Ross was born in Princeton, New Jersey and attended several universities including the University of Wisconsin where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree (Economics) in 1973. In 1977, he received his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. Ross was called to the bar in British Columbia in 1978 and has practiced as a litigator ever since. He has worked with several litigation firms prior to becoming a partner at Macaulay McColl and set up a practice with Murray Wolf in 2002.

Early in his career Ross gained experience in a broad range of insurance, commercial, municipal and criminal litigation cases. He accumulated considerable experience in insurance, commercial, construction, professional negligence, fraud related and tort litigation.

He takes considerable interest in continuing legal education and has co-coordinated Continuing Legal Education litigation courses for lawyers as well as having delivered papers at a number of courses pertaining to litigation, litigation technology and insurance issues.