We are Kate Dewhirst Health Law.

Here are six things you should know about us...

Kate Dewhirst Health Law - bringing the law to life.

We are health lawyers


We are strong and passionate advocates for improving our healthcare system by making things simpler for those who work in it.

These are our clients


Ontario health teams, hospitals, family health teams, mental health centres, nurse practitioner-led clinics, community health centres, birth centres and all sorts of healthcare organizations.

We can fix it together


Disputes in health care are messy and complicated, and worries about the law will eat your time and sap your energy. Whatever the problem is, our experience in healthcare law will help us fix it together.

Access teachers, motivators and speakers


A disengaged and uninterested team leads to poor outcomes. Let us sparkle your people with our group and individual teaching and training.

We know health privacy


Privacy breaches can destroy clinical relationships and risk the loss of your reputation, court action, and claims for damages. You can't roll back the clock, but we will help you move forward.

We have free stuff


Tour our brains at no charge by reading our award-winning blog and take away as much as you can carry. Then raid this page for more freebies.

Our clients are located all across the province.

We work in small communities, not just the big towns. (OK, that was seven things.)

Meet the team:

Kate Dewhirst

Kate Dewhirst

Senior Legal Counsel kate@katedewhirst.com (416) 855 9557 Ext 221

Kate is our law firm founder. She gives legal advice on system integration, privacy, risk management, and credentialing.

Kate is also an instructor in our sister company, Something Orange Training Inc.

Sarah Virani

Sarah Virani

Senior Legal Counsel sarah@katedewhirst.com (416) 855 9557 Ext 224

Sarah gives legal advice on privacy, risk management, credentialing and policy issues. Sarah makes clients feel comfortable and cared-for with her warmth and depth of experience.

Sarah has worked in large law firms and was in-house counsel at Canada’s premier children’s hospital. Sarah is also a teacher and an instructor in our sister business, Something Orange Training Inc.

Gillian Kafka

Gillian Kafka

Senior Legal Counsel gillian@katedewhirst.com (416) 855 9557 Ext 226

Gillian gives legal advice on privacy, risk management, credentialing and policy issues. Gillian has a comedian’s stand-up style and astute risk radar.

Gillian was in-house counsel at a large teaching hospital and at a leading-edge health tech company. She is also an instructor in Something Orange Training Inc.

Megan

Megan Ferrier

Senior Legal Advisor megan@katedewhirst.com

Megan provides legal advice on privacy, policy, health law interpretation and statutory compliance.

She is especially good at complex strategy, in-depth research, and assessing risk and possibilities. She also develops our client products and supports our membership programmes in our sister company, Something Orange Training Inc.

Melissa

Melissa Martin

Office Magician melissa@katedewhirst.com (416) 855 9557 Ext 222

Melissa is in charge of operations. She’ll speak to you frequently during our relationship.

When you start with us – you’ll meet Melissa who explains what you can expect from us.

Lindsay

Cathryn Fallis

Office magician cathryn@katedewhirst.com (416) 855 9557 Ext 225

Cathryn is in charge of scheduling, event planning and team technology. When you book a meeting or training, you’ll be in touch with Cathryn.

Cathryn also works extensively in our sister company, Something Orange Training Inc.


Contact us.

Every website needs a contact form - here’s mine. If you think you might need legal advice, or training, if you want to know more or if you’re just having a bad day and want to tell someone about it, please get in touch.

Kate Dewhirst Health Law

Bringing the law to life.

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 13024
RPO Bradford Centre
Bradford, ON, L3Z 2Y5

Telephone:

(416) 855 9557

Please do not send any urgent, sensitive or confidential information from this website. Contacting me, sending me an email or completing a request for me to contact you will not make me your lawyer. That's because there are rules I have to follow to determine whether I can advise you. There may be situations where I cannot act for you because of a conflict of interest or if I do not have the expertise you need. You are not a client unless and until I have agreed to act for you in which case I will write to you to explain how I work and my legal terms and conditions. By clicking “Send” you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclaimer and that Kate Dewhirst is not yet retained to represent you.

Some of Kate’s recent and upcoming events

Free healthcare privacy webinar - ask me anything!
the first Wednesday of every month

Free webinars - advance registration needed

Whether you're an experienced privacy officer or new in the field, pick Kate’s brain for free for an hour, in this live webinar. No charge, but you’ll need to register in advance.

Primary care webinars: Employment Law Update & Legal Issues for EDs and Board members

Part of Kate’s monthly webinar series.

Our 2025 program is now live.
Full details of the 2024 webinar series and registration here.

Mental Health webinars: Legal issues for mental health and addictions agencies and teams
Annual membership 2025

For managers and other leaders from mental health and addictions agencies, hospitals, CMHAs, CHCs, school boards, FHTs and Indigenous health services

This is an annual membership program with monthly webinars.
Full details and registration here.

Health Privacy Officer Foundations training
starts Spring 2025

For Privacy Officers within healthcare organizations.

This course focuses on how to become a more confident privacy officer and gives you the tools to document your privacy program. Full details and registration here...

Join the Shush: a collective of health privacy officers
Annual membership 2024

For Privacy Officers within healthcare organizations

This is an annual membership program that takes theory into practice and tackles real life scenarios to build Privacy Officer skills.
Full details and registration here.

Team Privacy Training Events

For Primary Care clinics, Hospitals, Community Agencies, Mental Health Teams, Public Health Units, School Boards, Police departments

Scheduled to your team's needs for comprehensive or refresher training More details...

Free summary of all PHIPA IPC decisions

Want to read privacy breach stories to learn how to improve your work? We have summarized all the Information and Privacy Commissioner's health privacy decisions for you Download here...

Kate Dewhirst Health Law

Kate says:

My mission is bringing the law to life. I make legal theory understandable, accessible and fun! I’m available and love to work for all organizations in the healthcare sector across Ontario and beyond.

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  • contact details

    P.O. Box 13024, RPO Bradford Centre
    Bradford, ON, L3Z 2Y5

    (416) 855 9557