Philip Bernard Abbink

Philip Abbink, Hons BA, MA, JD, practices in the areas of professional regulation and labour law, primarily providing advocacy for health care professionals in grievance arbitrations and at professional Colleges. He also represents employees in investigations, quasi-criminal regulatory proceedings and at Coroners' Inquests. Philip is also the Co-managing Partner at Cavalluzzo.

After earning a JD and a MA in International Relations from the University of Toronto, Phil articled at Cavalluzzo. During his articles, he represented the Ontario Nurses Association along with Kate Hughes in a Coroner’s Inquest arising from a death in a long-term care home. The recommendations from this inquest led to significant changes specifically related to the assessment of, and care for, residents with behavioural challenges, which remain in practice to this day. He then returned to primarily practice in the area of criminal defence, and related labour arbitration and professional regulator proceedings. He represented clients at Provincial and Superior Court, at the Court of Appeal, and before professional regulatory Colleges. His criminal defence practice principally related to professionals, including teachers and nurses.

As an associate, he worked with David Bloom in a very lengthy, and hotly contested, professional misconduct hearing at the College of Teachers, successfully defending the teacher against scores of allegations and obtaining a penalty of a mere reprimand.

After living in Ireland for several years, Phil returned to Cavalluzzo as an Associate, and became a partner in 2017. During this time, his practice has focussed on representing nurses in labour arbitration and professional regulatory proceedings. He has continued to advocate for individuals and institutions in Coroners’ Inquests, including representing the surviving siblings of Jeffrey Baldwin in the Inquest into his death over several months. Recommendations from this Inquest also led to significant changes in the child protection system in Ontario.