The Legal 500 > Canada > Canada > Dispute resolution

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP has a diverse litigation practice, which draws upon the firm’s full service offering to cover all areas of commercial litigation. Notable strengths include class actions, employment disputes, contentious insolvency matters and natural resources-related issues. Employment partner Laurie Jessome chairs the advocacy group. Group vice chair Lara Jackson is noted for class actions and securities litigation.

According to client reviews, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP sets itself apart through its seamless team approach. In addition, the practice group boasts comprehensive sector coverage and experience in sophisticated high-stakes litigation. Kent Thomson in Toronto is recognized as one of Canada’s most distinguished litigators. The Toronto team also benefits from the expertise of Matthew Milne-Smith and Sandra Forbes, who focuses on corporate, class action, securities and competition litigation. In Montreal, Guy Du Pont Ad E is held up by sources as a ‘gentleman and a scholar’. William Brock Ad E and Jean-Philippe Groleau are also highly recommended in the Montreal office.

Farris LLP handles a broad spread of commercial, corporate and constitutional litigation from its offices in Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria. The firm’s presence across British Columbia generates a significant volume of environmental law and natural resources-related cases and it is also highly regarded for its experience in indigenous law matters. Ludmila Herbst QC is noted for her record in the utilities and natural resources spheres.

Goodmans houses a full-service litigation group in its Toronto office, which handles a comprehensive spread of civil and commercial litigation. Though best known for its top-level performance in contentious IP and restructuring mandates, the firm also has strong experience in securities, construction, employment and real estate disputes. Alan Mark co-heads the securities and energy litigation group, and is noted for his niche expertise in representing clients in the electricity sector before the Ontario Energy Board and the courts. Also recommended is David Conklin, who focuses on commercial and securities litigation.

Vancouver-based Hakemi & Ridgedale LLP is a compact commercial litigation boutique that punches well above its weight in securities litigation. Key contacts in the practice group are Lisa Ridgedale, who regularly defends clients facing enforcement action by securities regulators, and Tom Hakemi, who is dual-qualified in British Columbia and New York.

Vancouver-headquartered Hunter Litigation Chambers fields 22 lawyers dedicated to dispute resolution and is widely recognized for its experience in complex litigation. Though the team is best known for its strong record in forestry and mining-related litigation, the firm can turn its hand to the full range of civil, administrative and criminal law matters. Brent Olthuis acted on several recent matters for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, and Claire Hunter QC has been highlighted as a future star.

Ranking among Montreal’s leading dispute resolution boutiques, Irving Mitchell Kalichman has expertise across a number of key areas of litigation. The firm’s class actions capability particularly impresses and it is routinely involved in cases involving advertising practices, consumer protection, environmental law and financial services matters. Founding partner Doug Mitchell has expertise in business litigation, and constitutional and administrative law.

Quebec firm Lavery, de Billy houses a sizeable practice, which is split between its offices in Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières. The group fields particularly robust offerings in class actions, where senior Montreal-based litigator Guy Lemay is a key figure, as well as creditors’ rights and product liability. Montreal-based Jonathan Warin, who specializes in bankruptcy and insolvency, heads the firm-wide litigation and conflict resolution group.

A leader in Western Canada, Lawson Lundell LLP has a prominent Vancouver litigation offering, which is supported by experienced partners in the firm’s Calgary, Kelowna and Yellowknife offices. The group has a particularly strong reputation for cases involving in natural resources, securities, defamation and environmental law. Names to note include Marko Vesely, who has a focus on class actions and defamation, and Craig Ferris QC, who has strong experience in financial services and pensions litigation.

Litigation powerhouse Lenczner Slaght LLP is a leader both in the Ontario and nationwide, though the team also secures a significant volume of multi-jurisdictional mandates. Distinguished in part by its deep bench and first-class trial experience, the Toronto boutique routinely appears at all levels of the courts, before administrative and regulatory tribunals and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Peter Griffin is highlighted by many as the leading litigator in Canada and presides over the firm’s most complex cases. Managing partner Tom Curry also has an impressive track record, with strong recent showings in regulatory law matters and class actions. Other senior names include Alan Lenczner QC, Ronald Slaght QC and Peter Osborne. Up-and-coming partner Monique Jilesen has been singled out as one of the leading litigators of her generation.

