
Associate: Bijal Raymond
Analyst: Michelle Tallman
Rita is a true McKellar multi-tasker, spending time out of the office at mediations and client meetings, and inside, as a member of both the Legal Department, and the Human Resources team.
Rita brings a caring yet practical approach to her role at McKellar, and since joining the company in 2000, she has attended hundreds of mediations and plaintiff meetings, to implement structured settlements that are specific to each person’s unique needs.
Before joining McKellar in 2000, Rita practised as a partner in the law firm of Villemaire, Levato for 12 years. She focused primarily on the areas of litigation, corporate/commercial law, and estate law. This broad-based legal experience has made her a key part of the McKellar team.
When not on the go at McKellar, Rita can be found staying true to her Italian roots, canning tomatoes in her garage, with the help of her husband John and their two teenage children.
Education, Activities, and Memberships
1983: Bachelor of Arts, University of Waterloo
1986: LL.B, University of New Brunswick
1988: Called to the Ontario Bar
1994: Certificate in Negotiation and Mediation, University of Windsor
2004: Certified Structured Settlement Consultant (CSSC), Notre Dame University
Rita is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, Canadian Defence Lawyers Association (CDL), the Hamilton Law Society, the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA) and was a past mediator with Mosaic Counselling and Family Services. She has also been involved in designing and teaching Mediation and Business Law courses at Conestoga College. Rita was a chair of Employment Insurance Board of Referees.