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
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- 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
