James J. Smyth, K.C.

Jean Legault is a partner in the Litigation group in the commercial litigation, banking, and insolvency sector and a member of the board of directors of the firm. With more than 23 years’ experience in commercial litigation, he specializes in banking law and insolvency. Listed in the 2017 edition of The Best lawyers in Canada, he primarily advises financial institutions, institutional investors, and trustees in bankruptcy in restructuring and insolvency cases. In these cases, Mr. Legaul...

Jordan Bank is a litigator with a focus on insurance defence. His practice is broad. He has defended clients in personal injury actions and motor vehicle claims, medical malpractice claims, property loss claims, crop loss claims, human rights complaints, contract disputes, class action lawsuits and professional negligence claims. Jordan also has extensive experience with insurance coverage disputes, and he regularly provides insurance coverage advice. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Un...

Maxime Rhéaume possesses a wealth of experience drafting and negotiating loan and guarantee agreements for financial institutions in connection with real estate financing for the acquisition, construction and long term loans. Maxime is and has been for many years a lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal in the Master program of business law as well as in the Master program of property security Law. He is also Part-time lecturer at the Faculty of Law ...

Joe Michelucci is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Negligence. Joe, who practices law in Richmond Hill, Ontario, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joe is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Isabel Pouliot primarily practices civil and commercial litigation, more specifically in the field of construction law. She joined BCF in 2016, after practising with a boutique firm and completing her articling at a national law firm. Isabel graduated from Université Laval, where she acted as a volunteer for various legal organizations and was featured on the Faculty’s Honour Roll as a result of her excellent academic performance. During her academic career, she also studied at t...

Jodi Martin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law and Labour and Employment Law. Jodi, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jodi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Paul Jorgensen is an intellectual property and life sciences lawyer, with extensive experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent litigation. Dr. Jorgensen has been involved in many complex patent proceedings, including multiple trials before the Federal Court, actions under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, damages actions, and appeals. He also provides strategic advice on patent infringement and validity. Dr. Jorgensen brings deep scientific understanding to...

Sara Erskine is a Toronto-based litigation lawyer at BE Law LLP who advises businesses, executives, and professionals on complex commercial and securities disputes. She brings more than 20 years of experience in trial and appellate advocacy, representing clients at every stage of the litigation process. Sara is recognized by Best Lawyers Canada in Corporate and Commercial Litigation and is listed as a Litigation Star in Commercial Litigation by Benchmark Canada. Before co-founding BE Law LLP,...

Deborah is recognized as a leading advocate with a broad commercial and civil litigation practice. She regularly acts for individuals, companies and financial institutions providing creative advice and strategies for litigating and resolving complicated business disputes. Her significant mandates include cases involving complex commercial agreements, director and officer liability, banking litigation, commercial real estate disputes, fraud claims, shareholder and partnership disputes, insolve...

Stephen Shamie is a senior labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. He has over 30 years of experience advising and representing employers on a wide variety of matters relating to human resources law. Stephen’s practice emphasizes the negotiation of collective agreements and the defence of employers in arbitration cases, human rights hearings, labour board proceedings and before the courts. He regularly negotiates collective agreements in the hospitality, med...