Zain Naqi

Zain is a business-minded litigator who combines smart advocacy with practical problem-solving to build a compelling case. Clients count on Zain’s sharp focus and strategic insight to guide them through their most challenging situations.

Zain’s practice covers all aspects of business litigation. He has represented clients at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. His experience includes oppression claims, contract and real estate disputes, director and officer liability, enforcement of indemnities and guarantees, arbitrations and injunctions. Zain has acted in precedent-setting decisions, among them, the leading case on directors’ liability for corporate oppression.

Zain also has an active public law and appeals practice. He frequently appears on behalf of appellants and respondents in the Ontario Court of Appeal. He has developed expertise in high-profile judicial review proceedings before the Divisional Court, obtaining extraordinary remedies including mandamus orders against public authorities. Zain’s experience extends to constitutional and public-interest litigation for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Zain earned joint common and civil law degrees from McGill University, placing second in his class. He was editor of the McGill Law Journal and ranked nationally as first-place oralist in the Laskin Moot Competition. Before joining Lax O’Sullivan, Zain clerked for the Honourable Justice Michael Moldaver at the Supreme Court of Canada and worked at a leading New York firm on significant class actions and regulatory investigations.

Zain has been recognized by his peers in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada “Ones to Watch” in the fields of Corporate and Commercial Litigation as well as in Administrative and Public Law. He is a co-author of the Chambers Global Practice Guide for Litigation in Canada.