Stikeman Elliott LLP

A force in non-contentious insurance, Stikeman Elliott LLP draws on corporate and regulatory specialists across its Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver offices. In Toronto, Stuart Carruthers is widely recognized as a leading figure for transactional, commercial, governance and regulatory advice to insurers, reinsurers and brokers; he recently advised Zurich Insurance Canada on Zurich Insurance Group’s acquisition of AIG’s global personal travel insurance and assistance business. Toronto-based banking and finance head Meaghan Obee Tower is also recommended for non-contentious insurance matters. The firm additionally houses a robust insurance litigation practice, with Montreal-based Éric Azran an increasingly prominent name in the field. Other key contentious practitioners include Toronto-based Alan D’Silva, who handles insurance litigation, professional negligence and D&O claims; Calgary-based Michael Mestinsek, who is noted for D&O liability, product liability and construction disputes; and Montreal-based Pierre-Paul Daunais, who is well versed in construction and product liability cases. Former McCarthy Tétrault practice head Hartley Lefton joined the firm in October 2026.