Lawyers and Staff

John L. Walker

John L. Walker

Partner Learn More
Sean G. Sorensen

Sean G. Sorensen

Partner Learn More
Margaret Pak

Margaret Pak

Partner Learn More
Roisin Hutchinson

Roisin Hutchinson

Partner Learn More
Albana Musta

Albana Musta

Associate Learn More
Linda Shapland

Linda Shapland

Law Clerk Learn More
Mary Hopla

Mary Hopla

Executive Assistant Learn More
John L. Walker

John L. Walker

Partner Learn More
Sean G. Sorensen

Sean G. Sorensen

Partner Learn More
Margaret Pak

Margaret Pak

Partner Learn More
Roisin Hutchinson

Roisin Hutchinson

Partner Learn More
Albana Musta

Albana Musta

Associate Learn More
Linda Shapland

Linda Shapland

Law Clerk Learn More
Mary Hopla

Mary Hopla

Executive Assistant Learn More

Mary Hopla, Executive Assistant

About

Mary provides administrative and secretarial services to our lawyers.

Mary has been at the firm since it opened, and it is Mary’s friendly voice that you usually first hear when calling our office.

John L. Walker, Partner

Career

John is a founding partner of Walker Sorensen LLP. Prior to founding the firm, he was the Insurance Group Practice Leader at one of Canada’s national law firms.

John’s primary practice is providing advice to clients on business, insurance and reinsurance matters. He advises insurers, reinsurers, fraternal societies, banks and insurance intermediaries on regulatory compliance, strategic initiatives, obtaining approvals and orders from Canadian federal and provincial insurance regulators and negotiating insurance distribution agreements.

John’s current practice also focuses on risk management of law firms, in the course of which he conducts professional liability risk management audits for major Canadian law firms.

Recent Experience

Law Firm Risk Management
    • Conducting professional liability risk management audits for major Canadian law firms
    • Developing on-line professional liability risk management audit surveys for law firms
    • Developing an on-line professional liability risk management course for lawyers
Insurance and Reinsurance Companies
  • Advising various insurers on regulatory compliance with federal and provincial insurance legislation
  • Obtaining various approvals and orders from OSFI for domestic and foreign insurers and reinsurers
  • Advising fraternal insurers on strategic initiatives and modernizing their corporate governance
  • Completing a variety of compliance reviews and surveys for insurers
Agents and Brokers
  • Negotiating distribution agreements with insurers
  • Advising various agents and brokers on regulatory compliance with provincial and territorial insurance legislation
Banks
  • Acting for various banks in negotiating insurance distribution agreements with insurers
  • Advising various banks on compliance with the Insurance Business Regulations under the Bank Act
Professional Associations
  • Acting for various professional associations in negotiating insurance distribution agreements with insurers
Insurance
  • Monitoring the claims run-off general liability and professional liability portfolios
  • Drafting insurance policies
  • Coverage reviews and analysis
Reinsurance
  • Drafting reinsurance treaty wording templates
  • Reviewing and drafting reinsurance contracts
  • Reviewing and drafting commutation agreements
  • Monitoring the run-off of a portfolio of assumed reinsurance
  • Coverage reviews and analysis, particularly of historical reinsurance treaties

Education and Professional Associations

  • BA and LLB from the University of Toronto
  • Called to the Ontario bar in 1987
  • Member of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario

Directorships

  • Member of the Board of Directors and the Conduct Review Committee of Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Company Canada
  • Member of the Board of Directors and Conduct Review Committee of MIC Insurance Company Canada

Professional Recognitions

  • Recognized as a leading practitioner in Who’s Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance 2015
  • Recognized by Lexpert as a Repeatedly Recommended Practitioner – Financial Institutions Regulation – Ontario
  • Chambers Canada 2025, recognized as a Senior Statespeople : Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory

Outside Interests

  • Keen golfer – member of The Weston Golf and Country Club, Toronto

Linda Shapland, Law Clerk

Linda Shapland
Tel: (416) 249 -3929
Email:

Career

Linda is an experienced law clerk who assists counsel with insurance licensing matters with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions of Canada and the provincial/territorial insurance regulators. Linda also attends to corporate filings for OBCA and CBCA companies and to matters related to the registration of companies extra-provincially. Prior to joining the firm, Linda was a Securities Law Clerk at the firm McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

Recent Experience

  • Provincial/territorial licensing of an insurance company
  • Withdrawal of insurer licences of a foreign insurance company across Canada
  • Obtaining insurance licences for agents/brokers across Canada
  • Extra-provincial company registrations across Canada
  • Obtaining RIBO insurance broker licences for brokerage firms
  • Corporate filings under the OBCA and CBCA
  • Filings under the PPSA

Education

  • Certificate of Accounting / Finance from Ryerson University
  • Completed corporate and securities courses at the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario

Roisin Hutchinson, Partner

Having joined Walker Sorensen LLP from a large national Bay Street firm, Roisin has significant experience in corporate and commercial law and has specific expertise in legal and regulatory matters affecting domestic and foreign insurance companies, reinsurers, managing general agents and brokers.

