Dispute resolution: Ontario

Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

The ‘first-rate, committed litigators’ at Toronto-based litigation boutique Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP regularly represent domestic and international clients in class actions, securities litigation, insolvency cases, competition litigation, insurance litigation and administrative and constitutional law cases. The group is jointly directed by Jonathan Lisus (defamation litigation, product liability, oppression remedies and securities litigation), who is lauded by one client as ’undoubtedly one of the finest commercial litigators in the Toronto market’; and Matthew Gottlieb, who specializes in corporate and commercial disputes, as well as insolvency and restructuring and fraud and securities litigation. Also noted are Crawford Smith (corporate and commercial matters, competition and insurance litigation, administrative law); Paul Fruitman (contract disputes, infrastructure and construction disputes); the ‘always well-prepared and thorough’ Michael Currie; and Nadia Campion, Rahool Agarwal and Andrew Winton. Shaun Laubman departed the firm in January 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Profile: lolg.ca

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Michael Currie and Paul Fruitman always act in a time sensitive, definitive manner. They always get back to the client in a timely manner.’
‘Lax O'Sullivan is a team of first-rate, committed litigators. They have a strong work ethic, are extremely conscientious and are focused on producing positive results for their clients. Partner accessibility is superb.’
'Paul Michell and Philip Underwood were superb in terms of producing first-rate written work (legal memos and submissions to the court) and in arguing our case in court. As an arbitrator, Michael Currie is always well-prepared and thorough - I would recommend him to potential clients. Jonathan Lisus is undoubtedly one of the finest commercial litigators in the Toronto market.’
‘The team is staffed with superstar trial and appellate counsel who are comfortable in virtually any area of civil law. LOLG always delivers.’
‘The lawyers are all highly accessible, responsive, pragmatic, committed, hard-working and respected by opposing counsel and judges alike. They contribute to each file at a level commensurate to their level of experience, which keeps the legal accounts at a respectable and manageable level, despite their being one of the very top-tier litigation boutiques in Canada.'

Key clients

Minotar Holdings
Quadrangle Capital Partners
Selena Stronach/Stronach companies
Ottawa Light Rail Transit Constructors
The Regional Municipality of York, the Regional Municipality of Peel, the Regional Municipality of Durham, the Regional Municipality of Halton, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and the Regional Municipality of Niagara
JAW Hockey Enterprises
Purdue Pharma/Sackler Families
Magicuts
Métis Child, Family and Community Services; Michif Child and Family Services; Métis Child and Family Services Authority
Manitoba Métis Federation

Work highlights

Acted as counsel to a large landowner in an application to judicially review the Ontario government’s decision to return land to the Greenbelt.
Acted as counsel in a $500m national class action to representative plaintiffs who were insured for business interruption coverage with Aviva but were denied coverage.
Acted as counsel to the Sackler Families in the Purdue Pharma CCAA proceeding and a proposed national class action brought on behalf of the federal and provincial governments across Canada.

Lawyers

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