Find Lawyers in Canada for Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Practice Area Overview
Commercial litigation is a very broad practice area encompassing all disputes potentially arising in a business context. Consequently, practitioners in this area must have wide-ranging knowledge of both the business world and the myriad legal issues that can arise in that arena.
Commercial disputes may take on various forms, from breach of contract to shareholder disputes. Every litigious situation gives rise to a wide variety of remedies and recourses, such as an action for damages, a motion for an injunction, or a seizure before judgment. Furthermore, depending on their nature, such disputes can fall under the jurisdiction of several courts, each with its own set of rules.
In this challenging environment, commercial litigators must be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each situation and gauge their potential impact. Thorough knowledge of the commercial and operational issues at play will allow the practitioner to propose an appropriate litigation or ADR strategy, perhaps even a business solution.
Commercial litigation has evolved considerably over the years due to several factors, such as the near-universal adoption of information technology by businesses, and the increased complexity of commercial disputes. Add to that a slowing Canadian economy, and it is clear that commercial litigators must be prepared for war but open to peace.
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Province
Caroline Abela specializes in complex business and estate litigation matters. Focusing on commercial and corporate litigation and estates and trusts litigation, Caroline represents clients ranging from large corporations and institutions to small business owners and professionals. Caroline has appeared as counsel before all levels of courts in Ontario and the Federal Court of Canada. Caroline has been named in the Who’s Who Legal for Asset Recovery and in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Dire...
Mark is a Partner at Ross & McBride LLP. He is the head of the Estate and Commercial Litigation Groups. Mark's practice focuses on commercial and estate litigation. He acts for a variety of clients that include public and private companies, institutions and individuals. With over twenty years of trial and advocacy experience, Mark has handled many complex cases and has appeared in all levels of court in Ontario.
John's advocacy is tried and tested, having conducted dozens of lengthy and complex arbitrations, trials, and administrative hearings. John has a robust appellate practice, having appeared at the Court of Appeal for Ontario on over 40 appeals and before the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions. John does not shy from challenge. Some of John’s most notable cases are the product of his creative, boundary-testing approach, and passion for applying the law creatively to achieve sen...
Rahool's practice focuses on complex commercial and civil litigation, including contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, proxy fights, director and officer liability, complex fraud cases and class actions. He has also acted in a broad range of constitutional and public law matters, including cases involving the constitutionality of a safe injection site, the application of state immunity to claims of torture and the discretion of physicians to unilaterally withdraw life support. Rahool has...
Mark’s litigation practice focuses on construction disputes, insurance, and commercial litigation. His insurance practice covers a broad range of areas, with a focus on professional negligence, acting on behalf of architects and engineers in various types of construction claims. He also acts for manufacturers and suppliers in product liability claims, dealing with breach of warranty and negligence claims relating to allegedly defective equipment, materials, and consumer goods. Mark has ...
Greg Allen is an experienced trial and appellate litigator who routinely appears as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has a diverse civil and commercial litigation practice, with expertise in shareholders remedies, municipal law, defamation, and administrative law. Greg represents a diverse roster of clients, ranging from large public companies to individuals. Greg has a particular specialty in appellate advocacy. He has made 10 appearances...
Fadi Amine specializes in civil and commercial litigation, particularly in class actions, complex commercial disputes, international commercial arbitration, consumer protection, competition law, advertising law, franchising and product distribution. As part of his insurance practice, he focuses on professional liability, product liability, and civil liability. Fadi has acted as legal counsel before all levels of Quebec courts and before the Supreme Court of Canada. He has developed particular...
For more than 35 years, Bernard Amyot has developed a practice that is primarily focused on civil and commercial litigation. He has extensive experience before the Quebec courts, having represented Canada’s leading financial institutions. He has lectured and written frequently on legal issues of interest to his clients. His professional liability defence work extends to lawyers as well as stockbrokers, insurance brokers, engineers and accountants. He has acted as lead counsel in numerou...
Robert Anderson practices as general counsel representing clients in court and in alternative dispute forums including arbitrations and mediations. He regularly appears in court on matters that involve a wide variety of areas of law. Mr. Anderson practiced as Crown Counsel before joining Farris in 1981. Mr. Anderson has appeared in all levels of the courts in British Columbia, the Federal Trial Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Tax Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has...
