Rebecca Bush

Partner and National Business Leader, Insurance & Tort Liability Group

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6162

Rebecca is a partner in BLG’s Disputes Group. Her practice focuses on public authority litigation and complex tort litigation for large institutional clients. She has specialized expertise in crisis management, sexual violence investigations, incident response and defence.

Rebecca has extensive expertise in the education sector advising and representing school boards and independent schools in respect of bullying, violence and harassment complaints and claims. In the higher education sector, Rebecca provides advice to and represents universities and colleges in respect of crisis management and allegations of sexual violence.

Rebecca also has extensive experience acting as a trusted advisor to municipalities and representing them in all manner of claims, including claims against emergency services.

Rebecca frequently provides advice on sensitive matters which are the subject of public and media scrutiny. She defends the reputational interests of her clients in policy and precedent setting cases.

Rebecca is the National Business Leader of the Insurance & Tort Liability Group.

Experience

  • Crisis management, including:
    • Supporting organizations upon receiving reports of sexual assault or allegations of harassment in crisis containment and media response.
    • Advice to leadership and board members regarding investigation, mandatory reporting and working with police in the context of allegations of sexual assault or harassment
  • Advises institutional clients on and defends claims relating to sexual abuse and harassment, including allegations of negligent supervision, breach of fiduciary duty and vicarious liability claims.
  • Defends claims seeking damages for psychological injury and mental distress in the employment, personal injury and human rights context.
  • Defends public institutions, including municipalities, in a broad range of tort claims including municipal infrastructure claims.
  • Defends municipal emergency services including actions against police for malicious prosecution, negligent investigation and breach of Charter rights.
  • Provides advice and opinions to large institutional clients on a variety of matters including statutory interpretation and risk management.
  • Acts as counsel on Coroner's Inquests.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Chair, Trial Techniques Committee, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association
  • Diversity Chair, Business Litigation Committee, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association
  • Vice-Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association
  • Vice-Chair, Women Trial Lawyers Task Force, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association
  • Member, The Advocates' Society
  • Member, Law Society of Ontario
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Member, "Give A Day" Campaign Committee

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada (Insurance Law), since 2024 (Personal Injury Litigation) and since 2022 (Corporate and Commercial Litigation).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2020) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Personal Injury) and 2024 (Litigation - Commercial Insurance).
  • Recognized in the 2023 and 2020 editions of Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 2002
  • Certificate in International Business Transactions and International Litigation, University of San Diego's Institute of International & Comparative Law, King's College London, 2003
  • LLB, University of Windsor, 2001
  • BA (Hons.), University of Toronto, 1998