Department profile
Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite

Canada Guide 2027 : Ontario


Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP is a leading Toronto litigation boutique with extensive experience in complex, high-stakes commercial disputes. The firm and the firm's partners are ranked nationally among the best of their peers by the leading legal ranking services. Our lawyers share a fundamentally similar approach to advocacy and have built a firm known for its principled analysis and diligent representation.

We are business litigators who act for plaintiffs and defendants in all manner of corporate and commercial litigation matters including disputes arising out of mergers and acquisitions, breach of contract claims, director and officer liability, oppression remedy matters, business torts, fraud and cyber-fraud investigations and claims, wrongful dismissal actions, professional negligence, corporate governance and accounting issues, corporate investigations, class actions, and urgent proceedings involving injunctions and other extraordinary remedies.

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP brings deep litigation experience, strategic judgment and a practical commercial perspective to sophisticated and business-critical mandates. Its focused boutique model provides clients with responsive, collaborative teams and direct senior-lawyer involvement. The firm develops strategies that reflect each client’s business objectives and broader legal, commercial and reputational risks.

Industries (6)

  • Financial Services
  • Energy
  • Technology
  • Sports
  • Regulatory
  • Securities

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite - Ontario

Band 5

Band 5


What the Team is Known For

Crawley MacKewn Brush is a Toronto-based litigation boutique with an expansive securities and corporate disputes practice. Particularly renowned for its securities regulatory and class action defence work, the team has further experience in directors' and officers' liability claims, shareholder disputes and broader civil litigation. The firm attracts leading clients from an array of sectors, such as financial services, sports and energy, as well as former corporate directors facing OSC investigations.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP represented Graham Wright, the representative plaintiff, in a class action concerning the collapse of the Horizons BetaPro S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Daily Inverse ETF (“HVI”). The plaintiff seeks damages for negligent design and management of HVI by Horizons.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Crawley MacKewn Brush is a really talented and strong team in litigation.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • The firm offers clear, business-focused advice. It is a deep team with strong securities litigation experience.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Crawley MacKewn Brush lawyers are very pragmatic advisors and provide practical insights.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Crawley has deep hands-on experience and is industry-aware.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • The firm has several practitioners with decades of experience in the space and deep knowledge of the law.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Alistair Crawley
    Band 1Alistair Crawley

    Alistair Crawley

    Alistair Crawley is well positioned to represent clients in cases stemming from investigations and failed transactions, as well as class actions. He is based in Crawley MacKewn Brush's Toronto office.

    • Alistair is a first-rate and first-class lawyer. He has a bright legal mind.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 1Linda Fuerst
    Band 1Linda Fuerst

    Linda Fuerst

    Linda Fuerst is a leading name in Toronto's disputes market who is exceptionally well versed concerning securities class actions, as well as securities-related litigation generally. She is further noted for her expertise and work in the cannabis sector.

    • Linda is a leader in the market.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Linda Fuerst is second to none. She has a great reputation.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 1Melissa MacKewn
    Band 1Melissa MacKewn

    Melissa MacKewn

    Melissa MacKewn is sought out for her representation in a range of disputes including those resulting from non-compliance, market manipulation and fraud. She provides counsel to clients from her base in Toronto.

    • There is never anyone more prepared than Melissa, she is able to respond effectively and very convincingly to the court.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • She is practical, whip smart and has the experience to help a company navigate any matter.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 2Robert Brush
    Band 2Robert Brush

    Robert Brush

    Based in Toronto, Robert Brush is best recognised for his work in investment dealer disputes and litigation resulting from failed corporate transactions. He also impresses representing both corporate and individual clients.

    • He is very highly regarded in the bar and has great technical skills.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Robert provides practical advice.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • I appreciate Robert's legal expertise, market awareness and business knowledge.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 3Kate McGrann
    Band 3Kate McGrann

    Kate McGrann

    Kate McGrann is based in Crawley MacKewn Brush's Toronto office and represents clients at all levels of the court in commercial, securities and administrative and public law issues. She has particular expertise in public inquiries.

    • Kate McGrann is thoughtful, thorough and strategic. I trust her to have her clients' interests at the forefront at all times.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • She has deep expertise and is client-focused.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Kate is exceptionally responsive, creative and always practical.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • She's the kind of cross-examiner who is more prepared than anyone in the room.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Kate is a smart and fierce litigator with good judgement and vision.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 5Clarke Tedesco
    Band 5Clarke Tedesco

    Clarke Tedesco

    Clarke Tedesco advises clients on a broad range of civil and regulatory securities litigation, including professional negligence, fraud actions and fiduciary litigation. He regularly acts for directors and officers of both private and public sector corporations. He is based in Crawley MacKewn Brush's Toronto office.

    • He is the most efficient lawyer. He has a great amount of experience and I feel well served.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 5Michael L. Byers
    Band 5Michael L. Byers

    Michael L. Byers

    Michael Byers is a well-regarded lawyer with a growing securities litigation practice. He regularly assists clients with shareholder matters, investigations and enforcement proceedings. He is based in Crawley MacKewn Brush's Toronto office.

    • He is ruthlessly efficient, a fierce and sophisticated advocate and understands our business.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Michael is very experienced already and that makes me excited as a client.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Michael has good judgement and good instincts.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Michael offers strong client service and is very responsive. He is good on strategy and analytical thinking, as well as being very strong in the courtroom.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Michael brings ingenuity to cases and isn't scared to get something new done. He is practical and has a common sense approach to issues that gets good results for the clients.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Up and ComingMitchell Fournie
    Up and ComingMitchell Fournie

    Mitchell Fournie

    Mitchell Fournie focuses his litigation practice on corporate and commercial disputes and acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of disputes, including breach of contract claims, shareholder rights, professional negligence, fraud, defamation, investment loss and insurance coverage litigation.

    • Mitchell is always on point.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP (11)

Ontario

Members

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