Ranking tables

Litigation: General Commercial | Canada

Ontario

This section ranks those firms and individuals which advise on civil litigation on behalf of businesses, high net worth individuals and other non-public sector entities. The primary focus of this section is corporate litigation and litigation arising out of commercial arrangements, including shareholder disputes, post-M&A disputes and contractual disputes. Less weight is given to civil litigation types which are covered elsewhere in the Canada Guide, for example banking litigation, professional negligence, civil fraud, insurance or restructuring/insolvency. Disputes involving public sector bodies (judicial reviews, procurement challenges, etc.) will not be covered in this section. Inquests, public inquiries, tribunals, regulatory investigations and related enforcement actions will not be covered in this section. This chapter exclusively covers courtroom litigation, rather than alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration.

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1
Band 1
  1. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
    1
    Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    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; the team has additional expertise in insolvency, trade and product liability litigation.
  2. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
    1
    Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg is a leading law firm with an impressive capacity for handling large commercial disputes both at trial and before the appellate courts. Its expertise encompasses securities litigation, shareholder disputes and insolvency, as well as class action defence and competition law. The department demonstrates further proficiency in handling industrial tort claims and disputes relating to the recovery of care costs and environmental damage. The Toronto-based team is commended for its litigation capabilities in sectors such as mining, lottery and gaming, automotive and telecommunications, and it is also highly experienced in coordinating multi-provincial litigation files.
  3. Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
    1
    Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb is a Toronto litigation boutique that is sought out for its handling of high-end corporate and commercial litigation. The firm's areas of expertise include contractual and shareholder disputes, professional liability and insolvency, as well as matters involving franchising and construction law. The team is highly experienced at both trial and appellate levels, and regularly handles class action work, acting for both plaintiffs and defendants. It acts for an impressive range of clients, including domestic and international companies and financial institutions, as well as corporate directors and officers, and is often sought out as counsel by other law firms.
  4. Lenczner Slaght
    1
    Lenczner Slaght
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    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.
  5. McCarthy Tétrault LLP
    1
    McCarthy Tétrault LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    McCarthy Tétrault possesses a strong team that is firmly placed in the top echelons of the dispute resolution market in Ontario. The firm's Toronto lawyers offer significant experience of commercial claims, securities litigation and class action proceedings. The team's other areas of notable capability include civil fraud, professional liability disputes, tax litigation, defective product claims and cases arising from demutualisation. It is particularly well regarded for its in-depth knowledge of the financial services sector, and also provides expertise across a variety of other industries, including automotive, energy, education, telecommunications, healthcare and cannabis.
  6. Torys LLP
    1
    Torys LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    A firm of choice for litigation in Toronto, Torys has a deep bench and a strong reputation for handling complex files. The firm has a thriving securities litigation practice, covering negligence, misrepresentation and fraud, as well as impressive capacity for oppression claims, competition, employment and energy matters and class action defence. It is well positioned to act for clients on multi-jurisdictional and cross-border mandates. The team offers substantial experience across various sectors, including technology, financial services, transportation and media.
2
Band 2
  1. Bennett Jones LLP
    2
    Bennett Jones LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked
    Bennett Jones represents a number of high-profile public and private clients from across a range of industries in corporate and commercial disputes. Clients frequently look to the firm for its multi-jurisdictional scope. Its Toronto office houses a distinguished securities litigation practice, covering regulatory and class action proceedings, with other areas of strength including breach of contract and shareholder disputes. The department also regularly assists with litigation relating to competition, insolvency and professional negligence, as well as fraud, oppression and post-M&A litigation. It continues to act for provincial public bodies across Canada on high-profile disputes with tobacco companies seeking healthcare cost recovery.
  2. Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
    2
    Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked
    With an impressive litigation team in Toronto, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt regularly defends clients against multi-jurisdictional class actions, as well as advising on commercial and securities litigation. The firm possesses additional expertise advising on fraud, professional negligence and tax-related litigation, and demonstrates notable proficiency handling disputes resulting from competition, securities and environmental investigations. The department has a strong profile in the financial services sector and benefits from the support of the firm's integrated national litigation platform, as well as the cross-border capabilities born from its extensive US network.
  3. Stikeman Elliott LLP
    2
    Stikeman Elliott LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked
    Stikeman Elliott has a strong presence in Ontario, with offices in both Toronto and Ottawa. The firm's litigation department routinely assists clients with a range of disputes involving commercial contract claims, insolvency, securities and contested corporate transactions. With notable capability in class action defence, the group wins particular acclaim in professional negligence, misrepresentation and product liability claims. It is further recognised for its representation of current and former executives and directors in oppression proceedings, as well as breach of contract and fiduciary duty. The firm also enjoys a significant reputation for its work in the energy, construction and technology sectors.
3
Band 3
  1. Goodmans LLP
    3
    Goodmans LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 3 | 7 Years Ranked
    Goodmans houses a well-regarded commercial litigation department with a strong focus on disputes relating to contested M&A transactions, commercial contracts and securities. The Toronto-based firm is particularly active in the financial services, real estate and pharmaceutical sectors, and has additional expertise in insolvency, claims under the Competition Act, enforcement matters, class action defence and product liability litigation. Its well-rounded disputes practice includes expert advice on litigation prevention strategy and risk management.
