Litigation: Administrative & Public Law
Canada Guide 2025 : Ontario
Band 2
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+1 416 865 9500About
Provided by Lenczner Slaght
Commercial litigation represents the heart of our practice. Our lawyers have a wealth of experience in pursuing complex, high-profile and often highly confidential cases across the spectrum of business-related legal matters.
Our reputation and record of success lead many clients to entrust their most significant litigation to us: we have acted for a broad array of corporate clients in "bet-the-company" cases. Lenczner Slaght litigators take on each new challenge with an exacting attention to detail while setting immediate goals within a larger strategic framework. Our well-honed courtroom skills have won the respect of judges and fellow counsel at all levels of the courts – including the Toronto Commercial List, where many of Canada's most complex commercial cases are heard.
A significant part of our work has cross-border and international elements. We have relationships with leading firms in every jurisdiction.
As a firm devoted exclusively to litigation, Lenczner Slaght taps into a deep reserve of relevant expertise across diverse practice areas and industries. Whether a dispute concerns a complex financial instrument, a failed construction project or a successful mining venture, our lawyers understand the nuances and leverage their specialized knowledge to clients' advantage.
Chambers Review
Lenczner Slaght is universally recognised as a leader in the Ontario market. Based in Toronto, the firm demonstrates significant national reach and offers expertise across a wide range of industry sectors, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, financial services, education, transportation and information technology, as well as acting for public sector bodies. Widely viewed as a top choice for 'bet the company' litigation, the team is regularly selected to handle corporate fraud cases, breach of contract and consumer claims, as well as securities and shareholder disputes. The group is further noted for its experience of professional liability, defamation, public inquiries, class actions, and restructuring and insolvency.
Work Highlights
- Lenczner Slaght represented Canadian National Railway Company in a dispute involving employee fraud, accounting of profits, abuse of process, defamation and negligent exercise of statutory dispute.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Lenczner Slaght are knowledgeable and always prepared to answer questions. They are also able to provide practical options in complex situations."
"They handle complex and sophisticated matters with tremendous expertise and explain complicated legal concepts in a digestible manner that enables us to make decisions under tight timelines."
"I can't think of a litigation firm with a stronger bench of deeply experienced litigators. They have a natural pragmatic sense of what's at stake in a dispute and how best to play it."
"The advice was timely and practical, and the lawyers were responsive. They have a very strong bench of leading litigation lawyers. Very experienced counsel and strong junior partners and associates."
"Lenczner Slaght are category killers in litigation."
"Lenczner Slaght are knowledgeable and always prepared to answer questions. They are also able to provide practical options in complex situations."
"They handle complex and sophisticated matters with tremendous expertise and explain complicated legal concepts in a digestible manner that enables us to make decisions under tight timelines."
"I can't think of a litigation firm with a stronger bench of deeply experienced litigators. They have a natural pragmatic sense of what's at stake in a dispute and how best to play it."
"The advice was timely and practical, and the lawyers were responsive. They have a very strong bench of leading litigation lawyers. Very experienced counsel and strong junior partners and associates."
"Lenczner Slaght are category killers in litigation."
Notable Practitioners
Peter Griffin KC commands a formidable reputation as a litigator and remains the counsel of choice for many high-profile corporates for their high-stakes commercial disputes. He is based in Lenczner Slaght's Toronto office, and his reputation extends across the country and beyond.
"Peter is a saint. He can do everything. He is a fantastic lawyer."
"The best of the best."
"Peter is simply one of the top few litigators in the country. He is a go-to person on any 'bet the company' file. He tackles the most difficult files with ease. His courtroom demeanour is excellent."
"Peter is a very thoughtful individual and provides a lot of wisdom in his approach and comments. He brings a necessary wisdom to any approach."
"One of the premier Canadian litigators."
Tom Curry is held in high regard by market commentators and clients alike for his skill in complex litigation files. His practice touches all manner of areas, from commercial disputes and class actions to administrative law and professional liability. He is based in Lenczner Slaght's Toronto office.
"Tom is strategic, knowledgeable and professional."
"Tom is great to work with and a skilled advocate."
"Tom is wonderful. In addition to his strong legal expertise, what I appreciate most as in-house counsel is that he respects my viewpoint, makes space for my legal opinions and works well with my team."
"Tom is pragmatic, aware and has sophisticated knowledge of the litigation process."
"Tom is an excellent counsel across the board."
Toronto-based William McDowell stands as one of Ontario's most highly respected practitioners for public and judicial inquiries, as well as various other investigations and public law disputes.
"William is a good communicator."
"William is very savvy and a very good advocate."
Monique Jilesen has wide-ranging commercial litigation experience, covering issues such as construction and real estate disputes, employee fraud and energy tariffs. Based in Toronto, she is Lenczner Slaght's managing partner.
"Monique is an incredible leader. She provided strategic direction to us on complex litigation and demonstrated a keen knowledge of our business and interests."
"Monique is fantastic and an excellent litigator. One of her qualities is that she comes across as very disarming, and that helps a lot of people get comfortable talking to her."
"Monique is an amazing lawyer."
Toronto-based Rebecca Jones has particular expertise in complex cases with a regulatory dimension, and her practice covers municipal disputes, public inquiries and professional liability, among other areas.
"Rebecca is fantastic to work with. Her legal advice is thorough and analytical, she has a sense of humour that is refreshing and she is strategic in her approach on complex matters."
"Rebecca is incredibly smart and will be a leader in the future. I always have confidence when she works on files because she masters the details and does not miss a thing."
"Rebecca is an excellent lawyer."
Toronto-based Matthew Lerner has a strong track record in civil litigation, with a wealth of experience in real estate and construction disputes, insolvency claims and broader commercial matters.
"Matthew is a strong lawyer with a practical mindset and a client-focused approach."
"Matthew is a pleasure to work with."
Toronto-based Eli Lederman has a broad commercial litigation practice and represents clients in securities law, class actions, commercial contracts, franchise disputes, and oppression and shareholder litigation, acting for both private and public corporations.
"He's an excellent lawyer. Eli is knowledgeable, straightforward and responsive."
"Eli understands the issue very quickly."
"Eli is an excellent lawyer. He's very calm and has very good client service skills."
"Eli is a very sophisticated, knowledgeable lawyer."
Toronto-based Brian Kolenda has a broad civil litigation practice, with experience in business disputes, civil fraud, professional negligence and defamation.
"Brian is very bright and a good litigator."
"Brian is very knowledgeable."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lenczner Slaght
Ontario
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