Michele Lawford

Michele Lawford is General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, VP Legal at VON Canada.  She has focused her practice in the health sector for over a decade, working with both public and private sector clients, including public hospitals, community health agencies, public health units, and pharmacies. 

Lawford also practiced on Bay Street for over 10 years at Genest Murray LLP and Dentons Canada LLP, where she focused on competition law, commercial litigation, insurance defence and professional liability. She has been a Vice Chair, Senior Lawyer and presiding member of three provincial health tribunals, pursuant to appointments by Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor-in-Council – the Consent and Capacity Board, Health Professions Appeal and Review Board and the Health Services Appeal and Review Board. 

Lawford is a former Special Advisor (Legislative) to the Attorney General of Ontario and has been the lawyer member for three health sciences research ethics boards at the University of Toronto. She is a former director of the Elizabeth Fry Society and Humewood House.