Bob Anderson is a corporate and commercial lawyer with over 30 years of legal experience. Bob provides down-to-earth representation to many owner-managed companies as well as individual clients. Bob’s practice covers a wide range of areas including agriculture and food production, corporate and commercial management, share and asset mergers and acquisitions, personal and corporate banking, financial services, and real estate. Bob continues to provide part time in-house legal services to...
Odile Archambault represents clients before the Quebec courts, in particular the Court of Quebec, the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal, as well as certain administrative tribunals. She also assists clients and represents them in mediations and civil arbitration. Ms. Archambault's practice focuses primarily on construction, commercial litigation and commercial and professional liability. She frequently represents clients, contractors, subcontractors and construction professionals in comp...
Sarah Armstrong is the Chair of Fasken’s Ontario Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. An experienced and strategic litigator with broad litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution experience, she has developed a robust practice focused on commercial and contractual disputes and class action defence. Sarah is also a member of Fasken’s Ontario Professional Development Committee and is Co-Chair of the firm’s Ontario Pro Bono Committee. Working with clients acros...
Éric Azran is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. His practice extends to all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, ranging from providing clients with legal opinions and strategic advice to representing clients in Québec courts of first instance and appeal, as well as administrative tribunals. He also chaired the Montréal office’s Pro Bono Committee from 2010 to 2012. He is currently Co-Chair of the National Diversity Committee, and a ...
Marco is a skilled litigator who represents clients in a wide range of disputes. He applies his considerable experience before courts and administrative tribunals to successfully defend his clients’ best interests. Marco’s diverse practice includes commercial litigation, insurance and risk management, professional discipline, and municipal matters. He has significant experience litigating contractual disputes and negligence claims, routinely representing energy companies, engineer...
Mihnea Bantoiu practises primarily civil and commercial litigation. He has acted in a variety of high-profile litigation matters, including investment services and insurance liability, commercial and shareholder disputes, class actions, estate litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency, compliance with non-competition clauses and injunctions and other provisional measures. Mihnea has also assisted companies and their executives in defence of legal proceedings instituted by the Autorité des ...
François Barette is recognized as a leading litigator and tax lawyer. He represents diversified clients including individuals, corporations and trusts both in Canada and internationally. François’ practice extends well beyond tax litigation and he is asked to intervene in a range of civil and administrative matters. François advises clients on issues concerning federal and provincial income tax, sales tax, goods and services tax, excise tax, payroll taxes and proper...
Ms. Sophie Barry has more than 15 years of experience in civil and commercial litigation. Her legal practice extends to all aspects of litigation, including alternative dispute resolution methods. Ms. Barry is regularly called upon to provide legal opinions and strategic advice regarding the prevention of disputes and the management of litigious situations and cases. Sophie acts as an external litigation manager for a company, a role that she enjoys. In this role, she manages, with the extern...
Known for her strategic counsel and trial skills, Sandra Barton is a leading civil and commercial litigation lawyer based in the Toronto office. Sandra is recognized as one of the top corporate commercial litigators in Canada by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory , and was featured among the country’s leading class actions lawyers in the 2015 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada . Working seamlessly with clients and counsel across Canada and the U.S., Sandra brings extensive expertis...
Bryan is Associate Counsel with Harper Grey and the Chair of our Defamation, Privacy & Media Law Group. With a career spanning five decades, Bryan’s experience is vast, and he has represented clients across multiple industries. Over his lengthy career, he has provided advice and acted as counsel with respect to corporate and commercial disputes and all issues relating to aviation, real estate, contract, tort and defamation litigation. He has extensive experience and has represented ...
John is a senior lawyer in the Saskatoon office where he acts as Counsel in complex commercial and contractual disputes, professional negligence, labour law, taxation, and First Nations litigation. John Beckman, K.C. was called to the Bar in 1977, admitted as a Partner in 1980, and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1987. He transitioned to Of Counsel in 2018. Mr. Beckman has extensive experience acting as Counsel in complex commercial and contractual disputes, Professional Negligence, Labour...