Dispute resolution is a mainstay at Lerners LLP, a midsize law firm with capable teams in London and Toronto. The group benefits from close referral relationships with major Canadian law firms, and counts regulated professionals, municipalities, banks and small and medium-sized enterprises among its key clients. Earl Cherniak QC handles commercial, insurance and public law litigation and arbitration.

Since its establishment in 2017, McEwan Partners has worked to consolidate its offering and now houses 13 lawyers, including seven former judicial clerks, in its Vancouver base at the time of writing. The experienced team brings to bear diverse skills sets, with notable expertise in corporate and commercial litigation, class actions, and administrative law. Founding partner Kenneth McEwan QC is widely recognized as one of the leading litigators in BC.

The leading litigation boutique in British Columbia, Vancouver-based Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson focuses exclusively on civil and business litigation and arbitration. The group is particularly well versed in mining, securities and shareholder disputes, regularly advising local, national and multinational companies in complex domestic and cross-border cases. Irwin Nathanson QC is recognized as a dean of the BC litigation bar, and Stephen Schachter QC is recognized for his trial and appellate experience.

Stikeman Elliott LLP is perhaps best known for its work in the class action litigation, though the national practice group also handles securities, competition and product liability work. Key figures in Toronto include department head Eliot Kolers, David Byers and competition specialist Katherine Kay. Yves Martineau in Montreal focuses on class actions.

Toronto-based Stockwoods LLP Barristers handles the full spread of civil and commercial litigation, criminal cases and administrative and public law matters. The firm is best known for its work in securities litigation, where it advises on complex class actions and multi-jurisdictional cases. Paul Le Vay routinely represents clients in OSC investigations and proceedings, among other matters.

Vancouver boutique Sugden, McFee & Roos is highly regarded for its strong advocacy skills and its track record in challenging cases. The firm is well versed across the full spread of criminal and civil litigation, and is especially active in personal injury claims, medical malpractice cases and commercial disputes. Robin McFee QC has extensive experience in commercial litigation and professional liability matters.

Litigation is a core practice area at Toronto-headquartered WeirFoulds LLP, which houses a diverse practice group that is consistently engaged in corporate, securities, bankruptcy and real estate litigation. Department chair Marie-Andrée Vermette is called to the Bar in both Ontario and Quebec.

Calgary-based Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP has a premier oil and gas practice and is a popular choice for energy and construction litigation. In addition, the team has a wealth of experience in disputes in the infrastructure, sports, and utilities sectors, as well as the public sector. Senior litigator Daniel McDonald QC is highly regarded for energy and securities litigation, while Jeffrey Sharpe focuses on construction disputes, including arbitration. Also recommended is associate Joanne Luu, who is noted for her ‘strong case analysis skills’.

JSS Barristers is widely recognized as the go-to litigation boutique in Alberta. The Calgary-based firm is consistently involved in cases spanning all of the the region’s main economic sectors, with energy, construction, financial services and real estate litigation all being particular areas of expertise. Founding partner Carsten Jensen QC acts for governments, airlines, and major independent oil and gas companies, and is particularly noted for shareholder and oil and gas disputes.

Alberta stalwart McLennan Ross LLP covers a range of contentious matters from its three offices across the province, with notable expertise in class actions, oil and gas disputes and professional liability. Roderick McLennan QC in Edmonton is rated for his extensive experience in criminal and civil litigation, while Calgary-based Don Dear QC is noted for commercial and insurance disputes.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s national litigation practice has robust platforms in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and has developed a track record in financial services, product liability and energy-related matters. In Toronto, Larry Lowenstein is highly regarded for his work in class actions, contested M&A and securities litigation, and Deborah Glendinning is recognized for her specialist class action expertise. Maureen Killoran QC in Calgary is a popular choice for complex energy and resource litigation, and Montreal-based Éric Préfontaine specializes in class actions. Mahmud Jamal in Toronto was recently appointed a justice of the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP’s practice fields effective teams in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and also benefits from its ability to plug into the firm’s extensive global network for support on cross-border cases. In Vancouver, John Landry focuses on civil and regulatory litigation, with significant experience in international trade, energy and rail-related cases. Toronto-based David Foulds co-chairs the national practice alongside Landry, and has a robust record in projects and infrastructure-related litigation. Other names to note are David Neave, who chairs the Vancouver dispute resolution group, and Calgary office managing partner Heather Treacy QC.

Calgary-based Peacock Linder Halt & Mack LLP is a popular choice for energy disputes, and also handles a significant volume of securities and insurance litigation. Perry Mack QC is recommended for his record in oil and gas cases and class actions.