The Bergeron Clifford partner whose philosophy was forged on the track and tested in the courtroom
[00:00] Gavin Cosgrove: When the other side knows you're prepared to take the case to trial, it often, it usually leads to a more meaningful settlement. Many people assume that they have more protection than they actually do through their policies.
[00:14] Brodie Lawson: Welcome to Canadian Lawyer TV. I am Brodie Lawson and today I'm sitting down with Gavin Cosgrove, partner at Bergeron Clifford LLP, one of the leading personal injury firms in Eastern Ontario. Gavin has spent his career representing people at some of the hardest moments in their lives and he's built a reputation across the region for doing it well. Gavin, thanks so much for joining me.
[00:37] Gavin Cosgrove: Of course, Brodie.
[00:39] Brodie Lawson: Now, before we get into the law, I want to know a little bit more about you. It sounds like you were perhaps inherently competitive being born as an identical twin. You eventually went on to run NCAA Division 1 track in the Bronx. What did competing at that level teach you that still shows up in your practice today?
[00:59] Gavin Cosgrove: Yeah, thank you, Brodie. Being a Division 1 athlete taught me that success comes from preparation long before race day. So, you learn things like discipline, resilience, how to perform under pressure. You also learn that setbacks are inevitable and really it's how you respond that matters. And that's exactly how I approach the law. Every file requires preparation, persistence, and the ability to adapt. More importantly, it reinforced that success is a team effort and that's how we practice law at Bergeron Clifford.
[01:31] Brodie Lawson: So, let's talk about how you got here. You joined Bergeron Clifford as an associate in 2009 and you've been with the firm ever since. What drew you to personal injury law generally and then kept you at Bergeron Clifford more specifically?
[01:46] Gavin Cosgrove: Yeah, so I joined Bergeron Clifford as a first-year associate. I wanted to, Brodie, practice in an area where I could make a real difference in people's lives. As you alluded to earlier, our clients don't come to us on their best day. They're often dealing with pain, uncertainty, and financial stress. And helping them through that process is incredibly rewarding. Bergeron Clifford has always shared that client-first philosophy, and I've been here since 2009 because of the people, the culture, and the commitment to doing excellent work for our clients.
[02:21] Brodie Lawson: As your career has advanced, how would you describe your leadership style?
[02:27] Gavin Cosgrove: I've been fortunate to learn from some outstanding mentors. When I first joined Bergeron Clifford, we were a three-lawyer firm, and the other two lawyers were the founding partners, Chris Clifford and Ted Bergeron. I've always tried, in part inspired by them, to stay curious and continue to improve. As a leader, personally, I believe in leading by example. So, I want people to know they can rely on me, whether that's a client or a colleague. And we know the best results come from collaboration, mutual respect, and preparing together.
[02:58] Brodie Lawson: And I'm sure it's a lot of those attributes that helped get you named to Best Lawyers in 2024, and then of course inducted as a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America in 2025. What does recognition like this mean to you at this stage of your career?
[03:15] Gavin Cosgrove: It's certainly an honor, Brodie. I'm grateful for the recognition, but rewards, of course, aren't something that we chase here. They do reflect years of hard work by our entire team, not just one individual. For me, and I think all the lawyers at Bergeron Clifford here, the greatest measure of success is when a client comes to us and says, "You know, Gavin, you've helped me through a very difficult time." And that's what continues to motivate me.
[03:42] Brodie Lawson: Ontario's accident benefit rules changed significantly this year. What are your thoughts on the reform, and do any of the changes jump out at you as the most significant?
[03:53] Gavin Cosgrove: The changes make it even more important for people to understand the insurance coverage that they are purchasing or have purchased. Many people assume that they have more protection than they actually do through their policies. We know reduced mandatory benefits mean individuals may face larger gaps after especially a serious collision. The reforms place greater responsibility on consumers to review their policies carefully. And from our perspective, education has never been more important.
[04:23] Brodie Lawson: What are you telling your clients right now about how to best protect themselves under these new rules?
[04:29] Gavin Cosgrove: A few things. Number one, review your automobile insurance policy before you renew it and understand what you have currently. Number two, speak to your broker about optional benefits. Number three, spending a little bit more time today can make an enormous difference after a catastrophic injury. Number four, don't assume the standard policy is enough for your family's needs. And the final one, hopefully you'll never need that coverage, but if you do, of course, you'll be very glad that you have it.
[04:59] Brodie Lawson: Yes, certainly. And Bergeron Clifford has grown a great deal since Ted Bergeron and Chris Clifford founded the firm in Kingston back in 1999. You now have offices in Kingston, Ottawa, Perth, Carleton Place, and Pembroke. So you're serving communities right across Eastern Ontario. Why has that local presence mattered so much to the firm?
[05:19] Gavin Cosgrove: It's because, Brodie, we're part of these communities. Our lawyers live here, we raise families here, we understand the people we represent. So having offices throughout Eastern Ontario makes us more accessible to our clients, of course, during a very difficult time for them. In addition to that, it allows us to build long-term relationships with health care providers, rehab professionals, and the local legal communities. We combine regional reach with personal service.
[05:46] Brodie Lawson: Now I know your firm's approach is to prepare every file as though it's going to trial. What difference does that make for a client even if the case ends up getting settled, which I believe it usually does?
[05:58] Gavin Cosgrove: Yeah, most cases do settle, but that preparation, Brodie, changes everything. When the other side knows you're prepared to take a case to trial, it often, it usually leads to a more meaningful settlement. It also means we fully investigated the facts and we understand not just the strengths of our case, but the weaknesses of our case. You're right, most files do settle, but our clients benefit from what we call trial-level preparation regardless. Our goal, of course, is always to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients, whether that's achieved in the courtroom or across the negotiating table.
[06:33] Brodie Lawson: Well, Gavin, this has been a great conversation. I'm so glad to learn more about your work at Bergeron Clifford, so thank you so much for joining me.
[06:40] Gavin Cosgrove: Thank you very much, Brodie.
[06:41] Brodie Lawson: That's Gavin Cosgrove, partner at Bergeron Clifford LLP. To learn more about the firm and to get in touch with Gavin's team, visit bergeronclifford.com. Thanks so much for watching. We'll see you next time on Canadian Lawyer TV.
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