Davit Akman is a partner in the firm's litigation group.  His areas of practice include corporate/commercial litigation, in individual and class action proceedings, and public law, including administrative and competition litigation.  Davit has acted in matters before all levels of court in Ontario, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court (trial and appeal divisions).  He has also appeared before the Competition Tribunal and the Ontario Energy Board.

As part of his public law practice, Davit has developed a particular expertise in competition law.  He has represented clients in criminal and civil proceedings under the Competition Act before the courts and the Competition Tribunal.  Davit was counsel for Canada Pipe Co. Ltd., a Canadian manufacturer of cast iron drain, waste and vent (DWV) products, in the first fully contested abuse of dominance case to be decided in seven years.  He also acted for a target in the criminal investigation brought by the Commissioner of Competition into an alleged conspiracy in the Canadian carbonless paper industry.  More recently, he was counsel for Agricore United in proceedings before the Competition Tribunal to rescind a consent agreement filed in connection with the merger of United Grain Growers Ltd. and Agricore Cooperative Limited to form Agricore United.  Davit has also acted on behalf of the Commissioner of Competition as special counsel in respect of contested proceedings, and as the Commissioner's special advisor concerning proposed amendments to the Act.

Davit has co-authored two reports commissioned by the Competition Bureau, Legislative Framework for Amending Section 45 of the Competition Act and Proposals for Legislative Changes to Section 45 of the Competition Act (these appear on the Bureau's website) as well as conference papers on class action practice and competition law.  He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and of the Canadian and American Bar Associations (Antitrust Section).  He is also a former member of the Executive and Newsletter Editor of the Ontario Bar Association’s Constitutional and Civil Liberties Section.

Prior to joining the firm, Davit clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada for The Honourable Madam Justice Louise Arbour in 1999-2000.  He received a B.A. (Honours) in Political Studies/Economics (1st Class Standing) from Queen’s University in 1995 and an LL.B. (Honours) from the University of Toronto in 1999.  Davit became a partner in 2005.

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