Cynthia Spry

Career

Cynthia Spry joined the partnership at Babin Bessner Spry LLP in 2010. Prior to joining Babin Bessner Spry LLP, Cynthia practiced in the litigation departments of two top-tier firms: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.

Cynthia practices commercial litigation, including in the areas of class actions, shareholder disputes, competition law, and contractual and securities litigation. She is often recommended as conflicts counsel by Seven Sister firms, and has been qualified as an expert on Canadian law (shareholder disputes) in foreign proceedings.

Cynthia appears before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal and the Commercial List of the Superior Court of Justice. She also appears before a number of administrative tribunals, including the Ontario Securities Commission and the Competition Tribunal.

Cynthia is a member of the Board of Directors of The Advocates’ Society, a former Chair of its Commercial Practice Group and 10+ Standing Committee of the Board of Directors, and is a regular panelist and skills trainer at its continuing legal education programs. She is also a member of Council at the Ontario Bar Association. Cynthia also volunteers as Duty Counsel at Law Society Discipline Committee Hearings, and is a former member of the Ontario Securities Commission Litigation Assistance Project.

Professional Memberships

Ontario Bar: 2006

Law Society of Ontario

Canadian Bar Association

The Advocates’ Society

Toronto Lawyers Association

Publications

"Technology and the Law: Ontario Court of Appeal Confirms Parties Cannot Record Proceedings without Court Order", Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, April 30 2019)

"Claims Against Individual Directors and Officers of Fortress Struck Without Leave to Amend", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, February 6 2019)

"Corporation Formed to Claim Oppression Not a “Complainant” under section 250(e) of the CNCA", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, October 18 2018)

"Complainant Witness Granted Intervenor Status at Wrongful Dismissal Trial", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, October 8 2018)

"The Supreme Court’s Conflicting Reasons on Conflicts of Law", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, August 27 2018)

"Ontario Court of Appeal Reiterates that Ontario Contract Provides Basis for Jurisdiction, Even Where Defendant Not Necessarily a Counterparty", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, July 23 2018)

"The Duty of Good Faith Performance: an Unfettered Right to Terminate is Not Unfettered", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, June 8 2018)

"Is Expert Evidence No Longer Necessary in Investor Loss Cases?", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, April 25 2018)

"Court of Appeal Finds Claim of Solicitor’s Negligence Not Appropriate for Summary Judgment", (Babin Bessner Spry Commercial Litigation Blog, February 2018)

Cynthia Spry, Julia Webster and Morgan Westgate, “Appellate Court Treatment of Bhasin v. Hrynew: Developing the Duty of Good Faith in 2016” (August 2016), Commercial & Business Litigation Journal Vol. 1:1, The Canadian Institute.

"Injunctions in Misleading Advertising Cases" (2011) 24:1 Canadian Competition Law Review 69 (co-authored)

"Ontario Court of Appeal Strikes Claims Against Directors of Junior Mining Company: Insufficient Facts Pled to Ground Personal Duty of Care" (2011) 25: 4 Corporate Liability 98 (co-authored)

Practice Areas

Commercial Arbitrations

Class Actions

Corporate Commercial Litigation

Competition Proceedings

Advertising Disputes

Corporate Governance Issues, including Director and Officer Liability

Shareholder Oppression / Derivative Actions

Professional Liability and Discipline Cases

Education

Awards