A partner at Woods LLP, Eric serves a wide range of industries, including financial services and natural resources. He also handles employment-related matters for employers as well as senior management. Eric is a frequent author and speaker on topics such as evidence, civil procedure and international arbitration. An accomplished trial and appellate lawyer, Eric has developed a particular expertise in domestic and international arbitration. His experience includes acting for Canada in the NAF...
A respected civil litigation lawyer, Robb Beeman’s first goal is to help people and find solutions to their problems. Known for integrity, common sense, and skill in dispute resolution, he likes nothing more than to help his clients find their way. He sees a client’s end goal and determines the best way to get them there. Robb represents companies, public-sector organizations, and individuals in employment, commercial, and regulatory disputes. He thoughtfully guides his clients th...
Mélanie Béland acts as counsel within the Litigation group at our Montréal Office. As such, she assists clients in securities matters in a litigious context or before such a situation arises. Mélanie has extensive knowledge in this area as well as in criminal and administrative matters after having worked for 12 years as a prosecutor for the Litigation Department of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). She has made numerous representations befor...
Amélie Béliveau practises intellectual property law and commercial litigation. She is involved in all aspects of litigation, including drafting legal opinions and proceedings, and pleading before various courts. Amélie’s work in intellectual property focuses on matters relating to trademarks, copyrights, defamation and the right to control one’s own image. In her trademark practice, Amélie assists clients with all stages of securing Canadian protection....
Luc Béliveau practises in the areas of restructuring and banking law. Luc was a member of the firm's Partnership Board from 2013 to 2020 and Chairman of the Board from 2015 to 2020. Luc regularly represents debtors, borrowers, lenders, investors, creditors, receivers, monitors and trustees. He defends the interests of clients in restructurings, liquidations, recapitalizations, realizations of security interests, and asset recoveries. Luc sits on the boards of several private corporatio...
Gunnar Benediktsson practises primarily in the areas of commercial and corporate litigation and insolvency and restructuring. Mr. Benediktsson has represented parties to commercial disputes throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, and has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, and before the Court of Queen's Bench and Court of Appeal in Saskatchewan. As an insolvency and restructuring lawyer, Mr. Benediktsson has a range of experience representing court-appointed recei...
Dan Bennett's practice is focused in the areas of trial, arbitration, hearing and appeal work in commercial and administrative litigation. As a member of our litigation group, Mr. Bennett has conducted a broad range of cases in commercial, real estate, and natural resource matters in British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon superior courts and courts of appeal as well as the Federal Courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He also appears regularly before a number of administrative boards de...
Richard is the chair of Harper Grey’s environmental law group and a senior member of our commercial litigation group. He is the former Managing Partner of the firm, recently completing two three-year terms. Consistently recognized as a leader is his field by numerous ranking publications, including Lexpert, Chambers, Best Lawyers, and Benchmark, Richard has established a reputation as one of Canada’s leading environmental law practitioners. An accomplished author, Richard has co-a...
Steve Berezowskyj is Counsel in the Construction and Infrastructure practice group. His litigation and dispute resolution practice focuses on insurance defence and construction related disputes. Steve regularly defends design professionals and contractors in various construction defect, warranty and general liability claims. He also advises on procurement, builders’ liens and claims for extras and delay. Steve’s litigation practice also focuses on insurance defence with an emphasi...
Annie Bernard's practice focuses on a broad range of complex matters, including construction and class action litigation. She represents clients in almost every sector of the construction industry ranging from owners to general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on issues involving financing, construction defects, project management, professional liability and breach of contract. She has also developed expertise in issues relating to invitations to tender, legal hypothecs for construct...
Max R. Bernard focuses his practice on commercial litigation, construction law, commercial real estate, securities brokerage and banking. He has handled various types of commercial and contractual claims and shareholder remedies. Additionally, he has acted for securities brokers and negotiated construction contracts, including agreements with professional consultants. His expertise in real estate law extends to development, financing, work-outs, management and leasing. In the banking field, h...
Jean Bertrand focuses on commercial and corporate litigation, including class actions and arbitration, and on administrative law, with emphasis on regulated activity such as competition, transportation, international trade and energy. He has appeared frequently before Quebec and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as before regulatory boards such as the Commission des transports du Québec, the Régie de l’énergie, the Competition Tribunal, ...
