Toronto-based litigation boutique Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP is a significant player in the Ontario market, known for its expertise in corporate commercial litigation, class actions, insolvency litigation, securities litigation and product liability matters, among others. At the helm of the practice, Emily Lawrence has substantial expertise in professional regulation, pension litigation, constitutional litigation, civil disputes and privacy matters. Ken Rosenberg has notable experience in mediation and arbitration, as well as commercial litigation, class action and administrative disputes. Additional key contacts include Odette Soriano, who handles class action and defamation matters on both the plaintiff and defence sides; and Linda Rothstein, who specializes in professional regulation matters and internal partnership disputes. Jeffrey Larry brings expertise in securities and insolvency litigation.

Litigation boutique Polley Faith is home to a team of ‘creative, hardworking advocates’ who specialize in commercial litigation, securities litigation, class action defence, shareholder disputes and arbitration. The group, which garners praise from clients for its ‘depth of knowledge’, is co-led by Andrew Faith, who is regularly engaged in complex commercial, regulatory and insolvency litigation; and Mark Polley, whose litigation expertise covers commercial, white-collar, libel, insolvency and competition mandates.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP‘s Ontario group is recognized for its expertise in commercial litigation, securities litigation, IP litigation, class action and product liability matters, as well as arbitration. The team is frequently retained by clients in the automotive, energy, transportation and aerospace segments. The group is co-led by Catherine Beagan Flood and Iris Fischer; Beagan Flood has focused her practice on commercial disputes, including appeals and class actions on privacy, antitrust, product liability, insurance and consumer protection issues. Fischer, for her part, has particular expertise in the media and defamation space. Additional key litigation-focused partners include Michael Barrack, Jeff Galway and Gordon McKee. Bradley Berg is another name to note.

Praised for its ‘in-depth knowledge’, ‘skill, dedication and work ethic’, the group at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP demonstrates strength in commercial, competition, corporate and securities litigation. The team has experience appearing before trial and appellate courts throughout Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada, and administrative tribunals, such as the Competition Tribunal and the Ontario Securities Commission. Kent Thomson steers the group and leads disputes involving the law of oppression, libel law, tax law, plans of arrangement, intellectual property, and copyright and broadcasting law. Additional key partners include class action, competition, and securities litigation specialist, Sandra Forbes; Matthew Milne-Smith, who majors on constitutional challenges, complex class actions and novel tort claims; and Derek Ricci, who is well-versed in mining, telecoms and securities disputes. Luis Sarabia, Maureen Littlejohn, Chantelle Cseh and Steven Frankel are also noted; Chenyang Li is the key associate-level contact.

Toronto-based boutique Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP is a leading player in the Ontario disputes space. The ‘outstanding team of lawyers’ is well-versed in representing both domestic and international clients in complex commercial mandates. Practice co-head Matthew Gottlieb specializes in corporate and commercial disputes, and insolvency, fraud and securities litigation. Leading alongside him, Jonathan Lisus has focused his practice on infrastructure and P3 disputes, product liability claims and securities litigation. Additional key litigators include Crawford Smith, Andrew Winton and Shaun Laubman. Nadia Campion handles shareholder oppression applications and estates matters and is lauded as ‘completely fearless’ and an ‘outstanding litigator’. Paul Fruitman is noted for his work on construction, employment health disputes, while Rahool Agarwal majors on proxy fights, director and officer liability, and complex fraud cases.

Boutique firm Lenczner Slaght has a strong commercial disputes offering and routinely represent clients before all levels of court. The group is regularly instructed by multinational companies, individuals, small businesses and professional regulators. Practice co-head Monique Jilesen specializes in class action, contract and shareholder disputes, civil fraud cases, securities litigation and professional liability matters. Leading alongside her, Eli Lederman, frequently acts for company directors in litigation and advises on corporate governance matters. Complex cross-border litigation specialist Peter Griffin KC is another standout name, while Tom Curry handles class action, arbitration and business disputes. Matthew Lerner and younger partner Brian Kolenda also major on commercial litigation.

