Connolly received the award at the OTLA’s 2023 Celebration of the Personal Injury Bar, a gala event held in Toronto in November. Fellow Class of ’73 graduates Justice James McNamara of Ottawa and Dermot Nolan of Hamilton extended congratulations to Tom at the dinner.
As an association of leading civil trial lawyers in Ontario, each year the OTLA names one Ontario lawyer representing plaintiffs and one representing defendants to receive this award in recognition of their exceptional contributions and achievements.
Tom Connolly founded Connolly Obagi LLP in 2008 to pursue his vision of a personal injury firm dedicated to serving clients involved in serious personal injury claims, including disability, death and medical malpractice claims.
Tom is a past president and a current director of OTLA. He plays an active role in continuing legal education, which includes making presentations to lawyers and law students.
In 2008, he was presented with the John McLeish Award, one of the OTLA’s top awards, in recognition of his outstanding contribution and leading role in furthering excellence in advocacy skills for trial lawyers.
Tom is also a director of the Bertram Loeb Organ Donation Institute, which undertakes projects to support organ and tissue donation and to contribute to a sustainable increase in the rate of organ donation in Canada.
“Receiving this award from OTLA is the highest recognition one can receive as a plaintiff counsel,” said Connolly. “To me that means I have the respect of my litigation colleagues. This means the world to me after almost 50 years of practicing in the civil courts of Ontario.”
Congratulations Tom Connolly!