Litigation: General Commercial
Canada Guide 2025 : Ontario
Band 1
Contact number
+1 416 598 1744About
Provided by Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb (LOLG) is Canada’s premier counsel firm. The firm’s lawyers handle the most complex commercial disputes and public law cases. They carry a robust trial, arbitration and appellate practice across the country and in the Supreme Court of Canada.
LOLG is regularly engaged as trial and appellate co-counsel by peer law firms, and as court officers in large and sensitive litigation mandates. The firm also acts as counsel in class actions, securities litigation and administrative law matters, as well as infrastructure, franchise, employment and health law disputes.
LOLG also has one of Canada’s leading restructuring & insolvency practices. The firm’s insolvency counsel are ranked among the top nationally and have material roles in Canada’s largest and most complex insolvency proceedings and restructurings.
LOLG’s practitioners are leaders at the bar, holding positions on the Chief Justice of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism and the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, and fellowships in elite trial organizations. Its associates are of the highest caliber, recruited primarily from judicial clerkships at the Supreme Court of Canada, provincial Courts of Appeal and the Commercial List of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. LOLG's partners are among the most consistently recommended counsel in Canada and represent clients in Canada, the United States, and from overseas.
Chambers Review
Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb is a Toronto litigation boutique that is sought out for its handling of high-end corporate and commercial litigation. The firm's areas of expertise include contractual and shareholder disputes, professional liability and insolvency, as well as matters involving franchising and construction law. The team is highly experienced at both trial and appellate levels, and regularly handles class action work, acting for both plaintiffs and defendants. It acts for an impressive range of clients, including domestic and international companies and financial institutions, as well as corporate directors and officers, and is often sought out as counsel by other law firms.
Work Highlights
- Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb acted as counsel to Minotar Holdings on a judicial review application, relating to the Ontario government's decision to return land to the Greenbelt.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The counsels are very creditable, with extensive experience in corporate litigation. They possess curiosity beyond law that leads to innovative approaches and solutions."
"There is literally no one better to handle the most complicated, high-value and important matters. This team is simply the best and the brightest, from the most senior to the most recent call."
"Lax O'Sullivan are very knowledgeable, experienced and focused. They are very capable of handling complex litigation and providing strategic advice."
"Excellence service and responsiveness. We never felt once that our file was not the priority."
"They're highly knowledgeable, skilful and competent lawyers. They are solution-oriented, pragmatic and do not prolong situations. Highly responsive and highly proactive - I couldn't ask for more."
"The counsels are very creditable, with extensive experience in corporate litigation. They possess curiosity beyond law that leads to innovative approaches and solutions."
"There is literally no one better to handle the most complicated, high-value and important matters. This team is simply the best and the brightest, from the most senior to the most recent call."
"Lax O'Sullivan are very knowledgeable, experienced and focused. They are very capable of handling complex litigation and providing strategic advice."
"Excellence service and responsiveness. We never felt once that our file was not the priority."
"They're highly knowledgeable, skilful and competent lawyers. They are solution-oriented, pragmatic and do not prolong situations. Highly responsive and highly proactive - I couldn't ask for more."
Notable Practitioners
Jonathan Lisus is an eminent commercial litigator in Toronto who features on some of the country's largest mandates, touching on issues such as negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and unfair conduct, as well as shareholder disputes.
"Jonathan is an exceptional lawyer, as well as being very approachable. He always has time to discuss my questions."
"Jonathan brings equal measures of sage advice, outstanding customer service, collegiality and legal brilliance."
"Jonathan is one of the leading litigators in the Toronto market, if not Canada as a whole. Definitely a first call."
"Jonathan has got to be one of the top trial lawyers in the country. He is very versatile, having seen all kinds of disputes, and is adept at solving things practically."
"Jon Lisus is our top litigator. He is very much trusted with complicated, high-importance matters. He is very good."
Crawford Smith is a highly regarded lawyer with a diverse commercial litigation practice. He earns plaudits for his counsel on single-plaintiff and class action disputes, with notable experience in the insurance and energy sectors. He is based in Toronto.
"Crawford is a very good lawyer."
Matthew Gottlieb is the managing partner at Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb and a prominent figure in Toronto's commercial litigation market. He is particularly respected for his insolvency disputes practice.
"Matt is laser-focused and razor-sharp. He cuts to the chase and delivers results."
"When the going gets tough, Matt Gottlieb is an exceptional adviser and practitioner. An exceptional litigator. He's very experienced and makes great written and oral arguments and submissions."
"Matt is an excellent lawyer."
Nadia Campion has wide-ranging commercial experience, including advising on insolvency-related cases and class actions, as well as novel issues relating to the destruction of human biological reproductive materials. She works out of Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb's Toronto office.
"Nadia has an ability to communicate with stakeholders at all levels. She can distil complex legal situations into practical advice that is easy to understand."
"Nadia is very service-oriented and has been extremely effective in achieving client goals."
Toronto-based Paul Michell is a seasoned lawyer with a well-established reputation in the commercial litigation field. He is additionally instructed on arbitration matters.
"Paul is a very capable, resourceful and experienced commercial litigation lawyer."
"Paul is an excellent lawyer."
Rahool Agarwal has a robust disputes practice which sees him act for clients in a broad array of corporate and commercial claims, as well as public law and constitutional litigation.
"Rahool is very attentive to his clients' needs and is a very good oral advocate. He is a good collaborator with co-counsel, and is very responsive to and aware of client concerns and priorities."
"Rahool is a total operator. A go-to guy for difficult commercial disputes. Watching him work is like a symphony."
"A strong lawyer who understands the class action space well."
"Watching Rahool is like watching a movie. He is an instantaneous thinker and is able to spin around arguments so easily."
Shaun Laubman in Toronto is an experienced litigator with a strong reputation for his expertise in civil disputes, including securities litigation, family law issues and partnership matters.
"Shaun is a very strong litigator."
Toronto-based Brad Vermeersch is a commercial litigator with a particular focus on multiparty infrastructure disputes. He also represents clients in contractual disputes, class actions, administrative law, regulatory investigations and appeals.
"Brad Vermeersch is junior but extremely capable. He will be the next star."
"Brad is intelligent, business-minded and incredibly hard-working.He has a unique ability to convey complex legal scenarios and options in a simple and understandable manner."
"Brad has provided excellent strategic and commercial advice."
Philip Underwood is a litigation associate in Toronto. He enjoys a fast-rising profile for his practice, with experience across a broad spectrum of civil litigation and ADR.
"Phil is relatively junior, but his level of legal maturity belies his seniority. He has been a valued partner for us in several extremely important cases."
"Philip is very smart, has a great work ethic and inspires a lot of confidence."
"Philip is an excellent associate."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
Ontario
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