McCarthy Tétrault houses a strong Ontario disputes practice which counts class action, product liability, professional liability and securities litigation, as well as white-collar defence, arbitration and regulatory matters, among its specialties. The team is regularly engaged in disputes touching on mining, environmental, Aboriginal and energy matters. Arbitration, technology, professional negligence and contractual disputes specialist Thomas N.T. Sutton heads up the almost 140-strong group. Paul Steep majors on securities litigation and has experience appearing before all levels of Ontario courts, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada; Sarit Batner has particular experience in matters involving breach of contract, professional negligence and shareholder disputes. Junior Sirivar chairs the firm’s international arbitration group and is well-versed in mining, banking, healthcare and telecoms disputes. Other key names include Moya Graham, Christine Lonsdale and Adam Goldenberg. Eric Block left the firm in July 2023.

The Ontario team at Bennett Jones LLP is known for its handling of cross-border restructuring, fraud, class actions, insolvency, energy, mining, technology and M&A disputes. Practice head Richard Swan specializes in complex commercial litigation and arbitration matters and has experience representing clients before all levels of the Ontario and Federal Courts. Additional key department figures include Robert Staley, who handles commercial and securities litigation, securities regulation and class actions; and commercial litigation and class proceedings specialist Michael Eizenga, who takes care of product liability and class action matters. Other key names include Cheryl Woodin and Jeffrey Leon KC.

The Ontario group at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is routinely instructed by construction, energy, real estate, finance and retail-sector clients seeking representation in complex commercial disputes. The team has experience appearing in all levels of courts in Ontario, as well as in the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. National litigation chair Sonia Bjorkquist leads the practice from Toronto and specializes in real estate disputes, class action defence and commercial agreements. Key partner Mark Gelowitz handles civil and securities litigation, while Shawn Irving is noted for his commercial litigation skill.

The lawyers at Stikeman Elliott LLP‘s Ontario practice are experienced in representing clients before the Supreme Court of Canada as well as before industry tribunals, securities commissions and other regulatory bodies. Contested takeover bids, proxy contests, corporate governance matters and shareholder disputes are notable strengths of the group. Practice head Eliot Kolers leads from Toronto and routinely represents mining and real estate clients in arbitration and litigation; he is also well versed in securities and competition litigation. Up-and-coming partner Aaron Kreaden handles directors’ and officers’ liability, class actions and product liability matters, while Sinziana Hennig supports on contractual, class action, competition, consumer protection and franchise law disputes. Alexander Rose brings strength to securities litigation.

Torys‘ Toronto-based group routinely represents a range of domestic and international companies in shareholder litigation, breach of contract and corporate governance matters. The practice is co-led by Linda Plumpton, who is focused on competition litigation, securities litigation, class action defence, and corporate and commercial disputes. Alongside her, Gillian Dingle routinely supports leading capital market players in professional liability claims, securities class actions and regulatory investigations. Additional key figures include Sheila Block, who demonstrates expertise in IP, defamation and administrative law disputes, and Sarah Whitmore, who handles employment, media and public law disputes. Another key figure is seasoned litigator Andrew Bernstein.

The Ontario practice at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP services clients across a range of sectors, including financial services, mining, healthcare, retail and real estate. The group is noted for its participation in class action defence, investigations, commercial fraud and white-collar crime proceedings, in addition to financial institution, securities and banking-related matters. A trio of partners co-lead: David Di Paolo handles securities litigation, class actions and shareholder disputes; Nadia Effendi specializes in class actions as well as administrative and regulatory matters; Ottawa-based Kathleen McDormand completes the leadership team.

The Ontario group at Dentons offers clients support on commercial litigation, insurance litigation, shareholder dispute litigation, product liability litigation and class actions. Its varied client roster regularly features mayor players in the tech, retail, metallurgical, transportation, finance and insurance segments. Practice head Douglas Stewart majors on commercial and civil litigation with an emphasis on professional liability and insurance related matters. Key partner Matthew Fleming has forged a prominent reputation for class action, professional and product liability, regulatory and securities-related disputes. Other noted figures include experienced litigators Marina Sampson and Michael Schafler.