  2. Norton Rose Fulbright
    3
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 3 | 7 Years Ranked
    Norton Rose Fulbright maintains a well-established Ontario litigation practice, offering services out of Toronto and Ottawa. The team regularly advises on securities litigation, shareholder disputes, breach of contract claims and consumer protection cases. It is also noted for its handling of product and professional liability, insolvency and competition litigation. The firm has an impressive reputation in the field of securities, working on proxy contests, insider trading and misrepresentation, with a strong track record in class actions. The team is highly regarded for its in-depth knowledge of various industry sectors, including energy, financial services, life sciences and construction.
4
Band 4
  1. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    4
    Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    Borden Ladner Gervais has a solid service offering in the Ontario litigation market, with notable expertise in securities, fraud and banking litigation. The team fields notable experience in administrative and constitutional law matters, regularly appearing on urgent injunctions and judicial reviews, as well as novel matters such as extradition proceedings. Other areas of strength include class actions, product liability and construction litigation. Well regarded for its expertise in the financial services and energy sectors, the team also advises clients from industries such as automotive, natural resources and communications. It maintains an active presence in both Toronto and Ottawa.
  2. Dentons Canada LLP
    4
    Dentons Canada LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    The Toronto team at Dentons impresses for its significant international client roster. With notable experience of litigation matters arising within the financial services sector, the team is particularly active in auditors' liability cases and class actions regarding competition and product liability. In addition to wide-ranging commercial disputes experience, the team offers strength in construction and environmental litigation, as well as constitutional disputes relating to First Nations.
  3. Fasken
    4
    Fasken
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    Fasken's Ontario litigation team regularly assists clients from the transportation, pharmaceutical and financial services sectors with a range of different matters including commercial disputes, securities litigation and white-collar defence. Recognised for its handling of high-profile professional liability disputes, the department holds notable ability in resolving cases through summary judgment motions. The firm operates an active Ottawa litigation practice with significant experience of competition and procurement matters. It also offers robust class action expertise.
  4. Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
    4
    Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    Gowling WLG is recognised for its significant Ontario litigation practice group, with offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and Waterloo. The team advises on securities and shareholder disputes, oppression remedies and breach of contract claims. The firm also offers additional expertise in banking and competition litigation, white-collar crime, insolvency and large-scale class actions. Its client base includes technology and electronics businesses, Canadian and US banks and publicly traded companies, as well as high-profile current and former executives.
  5. Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
    4
    Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein is a highly regarded Toronto-based litigation boutique with a strong bench and a broad spectrum of expertise. The firm has a distinguished contentious public law practice, acting for associations, universities and various other public bodies in judicial reviews and other public interest disputes. The team is well equipped to handle corporate commercial litigation, as well as disputes relating to securities, fraud, bankruptcy and insolvency, labour law, product liability and employment. The group wins further recognition for its specialised class action group, offering assistance to both plaintiffs and defendants, and is additionally noted for its arbitration capabilities.
5
Band 5
  1. Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP
    5
    Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5 | 3 Years Ranked
    Adair Goldblatt Bieber is an impressive Toronto-based civil litigation boutique that is highlighted as a growing force in the Ontario market. The firm is well reputed for its representation of plaintiffs and defendants in class action proceedings. Its lawyers also represent clients in commercial litigation and arbitration.
  2. Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP
    5
    Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5 | 3 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. McMillan LLP
    5
    McMillan LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5 | 7 Years Ranked
    McMillan wins recognition for its representation in matters relating to corporate governance, consumer protection and securities. The team's broad litigation experience also encompasses insolvency, product liability, competition and professional negligence cases. Its expertise cuts across sectors, including energy and natural resources, automotive, pharmaceutical and construction. The firm also represents high-profile individuals such as former company officers and has experience reaching resolutions through trial advocacy as well as early negotiated settlements and ADR.
  4. Pape Chaudhury LLP
    5
    Pape Chaudhury LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5 | 7 Years Ranked
    Pape Chaudhury is a Toronto litigation boutique that is highly regarded for its strength in appellate work. The firm also operates an active trial practice and is often sought after for its experience of complex commercial litigation and class action proceedings. It acts for both plaintiffs and defendants, representing private individuals, businesses and institutions. The firm demonstrates notable recent success in cases in which it has been retained at appellate stage.
  5. 5
    Polley Faith LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5 | 7 Years Ranked
    Polley Faith is a specialist litigation boutique with a notable presence in Ontario's civil and commercial disputes market. The team is regularly mandated on judicial review cases, insurance coverage disputes, royalties and insolvency-related disputes, class action suits and negligence claims. The group is also experienced in regulatory and criminal disputes. It represents wide-ranging Canadian and US corporates and financial institutions, as well as private individuals.
  6. Stockwoods LLP
    5
    Stockwoods LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5 | 7 Years Ranked
    Stockwoods is a Toronto boutique law firm with extensive experience of civil, commercial, administrative and public law litigation. The group routinely represents clients in contractual disputes, oppression remedies and professional negligence claims. The team is also regularly involved in securities class actions relating to fraud and market manipulation and is sought out for its counsel on judicial reviews. It is further noted for its expertise in insolvency, white-collar defence and municipal litigation.
  7. Chernos Flaherty Svonkin
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5
  8. Tyr LLP
    Litigation: General Commercial
    2024 | Band 5