A fearless advocate for his clients, Steven acts in high-stakes, complex commercial disputes.
Steven assists Canadian and international clients in class action disputes and securities litigation matters. He also has substantial expertise in competition litigation, contractual disputes and franchise litigation. Steven offers clear and detailed advice to clients and appears before courts and tribunals across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Ontario Securities Commission. Corporations across a broad range of industries, including resource extraction, value Steven for his focus and sharp analytical skills.
Steven is a member of the Toronto Student Committee. Outside of work, he is also a member of the legal task force of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and sits on the Executive of the 10+ Standing Committee of The Advocates’ Society. He has also provided pro bono representation to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
Shaw Communications Inc.
Successfully acted for Shaw Communications in landmark trial and appellate proceedings in which the Government of Canada challenged the company’s C$26-billion merger with Rogers Communications, the largest contested merger case ever heard in this country. This case was named the #1 business decision of 2023 by Law360 Canada and one of Lexpert’s Top 10 Business Decisions of 2023.
Confidential Client
Acted for a leading global services provider and its Canadian subsidiary in a high-stakes arbitration relating to the termination of a series of long-term services agreements.
LG Electronics
Acted for LG Electronics and its Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries in multiple class actions commenced across Canada. The class actions alleged that LG and a number of other electronics companies engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy in connection with the sale of optical disk drives and products containing them, and included a certification motion in the British Columbia Supreme Court and subsequent appeal in the British Columbia Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.
McKesson Canada Corporation and McKesson Corporation
Acted for McKesson Canada Corporation and McKesson Corporation in a $200-million contractual indemnity claim arising out of the purchase of the Rexall Pharmacy Business and tort claims for alleged fraudulent misrepresentations in contract negotiation.
Royal Group, Inc.
Acted for Royal Group, Inc. in its successful defence of a wrongful dismissal action commenced by its former Chief Financial Officer. The action was dismissed by Justice Myers of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in July 2017, following a three-week trial in the Commercial List. Royal Group prevailed on every issue, proving that the Plaintiff's role in certain related party transactions gave rise to cause for dismissal notwithstanding that the Plaintiff had previously been acquitted of criminal charges brought against him in respect of those transactions.
Sistem Muhendislik Insaat Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Acted for Sistem Muhendislik Insaat Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, a Turkish construction company, in its application before the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario for the recognition and enforcement of an arbitration award rendered against the Kyrgyz Republic in a case of illegal expropriation of an hotel it owned and operated in Bishkek, capital city of Kyrgyzstan.
Barrick Gold Corporation
Acting for Barrick Gold Corporation and certain of its former and existing officers and directors in defence of multi-billion dollar class actions in Ontario and Québec alleging breaches of the public disclosure requirements under provincial securities legislation concerning Barrick's Pascua Lama mining project in Chile and Argentina.
Stingray Group Inc.
Acted for Stingray Group Inc. in a $50-million claim against its franchisor in a fast-tracked action before the Commercial List of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Barrick Gold Corporation
Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in international tort litigation concerning the mining operations of an affiliate of Barrick in Africa, brought in the courts of Canada, the United Kingdom and Tanzania.
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (now known as Nutrien Ltd.)
Acted for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (now known as Nutrien Ltd.) in proceedings before the Courts of Saskatchewan. This was a multi-billion dollar dispute over the ownership of potash reserves in the world's largest potash mine in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, and gave rise to more than 100 days of discovery, numerous interlocutory motions as well as an appeal to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The case was settled shortly before the commencement of a lengthy trial in Saskatoon, on terms satisfactory to Potash Corporation.
Coventree Inc.
Acted for Coventree Inc. in defending enforcement proceedings brought against Coventree and two of its officers by Staff of the Ontario Securities Commission following the collapse of the $35-billion asset-backed securities market in August 2007. A number of allegations made against Coventree were dismissed following a lengthy trial at the OSC. This was the only matter that proceeded to trial following the collapse of the ABCP market in 2007.
Guide
Doing Business in Canada 2023, contributor
Nov. 14, 2023 - Davies’ Doing Business in Canada guide provides executives, in-house counsel and foreign investors with an overview of the legal framework governing Canadian business operations and outlines key considerations for investing and conducting business in Canada…
Bulletin
No Need to Disclose “Unsolicited, Inexpert, Premature and Unreliable” Opinions
Aug. 16, 2022 - Overview The Court of Appeal for Ontario has confirmed that a public company acted properly and lawfully when it decided not to disclose to the investing public an opinion received from an external consultant that questioned the economic viability of the company’s main asset, in circumstances...
