Department profile
Lenczner Slaght

Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite

Canada Guide 2026 : Ontario


Lenczner Slaght

Rankings

About

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

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite - Ontario

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

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

Provided by Chambers

  • Lenczner Slaght represented leading Canadian news media outlets in their dispute against OpenAI. The organisations alleged breaches of copyright, online terms of use and contract, as well as unjust enrichment, against OpenAI for it scraping large swaths of content for the development of its products, including ChatGPT.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The Lenczner team includes some of the most experienced litigators in Canada.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • The firm's ability to view disputes from all angles and adapt its expertise to specific cases is evident.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • The firm is very accessible, resourceful and organised.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • The team has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to client service, ensuring that our questions and concerns are addressed in a timely and thoughtful manner.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • We have found that the Lenczner Slaght team is able to efficiently and expeditiously meet tight deadlines for files.

    Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Peter Griffin
    Band 1Peter Griffin

    Peter Griffin

    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 has a great presence in the courtroom.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • He is a fabulous tactician and extremely well-respected industry figure.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • He is a go-to for any number of difficult legal problems.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 1Tom Curry
    Band 1Tom Curry

    Tom Curry

    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 Curry shows sound judgement and is a creative problem-solver.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • He quickly absorbs information and confidently steers the course the file should take.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • He is very sharp and diligent.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Tom is top-tier counsel.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 1William C McDowell
    Band 1William C McDowell

    William C McDowell

    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.

    • He is masterful in his preparation and strategic approach to litigation.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Will is an outstanding lawyer and a pleasure to work with.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 2Monique Jilesen
    Band 2Monique Jilesen

    Monique Jilesen

    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 leads with confidence and clarity, but also exemplifies client dedication.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • She is exceptionally forthcoming with her awareness of the market and precedents, which helps to guide our materials.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Monique is excellent from start to finish.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 2Rebecca Jones
    Band 2Rebecca Jones

    Rebecca Jones

    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.

    • She is very sharp, strategic and responsive; exactly who you want on your side in high-stakes litigation.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • She is bright, practical and always values and appreciates the perspective I have on files.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • We value her advice and appreciate her deep knowledge of our company history and culture.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 5Eli S. Lederman
    Band 5Eli S. Lederman

    Eli S. Lederman

    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 is knowledgeable and a strategic thinker.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • He has strong legal skills and is responsive and personable.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Band 5Matthew B. Lerner
    Band 5Matthew B. Lerner

    Matthew B. Lerner

    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.

    • He is a strong, effective litigator.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • He is attentive and eminently business-oriented.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • His ability to get up to speed on complex issues and extremely tight timelines is impressive to say the least.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
  • Up and ComingBrian Kolenda
    Up and ComingBrian Kolenda

    Brian Kolenda

    Toronto-based Brian Kolenda has a broad civil litigation practice, with experience in business disputes, civil fraud, professional negligence and defamation.

    • He gives good direction and is responsive.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • Brian brings deep subject matter expertise and is a great client partner.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada
    • He masters complex sets of facts and adds incredible value for his clients.

      Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at Lenczner Slaght (10)

Ontario

Members

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