Jessica Bishop

Stephen is a member of the firm's litigation and labour groups, and is the co-chair of the civil group with responsibility over employment law, civil litigation, and class actions. He is bilingual and provides client service in both French and English. His practice focuses primarily on employment law, civil litigation, class actions, administrative law, and in assisting numerous unions, employees, and administrative agencies with litigation before courts, arbitrators, and numerous tribunals a...

Robert is a widely-recognized and highly sought-after lawyer, noted as one of the foremost insolvency practitioners in Canada. Bob is a founding partner of Thornton Grout Finnigan (TGF) and works on some of the firm’s most high-priority and complex insolvency matters. His breadth and depth of experience is unparalleled in the industry and has resulted in Bob enjoying a well-earned reputation as a pillar in the legal profession. Known for his creativity, energy, and collaborative approac...

Dennis Tobin knows what it takes to run a business and get deals done. His unique practice combines Corporate/Commercial law and Commercial and Retail Leasing. Clients can rely on Dennis to support every aspect of their leasing strategy. He works effectively with their leasing and business development teams. He has a long history of representing tenants and landlords and his leasing experience extends to all major retail centres in Canada. Many local and international retailers have chosen De...

Maria Ruberto’s practice is dedicated to infrastructure and construction law. Focusing on the resolution of disputes in the construction industry, she represents all players including owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and sureties. From negotiating construction agreements up to project close, Maria provides legal advice and representation on a wide variety of construction matters. She appears regularly before all Ontario courts on motions, applications and trials, and repre...

Scott Kugler is a partner in the firm’s Toronto office and head of the firm’s National Class Actions Group. His practice emphasizes complex commercial matters, including class actions (securities and competition law/anti-trust), shareholder disputes, claims against directors/officers, broker/dealer disputes (civil and regulatory), product liability cases, franchise disputes, dealer/distributor disputes, and multi-faceted corporate litigation often involving the oppression remedy. ...

Mark practices municipal , land use planning and development law. His experience includes appearances before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the OMB) in matters concerning Growth Plan Conformity, Official Plan and Zoning Amendments, Site Plan Approval and Development Charges. He is also experienced in the negotiation and preparation of development agreements and condominium documents and drafting of municipal regulatory by-laws. Mark articled with Loopstra Nixon LLP and joined th...

James Buchan is a partner located in Gowlings' Toronto office. James is a member of the firm's Board of Trustees, as well as a past leader of the firm's National Practice Group for Intellectual Property Litigation and a past co-leader of its National Trademarks Practice Group. As a barrister and solicitor, James' expertise in the IP field is broad-based and extensive, covering a wide range of IP-related contentious and non-contentious matters, including patent, trademark and copyright litigat...

Esi Codjoe provides pragmatic and solutions focused legal advice to employers and employees, in both non-unionized and unionized private and public sector workplaces. That work includes assisting regulated professional organizations and regulated professionals with their unique employment, regulatory and governance needs. Esi conducts workplace investigations, reviews, and assessments for both large and small employers. Her experience as a former adjudicator, including as a Vice Chair at the ...

Mark Zigler is a senior partner in the Pensions and Benefits Group with over 35 years of experience. He also chairs the firm’s class action committee. Mark also served as the firm’s managing partner from 2006 – 2012. Mark advises trustees of pension and benefits trusts as well as unions and groups of employees and pensioners. He has also acted as counsel in many high profile cases and class actions across Canada involving pensions, benefits and other employment related issue...

Fred Ernst is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Fred, 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 Fred is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.