Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb (LOLG) is Canada’s premier counsel firm. The firm’s lawyers handle the most complex commercial disputes and public law cases. They carry a robust trial, arbitration, and appellate practice across the country and in the Supreme Court of Canada. 

LOLG is regularly engaged as trial and appellate co-counsel by peer law firms, and as court officers in large and sensitive litigation mandates. The firm also acts as counsel in class actions, securities litigation and administrative law matters, as well as infrastructure, franchise, employment and health law disputes. 

LOLG has one of Canada’s leading restructuring & insolvency practices. The firm’s insolvency counsel are ranked among the top nationally and have material roles in Canada’s largest and most complex insolvency proceedings and restructurings. 

LOLG also has a dedicated insurance litigation practice. The firm is engaged as leading counsel advising policyholder clients on insurance claims and litigating coverage disputes against major insurers.

LOLG’s practitioners are leaders at the bar, holding positions on the Chief Justice of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism and the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, and fellowships in elite trial organizations. Its associates are of the highest caliber, recruited primarily from judicial clerkships at the Supreme Court of Canada, provincial Courts of Appeal, and the Commercial List of the Superior Court of Justice. LOLG’s partners are among the most consistently recommended counsel in Canada and represent clients in Canada, the United States, and from overseas. 

Partner profiles are as follows: 

Jonathan Lisus practises commercial and public law trial and appellate litigation. He has deep experience with infrastructure and P3-related litigation, class actions for plaintiffs and defendants, product liability, oppression remedies, Aboriginal land claims, and securities litigation. He appears as counsel in courts and arbitral tribunals across the country and the Supreme Court of Canada. Jonathan regularly appears as Special Counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in challenges to government action. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a member of the Chief Justice of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism, and a member of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute. Described by his peers as ‘the gold standard in this space, a phenomenal litigator’, for more than thirty years Jonathan has won landmark decisions across a broad variety of subject matter including competition law, constitutional law, liability of public authorities, professional liability, criminal law, financial services, franchise law, and contract disputes. He has tried over 90 cases to judgment and argued over 55 appeals in provincial appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. 

Matthew Gottlieb practises business litigation including corporate and commercial disputes, insolvency and restructuring and fraud and securities litigation. Matt’s extensive track record of success in complex, high-stakes disputes explains why he is recognized as one of Canada’s top litigation lawyers. He has significant expertise in trials and applications, in tribunal and arbitration hearings, and regularly appears at all levels of court in Ontario and other provinces, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. Matt has acted as counsel in many major proceedings, including those regarding Aon, the Stronach Family, Sears Canada, Mattamy Homes, Xplornet, and a number of material parties in complex insolvency proceedings. Matt is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and The International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a frequent instructor at many litigation-related seminars held by the Law Society of Ontario, The Advocates' Society and other organizations. 

Paul Michell is a trial and appellate lawyer. His focus is commercial litigation and arbitration, judicial review and public law. He has particular expertise in complex cases with a regulatory or cross-border dimension. Over 25 years of practice, he has built experience in a broad range of industries. Paul excels at resolving difficult issues through innovative litigation strategies. Clients rely on him for insight and a creative approach to simplify and resolve their most challenging disputes. Paul has extensive trial and appellate experience at all levels in the Ontario and Federal Courts, and has been counsel in 11 appeals in the Supreme Court of Canada. He has prosecuted cases before a wide range of administrative and arbitral tribunals. He acts as an arbitrator, as a presiding officer under the Competition Act, and a tribunal chair, and has been an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto for two decades.

