According to satisfied clients, the insurance team at Torys draws on ‘some of the best experts in financial services corporate and litigation work in the country’. The practice is particularly dominant on the corporate and regulatory front, where it is a popular choice to advise insurance corporations on high-profile M&A deals, joint ventures and other highly regulated transactions and compliance matters. Financial services expert Blair Keefe co-heads the insurance regulatory practice and is a first port of call for insurance companies undertaking corporate transactions. Other advisory specialists include Jill McCutcheon; senior counsel Kelly Morris; and Melissa Prado, who was recently promoted to partner. Litigation and dispute resolution chair Linda Plumpton is the key contact for contentious insurance work and contributes significant experience in precedent-setting regulatory and coverage disputes. Litigator David Outerbridge is also noted for insurance disputes, including product liability claims, environmental claims and class actions. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Torys has some of the best experts in financial services corporate and litigation work in the country even when compared with other major players in this field.’
‘Blair Keefe and David Outerbridge provide practical advice and keep that advice simple. They also deliver what they say they will deliver and their customer service is excellent.’
‘Blair Keefe is the best financial services corporate lawyer in the country but he is also approachable, down-to-earth and practical.’
‘David Outerbridge is an exceptional litigator and one of the smartest lawyers I have ever met. He has the ability to condense complex legal issues into simple, persuasive arguments. In particular, his written advocacy skills are the strongest I have ever seen of any lawyer I have worked with.’
Key clients
- Intact Financial Corporation
- Sun Life Financial
- The Canada Life Assurance Company
- Vienna Insurance Group
- BroadStreet Partners
- The Bank of Nova Scotia
- Tokio Marine Canada
Work highlights
Acted as insurance regulatory counsel to Intact Financial on its £7.2bn acquisition, alongside Tryg, of RSA Insurance Group.
Acted as Insurance Companies Act regulatory counsel to Canada Life Assurance Company on its proposed acquisition of Value Partners Group.
Advised Scotiabank on the sale of Scotia Insurance Caribbean to GraceKennedy Financial Group.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Blair Keefe; Jill McCutcheon; Linda Plumpton
Other key lawyers
David Outerbridge; Kelly Morris; Melissa Prado; Eli Monas