Posted: November 14, 2025
By: Sarah Harding
This article originally appeared in .
When John McLeish (LLB’73) decided to pursue a legal education at ĢAV, he had no plans to be a practicing lawyer. Instead, he thought it would be a good foundation for a career in finance.
He held this belief throughout his three years at law school where he focused on business and corporate law. Professors Ed Harris (BComm’54, LLB’58) and Les O’Brien (BComm’64, LLB’67), the anchors of the tax and corporate law curriculum at that time, had a big influence on him. Although he had a deep appreciation for what he was learning, his heart was still set on a career in finance. His plan was to graduate and not pursue articling or the Ontario Bar admission course.
At that point his mother stepped in. Although she was supportive of whatever path he chose, she felt that he should at least get called to the Bar. Partly seeing the wisdom in this, and partly out of respect for his mother, who was dealing with health issues at the time, he decided to article. Much to his surprise, he really enjoyed articling. After getting called to the Bar, he started practicing with Chuck Loopstra and Sandy Nixon at Loopstra Nixon and McLeish. Initially he had to “take anything that walked through the door” but quickly started to direct his practice exclusively to personal injury law.
Reflecting on the past, looking forward with intention
In 1999, he left Loopstra Nixon and McLeish (the successor firm of Loopstra Nixon now has over 125 lawyers) to start McLeish Personal Injury Law, which is now known as McLeish Orlando, a 10-lawyer personal injury boutique. With over 40 years’ experience serving clients and more than 20 years’ successfully leading one of Toronto’s top personal injury law firms, he has now eased off the throttle and is reflecting on the past.
“I was with two great firms throughout my legal career where the lawyers in the firm liked each other and we got a great product out the door. Both firms continue to have an outstanding culture and perform at a very high level.”
He also looks back on his time at law school with much fondness. He remembers living on the top floor of Domus in his first and second years of law school. “It was a dump,” he admits. “But for me, it was a wonderful experience.” He formed many close and lasting friendships with a number of his classmates, one of whom was Greg Baker (LLB’73). Greg’s family were lobster fishermen in Yarmouth.
“Greg invited me to Yarmouth every year after exams to, among other things, go lobster fishing and eat his mother’s assortment of pies. Devouring eight lobsters in a row on my first trip seemed like a good idea at the time, but turned out not to be! I modified my consumption considerably on subsequent trips. Atlantic Canada is firmly embedded in my DNA. I go every summer. It is the favourite holiday for my wife and me.”
McLeish’s affection for his law school and his respect for the strength of the faculty as a nationally and internationally recognized legal training powerhouse has led him to recognize the law school in his estate planning.
“I could not have achieved what I did without a law degree,” says McLeish.
I feel that having a law degree from ĢAV gave me instant credibility and provided opportunities that I do not think I would have had if I had gone to a different law school. It is a no-brainer for me to give back in my estate planning. — John McLeish
The law school is deeply grateful for McLeish’s exemplary philanthropic leadership and his deep commitment to the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service. If you are interested, learn more about legacy gifts to ĢAV.