Expertise
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Practice Areas:
Bar Admissions:
Education:
- University of Toronto (1967) LLB (Honours Standing)
- University of Toronto (1965) MA (Modern Languages and Literature)
- University of Toronto (1964) BA (Modern Languages and Literature)
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- News & Media
- Recognition
Alan J. Lenczner , Q.C.
"Alan J. Lenczner is a dean of the commercial litigation bar who has built a stellar reputation in the world of corporate-commercial clashes, and for the past four decades he has acted on some of the biggest matters hitting the docket." — Canadian Lawyer
Widely acknowledged as one of Canada's leading litigators, Alan has applied his skills and insight as an advocate to yield precedent-setting decisions in nearly every area of civil litigation. Since 1969, he has pursued an intensive trial and appellate practice with emphasis on civil commercial matters, complex construction cases, professional liability and corporate securities litigation. Drawing on an extraordinary depth of experience in mastering complex issues, he appears regularly before courts at all levels across the country, as well as many professional and government tribunals. He has also appeared as counsel before the High Court and the Court of Appeal in the U.K. In aggregate, he has argued more than 300 full trials and appeals.
A frequent lecturer on a broad range of legal subjects, from fiduciary duties to constitutional law, Alan has helped to guide a generation of lawyers into the profession. He has taught trial advocacy at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall law schools and also participates in an annual one-week trial advocacy program for the Quebec Bar.
Alan was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1982.
In aggregate, Alan has argued more than 200 full trials and appeals, including Pezim v British Columbia (Superintendent of Brokers), Standard Investments v CIBC, International Corona Ltd, v Lac Minerals Ltd, Tagish v Prime Resources Ltd, Yaiguaje v Chevron, Ontario Securities Commission v West, Penvidic Contracting Ltd. v INCO, Society of Lloyds v Daly, Standard Investments Ltd v Nova Scotia Savings and Loan, Kerr v Danier Leather Inc, Link v Venture Steel Inc and Smith v Inco Ltd.
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Counsel for Mayor of Caledon in an application brought pursuant to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, which resulted in all allegations being dismissed.
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Counsel to an international organization in an appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada relating to the immunities of international organizations in criminal proceedings.
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Angus v The Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope
Counsel to the applicants in proceedings to enforce a trust in favour of municipal ratepayers.
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Counsel to Danier Leather Inc. in a shareholder class action asserting a statutory cause of action for prospectus misrepresentation pursuant to the Ontario Securities Act. Judgment for the plaintiffs at trial successfully overturned on appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada.
Read Lexpert's Significant Matters summary.
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Counsel to Inco Ltd. in a mass tort class proceeding alleging nuisance and a reduction in property values resulting from emissions of copper, cobalt, nickel, lead and other industrial waste. The trial judge had found for the class and gave judgment for $36 million in property damages. On appeal, the plaintiffs' class action claims in the amount of $36 million were dismissed.
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Pusateri's Yorkville Ltd v City of Toronto
Counsel to Pusateri's in a motion for an injunction to restrain the removal of a traffic lay-by.
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Yaiguaje v Chevron Corporation
Counsel for the Ecuadorian plaintiffs in a Canadian action for an order recognizing a $9.51 billion (USD) Judgment obtained in Ecuador against Chevron Corporation regarding oil pollution in the Amazon. Successful respondents in an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada of the jurisdictional challenge of the action for recognition and enforcement.
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Counsel to the non-party appellant in a dispute over production of financial records for purposes of a valuation of a commercial enterprise.
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Counsel for Robert Ford, the former Mayor of Toronto, in application alleging breach of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
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Counsel to the Chief Executive Officer and certain directors in a shareholder class action alleging fraud and misrepresentation through press releases, prospectus statements and accounting relating to gold reserves in a large property in Busang, Indonesia.
Read Lexpert's Significant Matters summaries (CA and ON SC).
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American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
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The Advocates' Society
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Ontario Bar Association
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized as a “Litigation Powerhouse”
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to be recognized by world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Ranked as the Best in their Fields
Canada’s leading litigation firm is proud to announce that 25 of the firm’s 58 lawyers have been recognized in the Best Lawyers in Canada 2019 publication across multiple categories.
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Lexpert Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Cross-border Expertise
Nine partners from Canada’s leading litigation firm are ranked as leading the way in cross-border practice excellence.
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Lexpert Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Professional Excellence
An increasing number of the firm’s lawyers have been ranked by their peers as leading practitioners in their field.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Lead in the 2018 Lexpert/ALM 500 Rankings
Canada’s leading litigation firm is one of two firms with the highest number of lawyers ranked in Corporate Commercial Litigation in the 2018 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
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Lenczner Slaght is Named a Top-Tier Firm in Legal 500 Rankings
Along with the firm’s Tier 1 ranking in Dispute Resolution with four leading lawyers and one next generation lawyer recognized, Lenczner Slaght is also ranked in Intellectual Property, Labour and Employment, and Competition and Antitrust.
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Lexpert Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Strength
A total of 13 Lenczner Slaght litigators have once again been ranked among the foremost litigators in their field in the 2017 Lexpert/ROB Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers.
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Lenczner Slaght’s Cross-Border Litigation Expertise is Highly Ranked
Almost half of the partners at Canada’s leading litigation firm are ranked with one Litigation Lawyer to Watch and 12 Leading Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers.
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Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2017 Highlights Lenczner Slaght Litigators
Lenczner Slaght is proud to be named as “the foremost litigation team in the country” by Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2017, with six of our expert litigators recognized for their exceptional work representing clients.
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized in Chambers Canada 2018
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert lawyers are ranked once again by Chambers & Partners for their exceptional litigation work.
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The Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (2012 - 2015)
Class Actions, Corporate Commercial Litigation
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Benchmark Canada (2012-2015)
Local Litigation Star - General Commercial, Professional Liability and Regulations, Securities
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Best Lawyers (2006-2019)
Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation, Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Director & Officer Liability, International Arbitration, Legal Malpractice, Securities
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Canadian Lawyer (2013)
Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers - Corporate Commercial Law
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2012-2018)
Class Actions, Commercial Arbitration, Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability, Litigation - Securities, Professional Liability
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Chambers Canada (2016-2019)
Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
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Chambers Global (2012-2015)
Dispute Resolution: Ontario: Canada
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada (2013-2018)
Commercial Arbitration, Class Actions, Corporate Commercial Litigation
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Lexpert Zenith Award (2012)
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Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (2016-2018)
Corporate Commercial Litigation
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