Laura is a litigator practicing in all areas of civil and commercial litigation. Laura has appeared as both trial and appellate counsel, including before all levels of court in British Columbia, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, and the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as before various arbitration and administrative tribunals. Laura advises and represents clients in a broad range of industries. She acts for clients in the gaming industry, the banking and securities industries and in ...
Salman is chair of our Real Estate Group and co-chair of our Insolvency and Restructuring Group. Salman’s clients range from individuals and small businesses to multinational corporations and large financial institutions. He is also panel counsel for chartered banks and trust companies. His focus is both on advising clients on risk management strategies and on negotiation of effective resolution to complex business disputes. He frequently represents clients involved in cross-border comm...
Laurence Bich-Carrière practises in the Litigation Group. A member of the Quebec Bar and of the Law Society of Ontario, her practice is wide-ranging, and she provides services in areas that include class actions, municipal affairs, consumer protection, construction law, administrative law, and infrastructure. She represents a variety of clients before the court, particularly in appeal cases, and also advises clients on drafting and negotiating contracts and settlements and on risk mana...
With a practice spanning Canada and the US, Simon focuses on commercial and corporate litigation, directors’ and officers’ liability, securities litigation, class actions, and professional negligence. Simon represents a broad range of clients, including various regulated professionals, directors and officers, oppressed shareholders, and public and private companies. Simon delivers results, both in and out of the courtroom. He has a robust trial and appellate practice, appearing re...
Pierre Bienvenu, Ad. E. is a disputes lawyer with more than 35 years' experience in international commercial arbitration, corporate and commercial litigation, and constitutional law. He has acted as counsel or served as arbitrator in international arbitrations involving disputes in energy, transportation, telecommunications, mergers and acquisitions, construction, pharmaceuticals, international distribution and joint ventures, and foreign investment. A former co-chair of the IBA’s Arbit...
Jennifer Biernaskie is a litigation strategist who finds solutions. She skillfully analyzes a claim from all sides, considering both the present details and what will happen down the road. The end result is a forward-thinking strategy that shapes a successful future for her clients. Her strong track record for resolving claims is based on skill, creative agreements and common sense in commercial litigation, insurance defence, and administrative law. With particular proficiency in high-complex...
Michael Binetti, Managing Partner of the firm, brings a proven litigation background plus extensive experience in arguing both trials and appeals. He has demonstrated his strategic legal capability and expertise in wide-ranging areas of litigation. Michael’s peers and clients have commented that Michael is an “excellent and creative lawyer,” “finds unique solutions to complex problems,” and that “Michael gets it and knows how to win.” Michael represen...
David Bishop is a partner at Gowlings and head of Calgary's Advocacy Group. David’s practice involves all aspects of corporate/commercial litigation with an emphasis on directors' and officers' defence, product liability, professional liability disputes, shareholder disputes, class actions, large property and industrial claims, and environmental litigation. He is familiar with all aspects of dispute resolution, including private mediations, judicial dispute resolution conferences and ar...
Brendan solves difficult problems. Brendan has a combined 25 years of experience at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP and a boutique full-service firm. Brendan began his career as a litigator and trial lawyer before focusing his practice on insolvency, restructuring and commercial litigation. Brendan’s expertise as a trial lawyer is especially sought after by clients looking to resolve and restructure complex claims. Brendan has acted for borrowers, creditors, purchasers, court officers, and g...
Nikolas heads the Real Estate Litigation practice group at the Montréal office. He practises real estate, commercial and contract litigation, including expropriations. He regularly appears before the civil courts and administrative tribunals in Québec and he has pleaded before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Joëlle Boisvert is the Managing Partner of the firm's Montréal office and a member of the firm’s national executive team. As an experienced commercial litigator, Joëlle counsels large national and international companies with regards to a variety of complex dispute matters. During her 25-year career, she has developed extensive experience in class actions and litigation pertaining to commercial and real estate law, including in the areas of franchising, as well as manuf...
Michael is a partner at Carbert Waite and co-chair of the firm’s commercial litigation and condominium practice groups. Michael has represented clients in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the Provincial Court of Alberta, and in mediations and arbitrations. He enjoys appearing in Court when necessary, but focuses on finding economic and sensible solutions for his clients and works tirelessly to pursue their rights.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.