66 | LEXPERT December 2015 | www.lexpert.ca
Partner in litigation and dispute resolution, with a focus on corporate, commercial and
public law issues. Co-chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice group. Has
comprehensive and extensive trial and appellate experience, having appeared before all
levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court of Canada, Supreme Court of Canada and
an array of administrative and arbitral tribunals. Practice specialties include corporate
disputes, shareholder oppression issues, commercial disputes, restructurings, injunctions,
arbitrations, professional negligence, economic torts, professional discipline, estates
litigation and administrative and constitutional law. A former director and committee
chair of e Advocates' Society. 2015 Benchmark Ontario Litigator of the Year. Recog-
nized in e 2014 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in
Canada and Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers
in Canada. Was one of Lexpert®'s original "Leading Lawyers Under 40" in Canada in
its inaugural list. LLB and BCL, with Honors, McGill University. Law Clerk, Federal
Court of Appeal.
Robert Staley's practice focuses on complex commercial, securities and class-action
litigation, securities enforcement and shareholder activism. He has a broad trial and
appellate practice in all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and
before provincial securities commissions. Staley regularly advises boards of directors,
audit committees and special committees in connection with internal and regulatory
investigations and in connection with litigious transactions. Peer-review publications
have recognized Staley as "a brilliant lawyer — he's a real strategist, has the ability to see
the big picture, and does a superb job … in court," for "his skilled handling of complex
cases," as "absolutely first rate at examining and cross-examining witnesses," for his
"excellent courtroom presence," his ability to provide "practical and concise advice," as "a
masterful strategic thinker" and as "an extremely able, tactical lawyer who always knows
cases inside-out." In both 2014 and 2015 he was recognized by Benchmark Canada as
Canada's Securities Litigator of the Year.
Partner. Lawrence acker is recognized nationally as one of Canada's leading trial and
appellate counsel. He has particular expertise and experience in international law and
cross-border matters, as well as commercial arbitrations. He has extensive experience and
a proven track record in complex and cross-border litigation, including mergers & acquisi-
tions, securities disputes, class actions, commercial litigation and arbitrations, insolvency
and restructuring, and intellectual property cases. acker taught international law in
the Political Science Department at the University of Toronto for more than 10 years. He
also leads courses in trial advocacy at e Advocates' Society and in Osgoode Hall Law
School's Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop. acker has received recognition for his
litigation work from both Lexpert® and Benchmark. He is an expert speaker on advocacy,
international arbitration, class actions and securities litigation.
Head of the Litigation Department of Davies in Toronto, with extensive experience in
complex, "high-stakes" litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Has acted as counsel
in a number of leading cases in Canada in a wide range of areas, including commercial
disputes, securities cases, competition law and class actions. Has recently argued success-
fully a number of appeals in the Supreme Court of Canada involving the law of oppression,
plans of arrangement, the intersection of copyright and broadcasting law and the law of
contested elections. Has also conducted complex domestic and international arbitrations
in Canada, the US, Europe and Africa. Recognized repeatedly as one of Canada's leading
litigation counsel, including in e Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500
Lawyers in Canada. Recognized as a Band 1 practitioner, Canada, Dispute Resolution:
Ontario, in Chambers Global and as an Ontario Litigation Star in Benchmark Canada.
Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and recipient of Martindale-Hubbell's
highest ranking for legal ability and integrity.
Richard
B. Swan
Bennett
Jones LLP
Tel: (416) 777-7479
Fax: (416) 863-1716
Toronto
Robert W.
Staley
Bennett
Jones LLP
Tel: (416) 777-4857
Fax: (416) 863-1716
Toronto
Lawrence E.
Thacker
Lenczner Slaght
Royce Smith
Griffin LLP
Tel: (416) 865-3097
Fax: (416) 865-2856
Toronto
Kent E.
Thomson
Davies Ward
Phillips &
Vineberg LLP
Tel: (416) 863-5566
Fax: (416) 863-0871
Toronto
swanr@bennettjones.com
staleyr@bennettjones.com
lthacker@litigate.com
kentthomson@dwpv.com
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