Brenda Hollingsworth on how courtroom depth changes client outcomes
00:00 If you know what it looks like to try and use the evidence in a trial and it's not all theoretical, you can speak with
00:07 authority at mediation, you can speak with authority at a pre-trial and that really makes a difference for client outcomes.
00:16 Hello and welcome to Canadian Lawyer TV.
00:18 [music]
00:18 Today we are proud to feature OJ Hollingsworth Accident and Injury Lawyers, recognized as one of the Canadian Lawyers top personal injury boutiques for 2026.
00:28 Founded in 2004 by Richard Oja and Brenda Hollingsworth, the firm has grown from a small Ottawa practice into a
00:36 respected Ontariwide personal injury firm known for its hands-on approach, clear guidance, and strong client advocacy. Joining us today is Brenda
00:44 Hollingsworth, co-owner of OJ Hollingsworth, Accident and Injury Lawyers. First of all, congratulations on being named a winner of the Canadian
00:52 Lawyers Top Personal Injury Boutiques for 2026. What does this recognition mean to your team and how does it
00:59 reflect the firm's journey since its founding in 2004?
01:04 We are just thrilled to have received this award. We have been aware of this award for some time and admired the
01:12 other firms who've been recipients and are thrilled to be recognized alongside them. We have worked very hard. We're in
01:19 our 22nd year to create and build a firm that would be uh meritorious of this type of award and it's finally happened and we're thrilled.
01:29 OJ Hollingsworth has maintained a strong focus on direct partner involvement in every case. How has this hands-on
01:36 approach shaped client outcomes and differentiated your firm from competition?
01:42 We have a lot of trial experience. The two founders, Richard OJ and I have a lot of trial experience. Richard in particular has done close to a hundred
01:51 trials. And having that kind of experience in a personal injury law firm is quite unusual, especially now as
01:58 trials become fewer and far between, harder to have, court delays. Um there aren't a lot of lawyers out there who have the kind of experience we do. And
02:07 that makes a difference in how you prepare files. If you know what it looks like to try and use the evidence in a
02:14 trial and it's not all theoretical, you can speak with authority at mediation, you can speak with authority at a
02:22 pre-trial and that really makes a difference for client outcomes. It also really helps with our teaching our
02:29 associates and council lawyers uh to make sure that they are focusing on what ultimately matters when cases are decided.
02:38 Your firm handles a wide range of complex matters from motor vehicle accidents to denied long-term disability claims. How do you ensure clients feel
02:47 supported, not just legally, but personally through what can be a really difficult time?
02:53 We talk a lot with our lawyers about the importance of serving the client as a person, not a case, not a file number.
03:02 We talk a lot about different issues like for example how to serve the population who are suffering from
03:09 anxiety. That is a very prevalent uh type of injury across all of our lines of business and uh those clients have
03:18 special needs and we talk a lot about how to best serve them and so that's a big part of it. The other thing is we're
03:26 lucky to have excellent community partners in our rehabilitation companies. for example, who provide
03:34 outstanding service. And we um you know, we're not static. Uh we constantly
03:41 investigate who is providing the best service in the market. Uh we're not afraid to try new rehab companies. And
03:49 that has all been to the benefit, the great benefit of our clients. They've done an excellent job serving um sort of the non-legal needs, which are many for our clients.
04:00 The firm's growth has been fueled in part by word of mouth referrals and strong client relationships. What do you believe are the key factors behind this
04:09 trust? And how do you continue to nurture it today?
04:12 Uh well, I mean referral and word of mouth uh are very important in order to grow and continue to uh prosper in this
04:20 market and the way you do that I think is outstanding communication. We have really strict rules in our firm about
04:29 how long a client waits before they hear back from the lawyer. Uh the lawyer has uh a timeline that they have to meet. If
04:37 they can't meet it, there at minimum has to be uh contact with the client and then a scheduled appointment. And so
04:44 we're very strict about that. We have um certain points in the year where all clients hear from all lawyers. So at
04:52 minimum they have a comprehensive update multiple times a year uh that is organized and monitored by the firm. We
05:00 have a monthly firm newsletter which is actually really interesting because the firm newsletter often prompts clients to
05:08 email back and um that has been uh great. So lots of touch points really
05:15 lots of outgoing communication and um we just find it's served really well.
05:21 Beyond legal representation, your team is actively involved in education, mentorship, and community initiatives.
05:28 And how do these efforts influence your firm's culture and approach to client service? Yeah, so we really promote
05:36 getting involved in uh community and legal organizations. I'm very privileged. I'm the second vice president of the Ontario Bar
05:44 Association. other members of our team are um serve sort of um executive roles
05:51 in other important legal organizations and we think it brings a commitment to lifelong learning uh which I think any
06:00 lawyer who is not participating in continual professional development not just what the law society mandates but
06:08 uh continual professional development really is going to be behind the eightball and that is the culture at our
06:14 firm. Every Tuesday, for example, we have uh an all hands legal meeting where we talk about an important case, an
06:23 importance, how to maximize damages, how to build a perfect demand package. We do
06:29 this every Tuesday as a full firm to move the dial and to make sure that we are continuing our journey to legal
06:37 excellence. And a lot of what we bring to these meetings are things that we learn outside the firm um involved in
06:44 the OBA, the advocate society, the local law associations, and it's really part of making sure that the standard is high
06:53 for all of our lawyers to the benefit of our clients.
06:56 Well, congratulations again to OJ Hollingsworth accident and injury lawyers on this very well-earned recognition. With a strong foundation
07:04 built on advocacy, accessibility, and client-centered service, the firm continues to support individuals across Ontario through both exceptional legal
07:12 representation and meaningful community engagement. Thank you so much, Brenda, for joining us. Thank you so much for having me.
07:19 And again, this is Brody Lawson, and thank you for watching Canadian Lawyer TV.