About Susannah Margison
Susannah Margison is a lawyer, mediator, and conflict strategist based in Toronto. She mediates complex civil disputes and advises professionals, executives, and private clients on high-stakes conflict—from early-stage strategy through formal resolution.
Background
Susannah brings more than a decade of trial experience and nearly fifteen years working in conflict resolution. She has acted as legal counsel to national organizations, advised professionals and organizations navigating reputationally sensitive disputes, and chaired one of Ontario’s largest interdisciplinary primary care boards.
Her mediation practice focuses on professional negligence matters, including medical and hospital malpractice, elder care and nursing home negligence, healthcare-related class actions, and institutional sexual abuse claims. She is regularly engaged in files marked by entrenched positions, heightened emotion, or breakdowns in trust.
She also works with healthcare organizations on internal disputes that have not yet reached—and may never reach—litigation. This includes workplace conflicts between providers, harassment complaints requiring a neutral third party, and physician-administration disputes. Her background in health sciences and institutional governance informs her understanding of the professional relationships and systemic pressures at play.
Her advisory work extends to executives, founders, and families navigating conflict where professional and personal stakes intersect. This is early-stage, high-impact work: clarity under pressure, negotiation preparation, and strategic positioning before decisions are made.
Hendler Mediation Inc.
Susannah’s mediation work is conducted through Hendler Mediation, one of Canada’s most respected civil mediation practices. Founded by Cliff Hendler, the firm is trusted by law firms across the country for complex, high-consequence disputes.
Approach
Susannah’s approach is pragmatic, structured, and forward-focused. She is known for her preparation, her ability to reframe risk, and her capacity to maintain momentum without inflaming conflict.
Colleagues describe her presence as steady and disarming—a combination of composure and candour that moves people toward resolution. She understands both the legal realities of conflict and the psychological patterns that shape how people communicate, negotiate, and decide.
Credentials
J.D., Barrister & Solicitor (Ontario), Called to the Bar (2012)
B.Sc. (Hons.), Health Sciences
Certified Executive Coach (iPEC), with advanced training in conflict management and leadership psychology
Over a decade of experience in litigation and mediation
In the Media
Featured as a conflict expert on The Globe and Mail, CP24, Breakfast Television, and CBC Radio.
Begin the Conversation
Every engagement begins in confidence.
A direct conversation to understand what you are facing and how it can be handled.