a multitude of federal government departments and agencies and large-scale educational institutions. He is a specialist in the theory and application of policies designed to prevent harassment and discrimination, as well as federal and provincial human rights legislation.

Matrimonial and family law – Mediations, arbitrations and collaborative family law in all aspects of family law, including property valuations and division, child and spousal support, and parenting and access issues.

Sport disputes – As a panel mediator in the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, Mr. Gaon provides expert conflict resolution in major sport disputes, including doping cases, national team selection issues and carding (funding) matters.

Administrative law and regulatory compliance – Mr. Gaon has acted as general counsel to an administrative tribunal hearing cross-border commercial disputes, conciliated disputes under the National Energy Board Act and has advised clients on a variety of administrative law and regulatory matters.

Adjudication – Mr. Gaon was appointed Chair of the Employment Insurance Board of Referees in 1998 by Order of the Governor General in Council, where he adjudicated upon Employment Insurance Act appeals, applied the principles of natural justice and wrote all the Board's decisions. Mr. Gaon presided over more than 1,000 hearings in English and French from 1998 to 2002.

Privacy Law – Mr. Gaon was retained by a national industry association to advise on compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and related privacy issues. Mr. Gaon wrote a nationally published guide to personal information and drafted numerous contracts and legal forms. He has also provided opinions on other Canadian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act and has given public presentations in various parts of Canada on these topics.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Law Society of Upper Canada
  • County of Carleton Law Association (elected Trustee since 2009)
  • ADR Institute of Canada (member of Advocacy Committee and Assessment Committee re: Qualified Mediators)
  • ADR Institute of Ontario
  • Canadian Bar Association (elected to Executive, ADR Section, 2007-2008)
  • Collaborative Law Network
  • VOLUNTEER WORK

    Highlights of Mr. Gaon’s activities include:
  • Trustee, Board of Trustees, County of Carleton Law Association (2009-present)
  • Executive Member, Canadian Bar Association, ADR Section (2007-2008)
  • ADR Institute of Canada - member of Advocacy Committee and Committee which assesses Qualified Mediator applicants.
  • Seminar instructor (ADR and administrative law) Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
  • Mediation coach and mentor to law students, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
  • Director, Board of Directors, Kidney Foundation of Canada, Eastern Ontario (1997 to 1999)
  • Director & Legal Counsel, Canada 125 Committee, United Way (1992)
  • Providing numerous public presentations on ADR and related issues