Fasken‘s Ontario group is regularly instructed by financial institutions and companies in the mining, health, energy, life sciences, construction, transportation and technology segments for its expertise in commercial dispute resolution. The team also demonstrates expertise in cybersecurity, securities, competition, insurance and employment class actions, as well as regulatory and civil securities issues. Practice head Sarah Armstrong leads from Toronto and supports clients on commercial dispute, professional liability and administrative law matters, both in court and in arbitration. Peter Pliszka has focused his practice on product liability, class action, commercial and insurance litigation matters, while Peter Mantas leads on litigation matters from the Ottawa office. Other key figures include vice chair Vera Toppings, who handles complex arbitrations and associate Pavel Sergeyev.

The expertise of the Ontario disputes group at Goodmans LLP encompasses securities, corporate and commercial, real estate, technology, employment and IP disputes, in addition to shareholder disputes and hostile takeover bid litigation. Key partners include Alan Mark, who majors on corporate finance and governance, restructuring and insolvency, financial services and securities-related disputes, and who also boasts an extensive track record in product reliability and environmental-based class actions; Peter Kolla, who handles a wide variety of litigation and arbitration proceedings involving commercial and financial transactions, M&A disputes and securities matters; and Melanie Ouanounou, who focuses on electricity and estate litigation. Andrew Brodkin and Francy Kussner co-lead the department.

Gowling WLG‘s Ontario-based group is known for its activity in aviation, insolvency and restructuring, banking, procurement, white-collar crime and competition-related disputes. The firm boasts five Ontario bases, spanning Hamilton, Ottawa, Toronto and Kitchener. Key department figures include Scott Kugler, whose focus is on complex commercial disputes, including class actions and shareholder disputes; and Natalie Mullins, well-versed in civil litigation and environmental law – she focuses her practice on complex contaminated lands disputes. Other key figures include Sandra Barton, who brings extensive experience to contractual disputes, and Sahil Shoor, who specializes in matters related to construction and infrastructure.

Working from offices in Toronto and Ottawa, the Ontario group at Norton Rose Fulbright is well-versed in representing financial institutions, pharmaceutical, life science and insurance companies in litigation. The team’s M&A litigation capabilities are bolstered by close collaboration with the firm’s corporate, M&A and securities practice. Ottawa-based Tate McLeod brings expertise in advising clients in finance and in the transport sector. Orestes Pasparakis is noted for his knowledge on restructurings and proxy disputes; Jennifer Teskey chairs the national litigation department and has appeared before all levels of the Ontario courts. Associate Anisha Visvanatha specializes in competition and antitrust matters. Practice co-head Linda Fuerst departed in January 2024.

International firm Baker McKenzie's Toronto-based disputes team is known for its expertise in cross-border disputes including international litigation and arbitration, corporate disputes, white-collar crime, fraud, class action, competition and financial recovery matters. Practice head John Pirie is regularly engaged in litigation and arbitration, acting for clients in complex business disputes and white collar matters. Key partners include Matthew Latella, who is active on arbitration, fraud and asset recovery matters, and David Gadsden, who is well-versed in commercial class actions.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP's Ontario group has a track record representing clients before all local Courts of Appeal, in addition to the Supreme Court of Canada. The team handles a range of disputes, from shareholder disputes, class action, M&A and tax-related litigation to defamation matters. National department head John Birch leads from Toronto and specializes in restructuring and insolvency proceedings.

The 15-strong Ontario team at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP is led by national group co-head David Foulds, who operates from Toronto. Foulds handles a variety of commercial disputes ranging from breach of contract cases to shareholder disputes and product recall cases. His team has additional expertise in commercial fraud matters, infrastructure projects and class action litigation.