The Litigator
The Litigator
AGM :: Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
THE LITIGATOR
Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
365 Bay Street, Suite 200  ·  Toronto, Canada
416 360 2800  ·  info@agmlawyers.com  ·  www.thelitigator.ca

2021: Contracts year in review

Commercial litigators often lament the fact that Canada’s highest court sometimes appears increasingly uninterested in commercial issues and unwilling to grant leave to appeal in commercial cases – even ones that raise serious issues that have a broad impact on transactions and disputes across Canada. Well, 2021 has bucked that perceived trend with many important commercial decisions emerging last year – in particular, on issues of contract law and the contractual duty of good faith and honest performance that stemmed from the 2014 Supreme Court of Canada Decision in Bhasin v. Hrynew, 2014 SCC 71. Here are a few of those ... [more] Full article

Commercial lease not renewed in time; landlord’s silence as to deadline not bad faith

In Subway Franchise Restaurants of Canada Ltd. v. BMO Life Assurance Company, 2021 ONCA 349 (CanLII), the Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld a decision that rejected Subway’s attempts to ... [more] Full article

Banks Do Not Owe A General Duty Of Care To A Customer To Prevent “Insider Abuse”

TD bank successfully defended an action brought against it by a customer in a Ponzi scheme case in McDonald and Dickson v. TD Bank, 2021 ONSC 3872. The result came ... [more] Full article

Commercial landlord on the hook for tenant shareholder’s loss in share value: Ontario Appellate Court clarifies limits on traditional rule that shareholders cannot sue for wrongs to the corporation

Shareholders of a corporation do not have a personal cause of action for wrongs committed against the corporation – such is the well-known rule in Foss v Harbottle. However, in ... [more] Full article


Commercial Litigation Contributors

Michael Binetti

Michael Binetti

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Michael Binetti, a 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.”

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Adam Casey

Adam Casey

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Adam’s litigation practice includes a range of matters involving civil and commercial litigation, shareholder disputes, administrative law, competition law, and insurance defence. Adam joined AGM having completed his articles at a leading international law firm and graduated from the McGill University Faculty of Law.

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Kenneth A. Dekker

Kenneth A. Dekker

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Kenneth Dekker, a partner of the firm, is a successful trial and appellate lawyer who is valued by his clients as a resourceful and practical litigation counsel. Over more than two decades, Ken has litigated noteworthy cases in a range of fields that include class action defence, securities and broker-dealer litigation and regulatory defence, corporate and shareholder disputes (including oppression and winding up cases), defamation, civil fraud litigation, disputes over contracts, injunctions, professional liability litigation, employment litigation and cross-border litigation issues. Ken has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada. Ken also represents and advises clients in regulatory matters before the Investment Industry Organization of Canada (IIROC), the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). Ken has been ranked as Repeatedly Recommended for Securities Litigation by Lexpert, for Corporate and Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers of Canada, and he has been given the highest available rating of AV, or pre-eminent, by his peers on Martindale-Hubbell.

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Peter R. Greene

Peter R. Greene

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Peter is a widely recognized and renowned litigator with substantial expertise in high profile and complex Commercial Litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Peter acts as counsel for insurance companies on professional liability, E&O claims, Director's and Officer's liability, and surety, fidelity and dishonesty bond claims. He has particular expertise in securities litigation and Regulatory Hearing, and has acted for Canada's largest investment firms. He regularly acts as defence counsel in large Class Actions before the courts in Ontario, and before national and provincial Regulatory agencies, boards and tribunals. Peter is regularly involved in large product liability and construction contract cases involving Construction Liens or Surety Bonds.

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Meredith Hayward

Meredith Hayward

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Meredith has earned an impressive reputation for her skill and abilities in Commercial Litigation and Administrative Law, appearing at all levels of court in Ontario, before the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and before the Supreme Court of Canada.

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Masiel A. Matus

Masiel A. Matus

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Masiel has a broad commercial litigation practice and represents both national and international clients in a variety of complex matters. Masiel has experience litigating cases involving professional negligence, commercial leasing and real property disputes, insurance, contract disputes, shareholder disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, employment matters and defamation claims.

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David N. Vaillancourt

David N. Vaillancourt

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

David's practice expertise focuses on all matters of Commercial and Civil Litigation, Competition and Administrative Law. David has acted for clients in a wide range of disputes, including shareholder and partnership disputes, securities litigation, class action defence, proceedings under the Competition Act, employment law disputes, contract disputes, breach of confidence/intellectual property disputes, fidelity bond claims, and professional negligence claims. David has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and has also appeared before the Competition Tribunal and the Federal Court of Appeal. David has appeared as lead counsel in numerous trials, hearings, and motions. David has been successful in numerous adversarial proceedings, and also has successfully negotiated the resolution of dozens of cases.

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