Speaking Engagement
Co-chair, Law Society of Ontario, Class Actions: Update for Litigators 2021; Webcast
Jan. 22, 2021
Speaking Engagement
Canadian Lawyer Magazine, “Commercial Litigation Update: Top Trends Impacting Clients Going into 2021”; Webcast
Nov. 05, 2020
Bulletin
Supreme Court of Canada Rules in Nevsun Resources Ltd. v Araya
Feb. 28, 2020 - The Supreme Court of Canada has rendered its decision in Nevsun Resources Ltd. v Araya, stating that customary international law (CIL) norms are directly incorporated into Canadian law and that claims such as the ones advanced in this case may be considered by Canadian courts. The case...
Speaking Engagement
The Advocates’ Society, “Top Class Action Cases of 2019”
Jan. 20, 2020
Speaking Engagement
Moderator, The Advocates’ Society, “A Litigator’s Guide to the Business of Law”
Nov. 02, 2019
Speaking Engagement
Ontario Bar Association, 7th Annual Professional Issues for Business Lawyers, “Privilege and Board Meeting Minutes”
Oct. 23, 2019
Bulletin
Supreme Court to Rule on Novel Claims Against Canadian Multinationals Operating Abroad
Jan. 22, 2019 - The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal in Araya v Nevsun Resources Ltd on January 23, 2019. The case involves a mine in Eritrea that is majority-owned and operated by a subsidiary of a Canadian company. At issue in the appeal is whether Eritrean nationals who allege that they...
Speaking Engagement
Moderator, Law Society of Ontario, Class Actions Update
Nov. 08, 2018
Bulletin
Court of Appeal Opens the Floodgates to Umbrella Purchaser Claims in Ontario (For Now)
Oct. 26, 2018 - In Shah v LG Chem Ltd., the Court of Appeal for Ontario considered whether “umbrella purchasers” can assert statutory and common law claims in connection with alleged price-fixing conspiracies. Umbrella purchasers are those who purchase products directly or indirectly from...
Speaking Engagement
Guest Lecturer, Osgoode Hall Law School, Master of Financial Accountability Program, “Directors’ Duties”
Sept. 01, 2018
Speaking Engagement
Moderator, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Combating Hate Speech and Anti-Semitism Conference, “Dealing with Online Hate”
Feb. 13, 2018
Speaking Engagement
Guest Lecturer, Osgoode Hall Law School, Master of Financial Accountability Program, “Directors’ Duties”
Nov. 01, 2017
Guide
Developments in the Law of Evidence: The 2015-2016 Term, co-author
Jan. 27, 2017 - Supreme Court Law Review (LexisNexis Canada)
Speaking Engagement
The Advocates’ Society, Sixth Annual Securities Symposium, “Cutting Edge Issues and Practice Tips in Secondary Market Class Actions”
Sept. 12, 2016
Article
Litigating Class Actions: Canada vs United States, co-author
May 31, 2016 - Lexpert
Bulletin
Ontario Court of Appeal Denies Leave to Appeal Nortel Allocation Decision
May 04, 2016 - On May 3, 2016, the Court of Appeal for Ontario released its decision (Leave Decision) denying leave to appeal from Justice Newbould’s allocation of the proceeds of sale of the remains of the Nortel Networks group of companies (Allocation Decision). The main points arising from the decision are as...
Speaking Engagement
Guest Lecturer, Osgoode Hall Law School, Business Law LLM Program, Corporate Governance Course
Apr. 01, 2016
Guide
Developments in the Law of Evidence: The 2014-2015 Term, co-author
Jan. 31, 2016 - Supreme Court Law Review (LexisNexis Canada)
Guide
Developments in the Law of Evidence: The 2013-2014 Term, co-author
Jan. 31, 2015 - Supreme Court Law Review (LexisNexis Canada)
Guide
Developments in the Law of Evidence: The 2012-2013 Term
Jan. 31, 2014 - Supreme Court Law Review (LexisNexis Canada)
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Litigation, General Commercial: Ontario
Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys—Class Action (Litigation Star); Commercial (Litigation Star); Competition/Antitrust (Litigation Star); Securities (Litigation Star)
Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards—Impact Case of the Year (2023)
The Canadian Law Awards—Commercial Litigation Team of the Year (2023)
The Legal 500 Canada—Dispute Resolution: Ontario (Next Generation Partner)
Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Class Actions; Litigation: Corporate Commercial; Litigation: Securities
The Best Lawyers in Canada—Class Action Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Law360 Canada—Top Business Decision (2023)
Chambers Canada Award—Litigation Firm of the Year (2018)
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Litigation, General Commercial Department: Ontario (Band 1 for firm)