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Ian’s experience includes complex commercial litigation and appellate disputes. He has significant expertise in class actions, representing both plaintiffs and defendants on diverse claims ranging from unpaid overtime to foreign currency exchange issues in Canada and the United States.
Ian has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and at the Supreme Court of Canada. He is an active member of BLG, serving on its committees relating to generative AI and the Future of Work, and as a member of BLG’s national Diversity and Inclusion Council.
Prior to joining BLG, Ian practiced at a leading litigation boutique in Toronto and a large U.S. law firm. He served as a law clerk to the Honourable Madam Justice Marie Deschamps at the Supreme Court of Canada in 2010-11.
Experience
Peoples Trust Company, in obtaining urgent injunctive relief enforcing the audit provisions of a commercial contract.
A dissenting shareholder, in a successful application seeking payment of fair value for his shares in the context of an amalgamation transaction in the mining sector.
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, in successfully obtaining judgment following a multi-week trial arising out of property damage suffered to its operating rooms in the context of a construction project.
A technology growth equity company, in an arbitration with one of its former shareholders to resolve the value of the company’s assets.
BMO InvestorLine Inc., in defeating certification of a proposed class action regarding the receipt of mutual fund commissions and subsequently upholding the decision on appeal.
Adeveloper of large energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects, in a successful multi-week arbitration with its customer over a terminated battery storage and backup project.
Foresters Life Insurance Company, in obtaining an ex parte Mareva injunction and Norwich order freezing the assets of insurance agents alleged to be engaging in a multimillion dollar fraud.
A naturopathic doctor, in prosecuting a multimillion dollar claim against an international pharmaceutical company alleging misappropriation of the doctor’s personality to sell natural health products.
An individual shareholder, in an extensive arbitration proceeding alleging oppression in the sale of his shares in a multi-billion dollar financial services company.
A number of telescope manufacturers, including Celestron LLC and Pacific Telescope Corp., in obtaining the summary dismissal of a proposed class action for delay.
BMO Investments Inc., in defending a class action seeking $200 million in damages in relation to “trailing commissions” charged in connection with certain mutual funds.
A technology corporation, in obtaining a civil search warrant (Anton Piller Order) against an executive who misappropriated the company’s property.
An individual executive, in successfully defending a $30 million claim alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary obligations and a proposed worldwide Mareva injunction seeking to freeze assets.
A group of standardbred horse breeders, in successfully prosecuting a $65 million lawsuit against the Province of Ontario and the provincial lottery and gaming corporation for negligence and breach of contract relating to the cancellation of a revenue sharing arrangement that placed slot machines in racetracks.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in successfully responding to an appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada involving the liberty and security of the person interests of mentally ill individuals under s. 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Information Technology Association of Canada, in an intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada involving the enforceability of online forum selection clauses in consumer agreements.
Current and former employees of trucking and logistics company Canada Cartage, in a successfully-certified $100 million class action seeking damages for unpaid overtime.
Standard Chartered PLC, in defending and resolving a $1 billion class action alleging price-fixing in the foreign exchange market.
Mattamy Homes, in a $400 million dispute regarding the interpretation of the terms of a joint-venture agreement.
Two high school students, in a successful constitutional challenge to their principal’s decision to impose a breathalyzer test as a precondition of entry into their prom.
NEC Corporation, NEC Canada and TOKIN Corporation, in a successful jurisdictional challenge made in the context of an $85 million class action alleging price-fixing in the market for lithium ion batteries.
Co-Author, “Still Doing the Two-Step: Ontario’s Divisional Court in Kuiper Confirms a Two-Step Approach to Common Issues on Certification”, Class Action Defence Quarterly, June 2020
PUBLICATION
Speaker, “Best Practices for Managing Valuation and Litigation Support Mandates”, Financial Accounting for Litigators, Law Society of Ontario, May 30, 2019
PRÉSENTATION
Speaker, “Certification – Is It Summary Judgment Light?”, 16th National Symposium on Class Actions, April 5, 2019
PRÉSENTATION
Author, “Ontario Court of Appeal: ‘Monetary Award’ Grounding Payment of Class Action Contingency Fee Includes More than Money Distributed to Class Members”, Ontario Bar Association, February 2019
PUBLICATION
Co-author, "Much Ado About § 1782: Compelling American Discovery for Use in Canadian Class Actions," Annual Review of Civil Litigation, 2017
PUBLICATION
Speaker, “How Have the Lower Courts Applied the ‘Good Faith’ Doctrine”, Twelve Minute Civil Litigator, Law Society of Ontario, September 15, 2016
PRÉSENTATION
Author, "Revisiting Bhasin v. Hrynew: How Have the Lower Courts Applied the ‘Good Faith’ Doctrine?," Law Society of Ontario Twelve Minute Civil Litigator, September 2016
PUBLICATION
Guest Lecturer, “Class Actions”, Osgoode Hall Law School, September 2016, 2017
PRÉSENTATION
Speaker, “Affidavits of Documents, Privilege and Confidentiality”, Divine Discoveries: Building a Great Case, Ontario Bar Association, March 22, 2016
PRÉSENTATION
Co-author, "Dispute Resolution in Canada (Ontario)," in S. Bushell, ed., Dispute Resolution, 2016, 2017
PUBLICATION
Author, When is a Misclassification Case Not a Misclassification Case: Baroch v. Canada Cartage,” Ontario Bar Association, February 2015
PUBLICATION
Author, “SCC Seeks Culture Shift in Strong Endorsement of Summary Judgment,” Canadian Lawyer, January 27, 2014
PUBLICATION
Co-author, “The Supreme Court of Canada’s Class Actions Limbo: Just How Low Can the Certification Bar Go?” Annual Review of Civil Litigation, 2014
PRÉSENTATION
Co-author, “Playing the Summary Judgment Waiting Game,” Law Society of Ontario Twelve Minute Civil Litigator, November 2013
PUBLICATION
Author, “Preliminary Merits Review for Class Actions in Ontario: Thanks, but No Thanks!”, Canadian Class Actions Review, 2011
PUBLICATION
Co-author, “Supreme Court Sounds the Death Knell for Fundamental Breach – Tercon Contactors Ltd. v. British Columbia (Transportation and Highways),” Banking and Finance Law Review, 2011
PUBLICATION
Author, “Preliminary Merits Review for Class Actions in Ontario: Thanks, but No Thanks!”, Canadian Class Actions Review, 2010
PUBLICATION
Co-author, “Canada - Country Report for the Globalization of Class Actions Conference”, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2009
PUBLICATION
Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Class Actions section
Co-Chair, Class Actions Bench-Bar Liaison Committee
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, The Advocates' Society
Volunteer Lawyer, Pro Bono Ontario
Member, Law Society of Ontario
Community Involvement
Director, Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club
Chair, Governance Committee, Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club
Awards & Recognitions
Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2024) of Best Lawyers in Canada® (Corporate and Commercial Litigation) and in 2025 (Class Action Litigation).
Recognized in the 2023 and 2021 editions of Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation
Recognized in the 2024 (and since 2023) and 2021 editions of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Litigation - Corporate Commercial) and in the 2024 edition (Class Actions).