Crawford Smith’s litigation practice focuses on complex corporate and commercial matters, competition and insurance litigation, and administrative law, with substantial class action expertise. Crawford has appeared as counsel in all levels of court in Ontario, in the Supreme Court of Canada, in the Federal Court, in commercial arbitrations, and before a variety of administrative tribunals including the Ontario Energy Board, the Ontario Securities Commission, the Competition Tribunal, and the Environmental Review Tribunal. Crawford's energy practice involves economic issues in multi-party litigation and frequent appearances as counsel before the Energy Board at hearings regarding rate regulation, infrastructure development, and demand-side management. His securities practice includes acting as counsel for investment dealers, mutual fund dealers, registered representatives, and other securities industry participants. He also handles regulatory proceedings and investigations by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Ontario Securities Commission. 

Hovsep Afarian is a recognized legal expert in the insurance industry. His expertise in insurance disputes is wide ranging, having acted in disputes involving D&O policies, cyber claims, fidelity bonds, E&O policies, CGL policies, property policies, life insurance policies, marine policies and environmental liability policies. Hovsep is a versatile, detail-oriented advocate with a proven record of success. Hovsep has appeared before all levels of court across Canada as policyholder counsel and has been at the forefront of the developing cyber insurance industry. Hovsep has been involved in some of the largest and most significant insurance claims in Canadian history.

Shaun Laubman practises corporate commercial litigation including shareholder and partnership disputes, fraud cases, franchise and estate litigation and real estate disputes. He is an experienced trial and appellate counsel and has successfully represented clients before all levels of court in Ontario, as well as before administrative and arbitral tribunals. Shaun also has extensive experience with cases involving Mareva and injunctive relief. He is the Past Chair of the OBA’s Civil Litigation Section and a member of the Commercial List Users’ Committee. Shaun has been recognized as an “Up & Coming” lawyer by Chambers Canada, a “Next Generation Lawyer” by Legal 500, included in The Best Lawyers in Canada and a past recipient of the Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 award. 

Paul Fruitman’s commercial litigation practice focuses on contract disputes, infrastructure and construction disputes, health law, employment law, shareholder disputes and product liability. He has extensive expertise acting for healthcare institutions and professionals in civil and regulatory proceedings, acts as counsel to corporate directors and officers, in shareholder disputes and oppression claims. Paul has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court, and in administrative and arbitral tribunals. He regularly appears before the Toronto Commercial List. Paul frequently presents on litigation topics, trial advocacy, and is a frequent instructor at Osgoode’s Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy program. He is a member of OBA’s Alternative Business Structures Task Force and CBA’s working group for Solicitor-Client Privilege Claims at the Canadian border. His writing has appeared in the Annual Review of Civil Litigation and he is a regular contributor to The Advocates’ Journal. 

Nadia Campion’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation including shareholder oppression applications, D&O liability, estates matters, class actions and professional liability. Nadia also has an active land development and real estate litigation practice. She has extensive trial experience and appears regularly before the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, and various regulatory and administration tribunals. She has expertise in Toronto Commercial List proceedings and in arbitration and mediation processes. With both US and Canadian law degrees, and being fluent and practising in French, Nadia is capable of dealing with any case that comes across her desk. Nadia has been recognized by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers, and Chambers Canada for Commercial Litigation. She has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of their Litigation Stars, as one of Canada's Top 100 Women in Litigation, and on the 40 and Under Hot List. Nadia is an active author and speaker and regularly presents at the Law Society of Ontario, the OBA, The Advocates’ Society, the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association, the CBA, the Business Women’s Network of York Region, the International Association of Defense Counsel and l’Association des juristes d’expression française.

Rahool Agarwal acts for both plaintiffs and defendants on complex commercial and civil litigation. His experience includes class actions, contractual disputes, franchise litigation, shareholder disputes, contested corporate transactions, directors’ and officers’ liability and complex fraud cases. He is frequently engaged in time-sensitive matters and has extensive experience bringing and defending urgent court proceedings. Rahool 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. He has appeared in trial and appellate courts in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec, and in six cases in the Supreme Court of Canada. He is an active member of the South Asian Bar Association and The Advocates’ Society. He is a regular speaker at professional development programs related to substantive law, legal ethics and practice, and equity, diversity and inclusion. He was previously a member of The Advocates’ Society’s 10+ Committee, the coach of the Lakehead University Wilson Moot team, and a member of the board of directors of the South Asian Legal Clinic (Ontario).

