Alfonso E. Campos Reales

Having immigrated to Canada as a refugee when he was 10 years old, Alfonso knows what it means to be on the outside looking in, which has led him to become an advocate for the underdog, the marginalized and discounted. Born in El Salvador, Alfonso is fluent in Spanish, allowing him to also genuinely connect with and serve the large, and growing, Spanish-speaking community in Ontario. Alfonso represents clients all across Ontario, including Sarnia, Windsor, Chatham, Hamilton, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa and his hometown of London, where he lives with his wife and two boys.

Since being called to the bar in 2010, Alfonso has practiced exclusively in the area of civil litigation and dispute resolution, with specific focus on plaintiff personal injury and insurance law. His practice is devoted to acting for plaintiffs in a wide spectrum of cases, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, catastrophic impairment, wrongful death, biking/cycling injury, sexual assault, nursing home litigation, disability insurance and class actions litigation.

Alfonso has a proven track record for obtaining results for his clients and helping them move forward after injury. He has appeared as counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as all levels of Ontario courts on behalf of injured victims and their families. Alfonso acted as plaintiff counsel in the Supreme Court of Canada’s latest pronouncement on the duty of care owed to others in Rankin (Rankin’s Garage & Sales) v. J. J. (2018), a case that also provides guidance to commercial business owners and insurers.

Alfonso is passionate about health care issues and is a dedicated member of the St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation Board. He views his work in this area as a way to give back to the healthcare community that cares for his clients. Alfonso is also a Board member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, which promotes access to justice across Ontario and gives him the opportunity to give back to the profession that has given so much to him.

Alfonso loves cycling and is actively involved with the cycling community in London. His passion for cycling and giving back led him to co-found the Forest City Cycling Challenge to raise funds for youth mental health. Proceeds from the event are directed to the MINDS of London-Middlesex, in partnership with St. Joseph’s Health Care London, which is dedicated to tackling complex mental health challenges facing youth in London and the surrounding region. More information on the Challenge and its fundraising efforts can be found at ridelondon.ca.

• Selected to be on the OTLA Executive Committee as a Member at Large (2022)
• Recognized and recommended by Lexpert as a leading lawyer in the area of personal injury (2022)
• Lexpert’s “Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40” (2021)
• 20 Under 40 Award, London Inc. Magazine (2017)
• Certificate of Appreciation, Canadian Latin American Association (2017)
• Latin American Leadership Award (2012)

• Partner, Lerners LLP (2016 to present)
• Author, The Law of Costs in Personal Injury Actions, LexisNexis (2019)
• Director, Board of Directors, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (2018 to present)
• Director, Board of Directors, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation (2018 to present)
• Faculty Member, Elder Law Program, Osgoode Hall Law School (2017 to 2019)
• Associate Lawyer, Lerners LLP (2010-2015)

• “Optional Benefits Collateral Benefits and Post-Accident Income” (Faculty Member, The Osgoode Certificate in Motor Vehicle Accident Law and Practice: Tort and Accident Benefits, 2022)
• “Costs Update: Fees, Disbursements and Rule 49 Offers” (Conference Speaker, 4^th Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit, Law Society of Ontario, 2021)
• “The Business Side of Your Case” (Conference Chair and Panelist, 2021 Spring Conference, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association)
• “Effective Advocacy in Negotiations” (Webinar, Ontario Bar Association, 2021)
• “Examination for Discovery of a Nursing Home Defendant” (Webinar, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, 2021)
• “Costs and Offers to Settle: What You Need to Know” (Speaker, Tricks of the Trade 2020, The Advocates’ Society)
• “Costs: The Tension Between Access to Justice and Proportionality” (Speaker, 2020 Spring Conference, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association)
• Author, The Law of Costs in Personal Injury Actions, LexisNexis (2019)
• “Unprotected Defendants: Claims Against Road Authorities, Repair Shops, and Vehicle Manufacturers” (Chapter 11G, Oatley-McLeish Guide to Personal Injury Practice in Motor Vehicle Cases, Thomson Reuters, 2019 / Speaker, 2nd Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit, Law Society of Ontario, 2019)
• “Long-Term Care Home Negligence” (Faculty Member, The Osgoode Certificate in Elder Law, 2017 to 2019 to present, Osgoode Hall Law School)
• “Collateral Benefits Productions: Who gets what? What is producible and when can you say “No”? (Speaker, 2018 Fall Conference, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association)
• “Changes to the Catastrophic Impairment Definition: An Update” (Speaker, 2015 Annual Conference, Brain Injury Association of London and Region)
• “Seguro de Automóvil en Ontario (Automobile Insurance in Ontario)” (Seminar presented in Spanish, Goodwill Industries/Canadian Latin American Association, 2013)

• Canadian Hispanic Bar Association
• Canadian Latin American Association (CALA)
• Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
• The Advocates’ Society
• Ontario Bar Association
• Canadian Bar Association
• Middlesex Bar Association

• Admitted to the Ontario Bar (2010)
• Bachelor of Laws, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor (2009)
• Master of Arts, Canadian Politics and Political Theory, Western University (2005)
• Bachelor of Arts (With Distinction), Political Science, Western University (2004)

“One Friday I was on my way home from school and when I tried to cross to the other side of the road, and I was struck by a car and flew 20 feet, landing on the ground. I was seriously injured, fracturing my pelvis and my L3 and I had a big cut on my head.

My mom called Alfonso and when he came to the hospital he told me that he was going to help me and that everything was going to be okay. It was good to know that somebody had my back. Alfonso treated me like a family member. Throughout my case, he was always asking how I’m doing, if everything was okay, asking about my mom, how everybody was treating me, and if I needed anything. He took care of everything right from the start. He is confident and told me to look at it like there was no case and to just focus on my normal life. He made it easier by saying those words. I didn’t have to worry about any of it.

Alfonso treated me as if I was his brother, his family. He made me feel like I was a human being, not just some number. That is one of his best qualities as a person and as a lawyer, treating people like he cares and that’s how he made me feel.”

-Lenin B.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank you and your team for the tremendous help and understanding towards my situation throughout the years. My family and I truly appreciate your professional services and are extremely thankful for the effort, trust and work ethic put into each step.

You and your team were always honest and completely reliable for any issues I had, making me feel well respected and confident with our case. I appreciate all of your advice, actions and everything you and your team at Lerners did for me.

I sincerely can’t express my appreciation and gratitude for your comfort, care and help to me as a client. It was truly a pleasure and together we managed to reach a favourable outcome.”

–  Joseph G.

“I was extremely satisfied and impressed with you Alfonso.

You were honest, open and forthright and did not set unrealistic expectations. In the big scheme of things, this was probably a relatively minor matter, but that did not impact your view on the significance it had to me. I felt respected and confident trusting your advice and professional judgement. Your actions, intent and responses were deliberate, particularly when your recommendation was to reject the initial offer presented.

It was a pleasure meeting and working with you on this and having you as my advocate to reach a favourable outcome.”

– Lucille Z.