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Brian Kolenda listen

About

Brian* ’s clients appreciate his quick judgment and ability to recognize what’s really at stake. Brian has developed these skills in complex business disputes, class actions, civil fraud cases, defamation matters and professional liability claims. He questions§ witnesses, opponents and clients to get to the heart of the case and identify the paths to victory. This approach has earned Brian a track record of success for a wide range of private and public sector clients, including an international sporting regulator, a leading North American baked goods manufacturer, an Ontario university, a major Canadian bank, and a Toronto fintech startup. Whether at trial or on appeal, Brian makes no assumptions about what it takes to win, and litigates with a focus on efficient, practical approaches to advancing his clients’ interests. Brian’s diverse experiences give him the edge in advocating for his clients in any setting, from trial courtrooms to corporate boardrooms. .

Expertise

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Brian Kolenda

is a partner at Lenczner Slaght.

"Brian has proven himself to be an exceptional advocate, a strong project manager, and a trusted advisor who gives practical advice in the face of complex issues." — Client

Brian’s civil litigation practice includes a wide range of disputes, from complex business disputes to civil fraud and from professional negligence to defamation. His clients have included Canadian and foreign public and private companies (large and small), professionals (doctors, lawyers, auditors, accountants and securities professionals), non-governmental bodies, governments and regulators. He has a particular interest in cases involving fraud, securities and complex financial instruments.

Brian has experience prosecuting and defending claims at trial and on appeal. He has appeared before the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Federal Court as well as administrative tribunals.

A top student at Queen’s Law, Brian was the Editor-in-Chief of the Queen's Law Journal and earned two major academic awards and prizes for the highest standing in several courses. Brian was a member of the Queen’s Law Jessup International Law moot team and now coaches the Queen’s Law Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association Moot team. He also regularly acts as a judge at the Jessup moot and teaches international law in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto.

For many years, Brian was among the firm's lawyers who assisted the Legal Aid Ontario's Refugee Law Office on behalf of clients seeking emergency stays of deportation.

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  • The Advocates' Society - Member-at-Large of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group, +10 Standing Committee Member

  • Securities Proceedings Advisory Committee

  • OTLA Trial Advocacy Moot, Queen's University - Coach

  • Canadian Bar Association

  • Ontario Bar Association

  • University of Toronto - Sessional Lecturer (Department of Political Science) - International Law (Former)

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  • Lexpert Rising Stars (2022)

    Leading Lawyers Under 40

  • Best Lawyers in Canada (2022-2025)

    Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Defamation & Media Law, Securities Law

  • Borden Ladner Gervais Professional Excellence Award (2010)

    Queen's University

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2019-2024)

    Class Actions, Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Litigation - Securities, Professional Liability (2019)

  • Chambers Canada (2025)

    Litigation: Securities (Ontario)

  • Dan Soberman Outstanding Young Alumni Award (2018)

    Queen's University

  • Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers (2023)

  • McCarthy Tetrault Leadership Award

    Queen's University

  • The Legal 500 Canada (2022-2024)

    Dispute Resolution (New Generation Partner)

  • Who's Who Legal: Litigation (2018-2022)

    Future Leader


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