Mark Baker

Mark completed his BA at the University of Western Ontario in 1982. He received his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in 1985 and was called to the Bar in 1987.

Mark worked with the Toronto Law Firm Kostyniuk & Greenside for 17 years where he was involved in all aspects of general litigation, with emphasis on insurance litigation, including principal carriage and handling of litigation files up to, and including, trial and arbitration. Mark also gained experience in real estate, estates and family law over his time working in Toronto.

Mark joined Ontario law firm Ferguson Barristers in November of 2004 and became a partner in 2007. Mark has continued his trial and arbitration practice to the present day. When Deacon Taws and Ferguson Barristers merged in 2018, Mark was happy to take on new challenges, including resuming practice in real estate, wills and estates law.

Mark has served or assisted on the Board of Directors for Community Reach North Simcoe, including a recent stint as Chair, Independent Living Simcoe, and the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre.

Mark has also been active in the firm’s pro-bono work for the Canadian Paraplegic Association, including assisting at the legal clinic provided by the firm.

Who bears responsibility and what should the sanctions be when essential evidence (in this case, a van sent to the wreckers) is lost or destroyed before all parties have a chance to examine it? The complicated history of this decision is a good cautionary tale for making sure that evidence is secured from the outset and done on record if you expect litigation to come out of an incident.