Suzy Kauffman

Practice Areas

Suzy is a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group and is a member of the Executive Committee at Goodmans. She is an experienced commercial litigator, with particular expertise in litigating disputes involving commercial contracts, class actions, employee and fiduciary obligations, contested estate matters, directors and officers liability claims, civil fraud, loss of corporate opportunity and entertainment matters. Suzy has acted as lead counsel on numerous high-stakes litigation matters, including proceedings resolved by way of private arbitration. In her class actions practice, she frequently represents her clients’ interests in jurisdictions across Canada.

Suzy values strong client relationships, recognizing the importance of timely reporting. She is a skilled negotiator and regularly advises clients on risk mitigation strategies. However, when litigation is necessary, she vigorously pursues her clients’ objectives while continually evaluating risks, expenses and options.

Suzy has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and before all levels of civil courts in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Commercial Court, which specializes in complex commercial cases, and has both trial and appellate experience. She has also been involved in proceedings before the Ontario Securities Commission and in judicial review applications of administration tribunals.

Career

Suzy is recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (“repeatedly recommended”), and by Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Corporate Commercial Litigation. Suzy has also been recognized by Chambers Canada for Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario), The Legal 500 Canada for Dispute Resolution: Ontario, and by Benchmark Canada as a “Litigation Star” nationally for class actions and in Ontario for class actions, commercial litigation, insolvency, labour and employment and professional liability.

Professional Memberships

Suzy is a regular instructor of litigation skills-based workshops at The Advocates’ Society and has run the continuing legal education program for the associates in the litigation department at Goodmans. She is involved in the student program at the firm, acting as a mentor to summer and articling students.

Suzy has completed the Board Governance Course run by the Canadian Board Diversity Counsel, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of TanenbaumCHAT and at ICRF. She is a past board member of several other not-for-profit boards.

She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, The Advocates’ Society, Ontario Bar Association, and Canadian Bar Association.

Personal

Before joining Goodmans, Suzy was a figure skater and competed nationally and internationally for Canada.