Department profile
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Litigation: Administrative & Public Law

Canada Guide 2027 : Ontario


Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Blakes has one of the largest and most successful Litigation & Dispute Resolution practices in Canada, with top-tier litigators in the major business centres across the country, including Toronto, and an extraordinary depth of local industry knowledge, practice expertise and litigation experience. 

Our multidisciplinary team is armed with the skills and insights required to achieve favourable results for our clients. With all of the advice and expertise needed under one roof, we leverage best practices across industries and take swift action to resolve disputes smoother, smarter and with greater success.

We represent client interests at every stage of a dispute, from fact-finding and risk evaluation through final resolution and enforcement. We litigate in trial and appellate courts, resolve disputes at the negotiating table, and represent clients before tribunals and government agencies.

Blakes litigators have appeared before all levels of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and have been involved in precedent-setting cases involving hostile take-overs, indemnification of directors and officers, proxy contests and directors’ duties. Our expertise is complemented by one of Canada’s largest and most experienced corporate and commercial law groups.

In large, document-intensive cases, we integrate skilled paralegal support, leading-edge document management technology and a project management and e-discovery team to manage matters efficiently and cost effectively.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: Administrative & Public Law - Ontario

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Blake, Cassels & Graydon is a high-profile Canadian law firm with an admirable litigation offering and a notable presence in the Ontario market. The team maintains a strong focus on disputes relating to contested M&A transactions and commercial contracts, securities and general commercial class action defence, and securities regulatory disputes. The firm is particularly active in the financial services, real estate and pharmaceutical sectors, and the team has additional expertise in insolvency, trade and product liability litigation.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP represented Royal Bank of Canada and The Royal Trust Company in a securities class action regarding the Canadian Equity Fund and allegations of excessive management fees.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The firm has strong depth and can bring experts to the table in various areas.

    Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • The firm's ability to dissect issues and make them clear to the business is a strength.

    Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Blakes has good lawyers with good experience and it has demonstrated exceptional expertise in this area.

    Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon is really good at thinking ahead and putting themselves in the shoes of the client. The firm has talent in the litigation team and brings knowledge and experience to complex litigation.

    Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • The Blakes commercial litigation team is extremely responsive and can work quickly and creatively to untangle difficult issues in complex litigation matters. The team uses its wealth of experience to anticipate the next move by the opposing party and is always thinking ahead.

    Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 6Iris Fischer
    Band 6Iris Fischer

    Iris Fischer

    Iris Fischer is colead of Blake, Cassels & Graydon's Toronto litigation and dispute resolution group. She expertly handles constitutional challenges and judicial review matters, as part of a broad administrative law practice.

    • Iris is a star.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • She is the full package. She is intuitive, brilliant and an incredibly skilled advocate. The client service she provides is second to none.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • She is very practical and attentive.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Iris Fischer has straightforward and clear responses despite complex and conflicting directions. She is very methodical in her responses.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 1Michael E Barrack
    Band 1Michael E Barrack

    Michael E Barrack

    Michael Barrack is one of the leading figures in Toronto's commercial litigation space. He is regularly instructed on high-profile and complex commercial mandates, including contested M&A, insolvency litigation and contractual disputes.

    • Michael's advice is tailored to the realities of the matters. He is strategic and thoughtful.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Michael is a great lawyer.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 2Andrea Laing
    Band 2Andrea Laing

    Andrea Laing

    Andrea Laing is noted for her representation in significant securities litigation and class actions. Based in Toronto, she acts for a number of major Canadian and multinational financial institutions, accounting firms, investment funds and asset management companies.

