Joyce Choi Sei Tam

Joyce’s practice at the firm focuses on representing clients in insurance coverage, defamation, professional liability, and commercial litigation matters. Joyce has appeared before the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Divisional Court, and the Ontario Court of Appeal.

As the mother of two young children, Joyce spends considerable time negotiating and mediating with anarchists.

Breaking Ground Drilling and Blasting Inc. v. A.D. Hanslip Excavating, 2024 ONSC 6836 – Successfully acted for insurer third partied into an action striking defendant’s claim for coverage and indemnity under a policy issued to the plaintiff.

Thunder Bay (City) v. Great American Insurance Co. , 2024 ONCA 837. Acted for insurer on appeal. The court agreed that the lead exclusion in another insurer’s policy did not apply and agreed that the other insurer had a concurrent duty to defend.

Kestenberg Siegel Lipkus LLP v. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Co. of Canada , 2024 ONCA 607. Acted for excess professional liability insurers. The court held that relief from forfeiture was not available to excuse late reporting under a claims-made-and-reported policy. As such, there was no coverage for a claim reported after the policy had expired.

Workman Optometry P.C. v. Certas Home and Auto Insurance Co. , 2024 ONCA 479. Acted as lead counsel for insurers in appeal of COVID-19 business interruption trial decision holding that the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not cause “physical loss or damage” within the meaning of commercial property insurance policies. The Court of Appeal upheld the trial decision and affirmed the decision in favour of the insurers.