Working closely with senior counsel, Roisin is a trusted advisor to clients, advising on reputational and regulatory risks, regulatory compliance and approvals, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, data security and privacy, online payment processing, licensing matters, market conduct issues and corporate governance. Roisin offers a resolution-focused approach to assisting clients and provides practical legal advice that helps clients achieve their business objectives.

Roisin was called to the Alberta Bar in 2013 and to the Ontario Bar in 2015. She is a member of the executive of the CBA Business Law Section and volunteers regularly with Pro Bono Ontario’s PBO Hotline. Prior to attending law school at the University of Calgary, Roisin obtained her sommelier certification through the International Sommelier Guild and practiced as a sommelier for five years.

Select Experience

Roisin has acted for and advised clients with respect to:

  • Regulatory issues and approvals involving permitted investments, financings, related party transactions, outsourcing and other third party service arrangements
  • Distribution arrangements related to the sale and marketing of insurance
  • Insurtech agreements and transactions and related regulatory matters
  • Privacy compliance and data security
  • Online payment systems and technologies
  • Group insurance, sponsored programs and ASO plans
  • Creditor insurance programs
  • Extended third party warranty product approvals and related regulatory issues
  • Acquisitions and dispositions of insurance intermediaries
  • Corporate governance for insurers and fraternal benefit societies
  • Regulation of insurers and fraternal benefit societies
  • Provincial and territorial licensing and regulatory compliance for insurers and insurance intermediaries

Education & Professional Associations

  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Calgary, 2001
  • Juris Doctor, University of Calgary, 2012
  • Executive Member of the Canadian Bar Association Business Law Section
  • Member of the Toronto Lawyer’s Association
  • Law Society of Ontario

Margaret Pak, Partner

Margaret is a partner at our firm and practices corporate and commercial law. Margaret’s practice focuses on insurance related matters and she has advised Board members, executives and founders of domestic and international companies on insurance regulatory law, corporate law and specific transactions.

Margaret also has particular experience in privacy law, and has advised extensively on digital privacy and data governance issues that involve PIPEDA, CASL and the Freedom of Information Act.

Recent Experience

  • Advised national and international insurers, reinsurers, brokers, MGAs and TPAs on matters with respect to insurance regulatory law and privacy law.
  • Experienced in dealing with provincial and federal regulators, domestically and internationally.
  • Advised international nuclear insurance companies, in Canada and the UK, on emerging issues in nuclear law and nuclear claims.
  • Advised on structure and compliance of new and existing digital B2B and B2C initiatives and apps.
  • Drafted and negotiated licensing agreements, online terms of use, complex commercial agreements and non-disclosure agreements.
  • Advised regularly on matters with respect to digital marketing and advertising law.

Education & Professional Associations

  • Called to the bar in Ontario in 2011
  • J.D., University of Western Ontario, 2010
  • B.A. Hons, University of Waterloo, 2007
  • Member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada
  • Member of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Member of the Ontario Bar Association

Board and Advisory Work

  • Member of the Board of Directors and Chair of Governance Committee, Toronto Lawyers Association

Professional Involvement

  • Completed a secondment with Guy Carpenter
  • Completed a secondment with Canadian Tire Financial Services
  • Pro-Bono Students Canada, University of Western Ontario

Professional Recognition

  • Chambers Canada 2025, recognized as a Band 3 ranked lawyer in Insurance: Transaction & Regulatory – Nationwide – Canada

Sean G. Sorensen, Partner

Career

In April, 2007, Sean entered into partnership with John Walker to form Walker Sorensen LLP. Prior to that Sean was a partner in the Business Law Group of McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Sean articled with McCarthy Tétrault LLP, and continued with that firm until leaving in 2007 to form Walker Sorensen. Before he began to practice law, Sean worked for one of Canada’s large national railways where he gained valuable insight into the management and operation of a large, complex organization. Sean’s practice focuses on financial services, regulatory advice and general corporate commercial law, including corporate finance and private mergers and acquistions.