Andrew Winton has been involved in a wide range of commercial matters, with a focus on shareholder disputes, real estate disputes, insolvency and restructuring, and employment matters. He regularly goes to trial and engages in private arbitrations to advance and defend claims on behalf of large corporations, small businesses, and private individuals. Andrew’s real estate litigation practice includes acting in court and in private arbitrations for developers, commercial landlords, and tenants. Andrew acts for parties in insolvency and restructuring matters, including as counsel to the court-appointed Monitor or Receiver, for directors and officers of insolvent corporations, and for other stakeholders. Notable insolvency mandates he has been involved with include Target Canada, Urbancorp, Sears Canada, Tobacco, and the Cresford/Clover on Yonge CCAA proceedings. In addition, Andrew acts for both employers and employees in executive terminations, with a focus on the financial industry, and has significant experience in “departing employee” cases involving unfair competition and misuse of confidential information disputes.

Brad Vermeersch practises complex commercial litigation including high-stakes, multi-party infrastructure litigation, contractual disputes, oppression remedies, class actions and regulatory investigations. Brad is highly skilled at developing a trial strategy and has experience at all levels of court in Ontario, as well as in the courts of Alberta, BC, the Federal Court, domestic and international commercial arbitration, and administrative tribunals. Brad is ranked by leading legal directories including The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and The Best Lawyers in Canada. He is identified among the most accomplished next generation lawyers and is recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star: Leading Lawyer Under 40. He is also repeatedly named on Benchmark Litigation’s list of 40 & Under top litigators. Brad’s business and financial acumen give him a critical edge in difficult cases that involve sophisticated financial concepts or challenging damages analysis.

Zain Naqi’s practice covers all aspects of business litigation including contract and shareholder disputes, directors’ and officers’ liability, enforcement of indemnities and guarantees, administrative and regulatory matters, negligence and tort claims, arbitrations, appeals, and injunctions. Zain’s track record includes high-profile appeals and multi-week commercial trials and hearings. He has obtained significant judgments for clients in precedent-setting cases, appearing at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court, the Competition Tribunal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition to commercial disputes, Zain has an extensive public law practice. He has advised local and regional municipalities, Aboriginal groups, individuals, Crown corporations, and corporate clients in administrative and constitutional litigation across various industries and regulatory regimes. He has developed considerable expertise in judicial review proceedings before the Divisional Court, obtaining extraordinary remedies against public authorities. Zain is active in the legal community. He is a member of the Civil Rules Review Working Group which is tasked with recommending reforms to Ontario’s Rules of Civil Procedure to promote greater access to justice.

Read more about Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP in ...
Canada’s housing market has 99 problems, and this legal manoeuvre is one
LOLG's Michael Currie writes about a common legal move that can hold up property development
Lexpert's Top 10 Business Decisions of 2021/2022
Noted litigation includes novel crypto freezing order and a feud in one of Canada's richest families
Inside the Complex World of Corporate Oppression in Family Businesses
LOLG litigator Lars Brusven's must-read analysis of oppression cases in closely-held family firms
Defamation and the Defence of Fair Comment in the Age of Online "Truth Tellers"
LOLG's Niklas Holmberg on the limits and protections of free expression in an online world
Without Reservations: Protecting Your Contractual Rights with Plain Language, not "Magic Words"
LOLG's Brad Vermeersch argues that most reservation clauses are unnecessary, should be replaced
Toronto's top professional liability lawyers in 2021
These are Toronto, Ontario's top professional liability lawyers based on the results of Lexpert’s annual peer survey
Toronto
145 King St W, Suite 2750, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5H 1J8
(416) 598-1744
(416) 598-3730