Lawrence Greenspon

“We know that it is law which enables men to live together, that creates order out of chaos. We know that law is the glue that holds civilization together. And we know that if one man’s rights are denied, then the rights of all others are endangered.” ~ Robert F. Kennedy

“He’s the voice for people who might not have a voice.”

David Feldberg, chair, Negev Dinner

Occupation: Lawyer, Greenspon Brown Associates

The interesting thing about Greenspon, said Feldberg, “is that he doesn’t see people by religion, colour or creed. He sees everybody just as people, and he treats everybody very kindly.

“If you had to name Ottawa’s most famous practicing lawyer, it would probably be Lawrence Greenspon, a criminal defence and civil litigation lawyer with an undeniable soft spot for the underdog.”

Personal Life

Mr. Greenspon was born in Montreal Quebec and lived there and went to McGill University and studied Science
He later moved to Ottawa and for some unknown reason, and did 2 years of courses in 1 year and finished his Bachelor of Science.
He then attended Ottawa University Law School and was later named to the Honour Society
Mr. Greenspon was involved in student politics as Academic Affairs commissioner of the Student Federation
Over the course of his lifetime he has travelled to more than 50 countries and done volunteer work in a dozen of them.
He got married two and a half years ago and lives on the river in Manotick and has a daughter and two stepsons
With his wife, Mr. Greenspon has established the RiverGreen Foundation to help fund charities that work with youth and mental health.

“He’s well known, not only for the work he does in the justice system but for what he accomplishes beyond the walls of 161 Elgin St. With his endless energy, he’s chaired fundraising campaigns, sold off live auction prizes at galas galore and has risked making a fool of himself for charity, from ballroom dancing to boxing.”

Personal and Professional Experiences

For over 35 years, Lawrence Greenspon has represented disadvantaged and diverse individuals and groups against governments, institutions, insurance companies and corporations. He has fought to protect the rights of people from all walks of life.
As a criminal defense lawyer, Lawrence has represented people charged with murder, drug and other criminal offences. He represented the first person charged in Canada under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In 1981, International Year of the Disabled Person, Lawrence Greenspon co-founded REACH, the Resource Education Advocacy Center for the Handicapped and was a Chair and Board member of the organization for over 10 years.
He has also chaired the United Way Community Services cabinet, CAYFO (Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa), the Multicultural Center and the Jewish Community Center.
He is currently the Chair of the Montfort Hospital Campaign to raise $2.5 million to establish the first Cardiac CT Scan in the Region
He has volunteered by cycling, paddling, dancing (Dancing with the Stars for Easter Seals), Nordic Pole walking, playing hockey, boxing in the Fight for the Cure, organizing, leading and auctioning for hundreds of charities in Canada, the Caribbean, Asia, the Far East and Africa.
He has been honoured as a CAYFO champion and has twice received the Golden Apple Award (the Ottawa Food Bank), the Quality of Life Award from St. Joe’s Women’s Centre, the Lifetime Achievement Award (Volunteer Ottawa) and the Community Builder of the Year Award (2008).