Recent Experience

  • Advising insurers and insurance agents/brokers concerning insurance regulatory matters
  • Acting for purchasers and vendors in connection with the purchase and sale of businesses
  • Advising a foreign bank in connection with the establishment of a new Canadian bank subsidiary
  • Advising corporate borrowers on private placements involving lenders across Canada
  • Advising on various forms of commercial agreements, including shareholder agreements, partnership agreements, supply agreements, and transition services agreements
  • Advising on the incorporation and establishment of a securities broker dealer and the registration of the firm’s investment representatives and registered representatives
  • Advising foreign corporations in connection with the establishment of new business or branch operations in Canada
  • Member of the Board of Directors of a number of closely held corporations

Education & Professional Associations

  • B. Comm, MBA and LLB from the University of Windsor
  • Called to the bar in Ontario in 1999
  • Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario
  • Member of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Member of the Institute of Corporate Directors

Professional Recognition

Outside Interests

  • Avid novice sailor and member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club

Areas of Expertise

Business Law

  • General business law advice
  • Corporate reorganizations
  • Incorporations
Read More..

Insurance & Reinsurance Law

  • Licensing new insurers/reinsurers & agents/brokers
  • Compliance with insurance legislation and OSFI requirements
  • Analysis and drafting of insurance and reinsurance contracts
Read More..

Corporate Governance

  • Compliance with OSFI’s Corporate Governance Guideline
  • Corporate governance surveys
  • Conducting effectiveness assessments for board of directors
Read More..

Law Firm Risk Management

  • Professional liability risk management audits
  • Drafting risk management policies for law firms
  • Professional liability and risk management surveys
Read More..

 

Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance

  • Assisting financial institutions in understanding their compliance requirements under OSFI’s Corporate Governance Guideline
  • Conducting governance surveys at board and enterprise-wide levels
  • Conducting audits of the corporate governance practices of organizations
  • Conducting effectiveness assessments for boards of directors
  • Providing general advice on suitable governance practices which are tailored to the nature, size and complexity of an organization

Law Firm Risk Management

  • Professional liability risk management audits of law firms
  • Drafting professional liability risk management policies and procedures for insurers and law firms
  • On-line law firm professional liability risk management audit surveys
  • On-line law firm professional liability risk management courses

Business Law

  • General business law advice including reviewing, drafting and negotiating:
    • purchase and sale agreements
    • private investment agreements
    • shareholders’ agreements
    • distribution agreements
  • Corporate reorganizations
  • Incorporations
  • Minute book maintenance, including regulatory filings
  • Extra-provincial corporation registrations

Insurance and Reinsurance

Insurance Companies

  • Incorporating and licensing new insurers
  • Registering and licensing branches of foreign insurers
  • Regulatory compliance with the Insurance Companies Act and OSFI requirements
  • Demutualizations (life and property and casualty)
  • Insurance M&A transactions
  • Assumption reinsurance agreements
  • Renewal referral agreements

Agents and Brokers

  • Licensing agents and brokers
  • Regulatory compliance with insurance legislation
  • Negotiating agent and broker agreements with insurers

Banks

  • Compliance with the Insurance Business Regulations under the Bank Act
  • Drafting and negotiating insurance distribution agreements with insurers


Associations

  • Drafting and negotiating insurance distribution agreements with insurers and brokers

Insurance

  • Coverage analysis
  • Drafting insurance policies

Reinsurance

  • Drafting and negotiating reinsurance treaties
  • Drafting and negotiating commutation agreements
  • Coverage analysis
  • Claims handling audits for reinsurers
  • Audits of ceded and assumed reinsurance portfolios

Clients

Our clients include corporations, insurers and reinsurers headquartered in Canada and abroad, insurance pools and insurance distributors, including agents, brokers, retailers and professional organizations.

The following are some of our key clients who have kindly permitted us to include their names on our website.

 

  • Alternative Risk Services
  • The AXIS Group of Insurance Companies
  • The Bank of Nova Scotia
  • Canadian Lawyers Liability Assurance Society
  • Canadian Tire Financial Services
  • The Empire Life Insurance Company
  • Groupama International
  • Market Regulation Services Inc.
  • Munich Reinsurance Company, Canada Branch
  • National Truck League
  • Nuclear Insurance Association of Canada
  • PPI Financial Group
  • Scotia Insurance (Barbados) Limited
  • Unum Group

News & Publications

Legal Links

Consumer Protection Regulators
British Columbia

Consumer Protection BC

Alberta

Service Alberta

Manitoba

Consumer Protection Office

New Brunswick

Services New Brunswick

Newfoundland

Service Newfoundland

Nova Scotia

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

Ontario

Consumer Protection Ontario, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services

Prince Edward Island
Quebec

Office de la protection du consommateur

Saskatchewan
Yukon

Department of Community Services

Northwest Territories
Nunavut

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Contact Us