David J. Defrancesco

Rated by Martindale-Hubbell as AV-Preeminent (highest rating) in litigation, commercial law and regulatory law, named one of Canada’s top 50 trial lawyers by Benchmark Litigation, listed in The Best Lawyers in Canada and Chambers Canada, Andrew has extensive trial and appellate experience before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Andrew is regularly chosen by nationally-recognized corporations, institutions and individuals to assist in complex commercial, regula...

Jeffrey Kang helps innovative companies create and execute IP strategies that build value and reduce risk. He also architects and builds IP portfolios, develops IP commercialization strategies, and assists in seeding and cultivating IP culture.Mr. Kang applies his legal, technical, and industry experience to help clients protect their IP by creating strategies aligned with business objectives and designing IP portfolios to target defined outcomes such as strategic partnerships, fundraising, o...

Andrew Zabrovsky is a partner in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office and is the chair of the firm’s Human Rights Practice Group. Andrew advises clients in both the public and private sectors on all aspects of their labour and employment relationships, with a specific focus on human rights litigation, labour arbitration and workplace accommodation issues. Andrew takes a results-oriented approach to the law, and works with clients to help them achieve their desired outcomes, whether that ...

Julia Nanos is a labour and employment lawyer at Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. She advises employers on a wide range of labour and employment issues, with particular focus on labour disputes, grievance and interest arbitration, collective bargaining, human rights and accommodation, workplace investigations, wrongful dismissal litigation, employment contracts and employment standards. As an advocate, Julia regularly appears on behalf of employers before labour arbitrators, the Ontario H...

Debra Stephens is Counsel to WEL Partners and practices exclusively in the following areas: Passing of Accounts, Guardianship, Fiduciary appointments and representation, Estate administration and Mediation. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1982. Her practice initially focused on family, estate, trust and guardianship issues. Since 1998 she has specialized in estate litigation, administration and planning. Debra has worked in private legal practice for most of her career. Prior to joini...

David Cohen is a senior practitioner in the firm's Toronto office, practising corporate and commercial financing, restructuring and insolvency law in a domestic and cross-border context. He is an executive member of the National Financial Services Industry Group and practice coordinator for the Distressed M&A Practice at Gowlings LLP. David has transactional experience in: Automotive Financial Services Mining and Resource Agriculture Food and Beverage Plastics Aquaculture Healthcare Recre...

Edward Marrocco is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defence and Health Care Law. Edward, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Edward is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ingrid VanderElst is co-chair of the Ontario region’s Life Sciences group. Regularly assisting clients in the health products and related service industries, Ingrid advises on regulatory and intellectual property issues. Clients include pharmaceutical, natural health product, medical device, cosmetic and food manufacturers, as well as pharmacy and laboratory services providers and agri-business operators. On the regulatory side, Ingrid has assisted clients with product licensing, establ...

Scott is a seasoned litigator with experience in a wide variety of litigation matters, including complex commercial litigation, director and officer liability, construction litigation, class actions, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Scott has acted on matters at all levels of court in Ontario, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, and various administrative tribunals. His practice includes providing top-tier client service to a variety of clients across several industries. S...

Paul's practice includes corporate commercial litigation, securities litigation, class proceedings, professional liability, claims against directors and officers, employment litigation and professional liability and regulation. Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation by The Law Society of Upper Canada. Bilingual, argues cases in English and French before all levels of Court as well as trib...