James C. Simmons, K.C.

Rick Dearden, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is a senior litigation partner in the firm's Ottawa office, practising primarily in the areas of international trade, investor-state arbitration, media and defamation law, freedom of information and administrative law. Rick’s accomplishments have also been recognized in the Best Lawyers in Canada ( International Trade; Defamation and Media Law ) ; Lexpert Guide To The Leading U.S./Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers; Be...

Jeff Hergott is a partner practising in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate commercial law. Jeff has experience representing issuers, investment dealers and other stakeholders in a wide variety of capital markets and M&A transactions. He regularly advises clients on both public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities. Jeff’s M&A experience includes advising clients in respect of public and private share and asset acquisit...

Mark Platteel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Project Finance Law. Mark, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Virginie Gauthier is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law. Virginie, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Virginie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

John F. Rook KC is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Class Action Litigation, Competition / Antitrust Law and Corporate and Commercial Litigation. John F., who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David R. Schlesinger is a top lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. David R., who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. David has extensive experience advising clients on taxation matters in: corporate reorganizations, mergers a...

Janani is a passionate and dedicated advocate. Her track record speaks for itself. She has argued almost 40 appeals at the Ontario Court of Appeal. She has argued at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. She was co-counsel in R. v. Nur, the first case in over 30 years where the Supreme Court found a mandatory minimum sentence unconstitutional and in R. v. Williams, the Supreme Court's most recent case on entrapment. Janani is also a skilled trial lawyer. She was co...

Lise Leduc is known as the preeminent Franco-Ontarian labour lawyer who will litigate any matter in ‘la langue de Molière’. Not known to mince words, Lise has a reputation for being direct and to the point. Maybe it has something to do with growing up in Kapuskasing, where she endured her share of -40°C winters. For over twenty years, Lise has represented union clients whose members come from all walks of life, including heavy equipment operators in the forestry industr...

Allan Dick is a partner at Sotos LLP. Allan is a trusted primary advisor to many top franchisors, with more than three decades practising law in the franchising, licensing and distribution industry. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading franchise litigators and has extensive experience at every level of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada as well as before national and international arbitration tribunals. Allan regularly provides expert opinions to other counsel. As a tra...