Award-winning firm Whitelaw Twining, part of the DWF Group, expands its international insurance practice with the addition of two leading Partners in Toronto
TORONTO, ON, CANADA (September 29, 2025) – Whitelaw Twining (WT), part of the DWF Group, announced this week that they have welcomed John Nicholl and Heather Gray as new Partners in their Toronto office. While both will be based in Toronto, John will also maintain an active practice in Montréal, continuing to serve his longstanding Québec-based clients.
This strategic expansion strengthens the firm’s position as a key player in both the national and international insurance markets. Both John and Heather bring decades of experience and are widely recognized for their expertise in complex, cross-border insurance disputes.
John is a dual-qualified insurance lawyer in Ontario and Québec, with over four decades of experience in litigation, arbitration, and high-stakes insurance coverage matters. His bilingual, international practice spans Canada, the U.S., and Europe, with particularly deep ties to the London insurance market. He focuses on disputes involving business interruption, product liability, class actions, and political risk. John is widely regarded as a leader in the field, having been named Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.) by the Québec Bar and ranked Band 1 by Chambers Canada in Insurance – Dispute Resolution.
Heather advises both domestic and London-based insurers as coverage counsel, with deep experience in financial lines, E&O, D&O, and general liability issues. With more than 20 years in the field, she represents clients in litigation, arbitration, and mediation, and regularly provides regulatory guidance on licensing, market conduct, and product development. Her balanced perspective on coverage, defence, and regulatory compliance makes her a trusted advisor.
“The addition of John and Heather significantly strengthens our national insurance practice and our ability to serve clients internationally with deep regional knowledge and industry-leading expertise” says Danny Shugarman, Country Managing Partner at Whitelaw Twining. “Their arrival also supports our continued growth as part of the DWF Group, expanding our reach and capabilities across global insurance markets.”
With the addition of John and Heather, Whitelaw Twining continues to grow its international capabilities and reinforce its reputation as an industry-leader for sophisticated insurance litigation.
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KERRI-LYNN KILBEY
Marketing Manager
Whitelaw Twining
+1 604.443.3455 | [email protected]