    • She is very strategic and has very strong technical expertise in securities litigation. She has a real mastery of the issues at play.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Andrea is an excellent litigator. She is practical, business-minded and is able to leverage her broad experience in securities matters to identify winning litigation strategies.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Andrea is an excellent and highly experienced commercial litigator.
      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Andrea is a top-notch litigator. She is experienced, knowledgeable and a great adviser.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Andrea is very prepared, thinks things through and is strong on the law. She really researches and makes sure she is on solid ground.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 3Bradley E. Berg
    Band 3Bradley E. Berg

    Bradley E. Berg

    Bradley Berg is an accomplished commercial litigator who is additionally renowned for his work on constitutional cases.

    • Brad is unbelievably meticulous. He is detail-oriented and sees everything.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Brad Berg is great and does a lot of good commercial work.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • His expertise in this area is extensive.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Brad is excellent to work with and ensures that the client is kept up to date.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 4Catherine Beagan Flood
    Band 4Catherine Beagan Flood

    Catherine Beagan Flood

    Catherine Beagan Flood is an experienced litigator who frequently assists clients with a broad range of complex commercial disputes. She is based in Blake, Cassels & Graydon's Toronto office and is noted in particular for her ability to handle contentious matters in the telecommunications and energy sectors.

    • Catherine is phenomenal. She's a really skilled litigator and advocate.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • What stands out is Catherine's capacity to understand jurisdictional law and complicated federal laws.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • She is such a stellar lawyer.
      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Catherine is an excellent counsel. She has very strong technical expertise and shows strong business acumen.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 3Doug McLeod
    Band 3Doug McLeod

    Doug McLeod

    Doug McLeod continues to build his reputation in Toronto's securities litigation field, with particularly deep understanding of OSC enforcement proceedings and investigations.

    • Doug is personable, responsive and willing to work within the constraints of our business model.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Doug McLeod is an exceedingly thoughtful and tactically astute commercial litigator. He is highly strategic, deeply commercial in his judgement and exceptionally effective at identifying both the pressure points and the decisive angles in a case.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Doug is practical and someone that is adjustable depending on the stakes at play for a given matter. His responsiveness is also a real strength of his.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 3Ryan Morris
    Band 3Ryan Morris

    Ryan Morris

    Ryan Morris is increasingly active on high-profile litigation files in Toronto, including contested M&A, capital markets disputes and class actions. He is engaged regularly by both corporations and individuals.

    • Ryan Morris brings together industry and subject matter expertise with general litigation strategy well.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Ryan gives confidence in his ability to provide way above average services.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • He is an excellent lawyer with good practical advice.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 4Elder Marques
    Band 4Elder Marques

    Elder Marques

    Elder Marques is an experienced public law litigator and splits his time between the firm's Ottawa and Toronto offices.

    • Elder Marques provides perfect service and advice every step of the way.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • He has a strong set of skills and expertise and keeps me up to date.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Elder has great wisdom, builds effective teams and structures matters to give great value.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • He has an agile understanding of public law.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Band 4Jeff Galway
    Band 4Jeff Galway

    Jeff Galway

    Based in Toronto, Jeff Galway is well-versed in class action and single-plaintiff commercial litigation, with experience advising on insurance and competition disputes.

    • Jeff is really good at thinking ahead and at putting himself in the shoes of the client. Jeff knows our organisation exceptionally well. His client service is some of the best I've ever seen.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • He is exceptional, providing great guidance and practicality.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
  • Up and ComingChristopher DiMatteo
    Up and ComingChristopher DiMatteo

    Christopher DiMatteo

    Christopher DiMatteo is a Toronto-based partner with a broad commercial litigation practice, showcasing particular proficiency on constitutional and public law matters.

    • Chris is adept at understanding the complexities of our business and industry.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Chris is experienced, methodical and leads with strategic thinking.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • He provides clear, sound advice that leads to successful outcomes.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Christopher DiMatteo is great on his feet and in court.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada
    • Chris is very brainy in a positive way. He grapples with the legal issues, is not afraid to dive into the law and legislation, and deals with issues that are complex and have implications beyond the small issue.

      Litigation: Administrative & Public Law respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (12)

Ontario

Members

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