Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- Dalhousie University (2001) LLB
- McGill University (1998) BA (Distinction - History)
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Eli S. Lederman
Eli's practice covers a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters, including securities law, class actions, commercial contracts, franchise disputes, oppression and other shareholder litigation. He regularly acts for directors and officers of private and public corporations and advises boards and their committees on governance and litigation matters.
Eli has extensive trial experience in commercial litigation and in medical malpractice actions, and also acts as counsel in commercial arbitrations. He has appeared as lead counsel at all levels of court including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Court of Appeal for Alberta and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Eli represents clients in a wide range of sectors, including those in financial services, information technology, cybersecurity, real estate, franchising and manufacturing. Eli is a frequent speaker in continuing legal education programs particularly on issues relating to contractual disputes, securities law and trial advocacy.
Eli is also a member of the firm's Management Committee.
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Quinn v Vault Home Credit Corporation
Counsel to Vault Home Credit Corporation, a consumer financing company, in defending a proposed national class action alleging breaches of consumer protection legislation.
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In the Matter of Nicholas Agar and Paul Ungerman
Counsel to the co-founder of a cryptocurrency and blockchain project that was the subject of an investigation by a Canadian securities regulator in relation to concerns that have been raised about the status of the cryptocurrency as a security, prospectus exemption requirements and representations that were made to those who have purchased the cryptocurrency.
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Counsel to the successful Claimants in a commercial arbitration involving a dispute over the ownership and management of a commercial plaza. The Claimants were awarded a 50% interest in the commercial plaza, injunctive relief, and full indemnity costs.
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National Steel Car Limited v The City of Hamilton
Counsel to the City of Hamilton in an appeal of a trial decision arising from allegations of nuisance, strict liability and negligence.
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Counsel to the successful defendant physicians in a complex medical negligence claim involving the alleged misdiagnosis of cerebral palsy in an infant. The matter proceeded to a successful 8-week trial before a Jury.
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Metro Ontario Inc v Mouzakitis et al
Counsel to Metro Ontario Inc. successfully obtaining a Mareva injunction and Anton Piller Orders, against former employees for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, and fraud.
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Counsel to a financial solutions company in responding to an injunction brought by a telecommunications company for confidential data.
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Bluemoon Capital Ltd v Ceridian HCM Holding Inc et al
Counsel to applicant in Norwich application seeking information relating to the acquisition of Lifeworks.
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Counsel to Grupo Bimbo in connection with proceedings under the Competition Act.
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Hexo Operations Inc v Peter Hwang et al
Counsel to defendant director in successfully obtaining summary judgment dismissing a claim for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of the duty of good faith in relation to a supply agreement.
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The Advocates' Society
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Canadian Bar Association
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Ontario Bar Association
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5-Year Retrospective: The Oppression Remedy in Shareholder Disputes
The blog, 5-Year Retrospective: The Oppression Remedy in Shareholder Disputes, co-authored by Eli S. Lederman and Samantha Hale was published on commerciallist.com as part of the Commercial List Year in Review: 5-Year Retrospective (2021-2025) guide. In this blog, they distil the key trends, landmark decisions, and practical lessons from five years of oppression remedy jurisprudence, providing essential context for business owners, directors, officers, and litigators on the likelihood of success in oppression proceedings and the strategies most likely to resonate with Commercial List judges.
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What Judges Want: Dos & Don’ts of Advocacy on the Commercial List
The blog, What Judges Want: Dos & Don’ts of Advocacy on the Commercial List, authored by Eli Lederman and Samantha Hale, was published on commerciallist.com. In the blog, they offer practical guidance for advocates appearing on the Commercial List. They cover the ethos of cooperation, communication, and common sense, how to craft written materials that confront opposing arguments head-on, and why the best oral submissions are short, pithy, and crisp.
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There’s nothing like a jury trial. The Honourable Justice Brian Dickson famously commented that juries were “endowed with an abundance of common sense”. The virtues of civil jury trials to our justice system may be too numerable to list here. But as a point of advocacy, the exercise of telling your client’s story to a jury of their peers – instead of to a judge sitting up on the dais – requires different skills, different sensibilities, and different presentation styles.
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This past Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada released its much-anticipated decision in C.M. Callow Inc v Tammy Zollinger (“Callow”), the first of two appeals heard in December 2019 seeking clarification on the scope of the organizing principle of good faith recognized in Bhasin v Hrynew (“Bhasin”).
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Breaking down the Economic Barrier: Negligent Misrepresentation and Class Actions
Over the 25 years that Ontario’s Class Proceedings Act has been in force, there have been fewer than 20 common issue trials. While class actions have the potential to remove access to justice barriers and improve judicial economy and efficiency, in Ontario their scope has been limited.
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In a recent decision, the Ontario Superior Court awarded costs on a partial indemnity scale which constituted 75% of the costs actually incurred by the successful party. The decision demonstrates the possibility of a generous costs award on a partial indemnity scale where the issues at stake are important and complex, and both written materials and oral submissions are of high calibre.
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Chambers Canada Highlights Lenczner Slaght as a Litigation Powerhouse
With 28 ranked lawyers and top-tier practice group rankings across 11 areas, Lenczner Slaght’s latest Chambers Canada results continue to reinforce that its reputation as Canada’s leading litigation firm is built on decades of courtroom excellence, national reach, and top-tier client service.
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49 Lenczner Slaght Litigators Named in Best Lawyers in Canada 2027
In the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, 49 of our expert litigators earned 172 rankings across 26 practice areas, a testament to the depth and breadth of our advocacy.
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Lenczner Slaght Celebrates 25 Years on the Lexpert Bull’s-Eye
The 2026 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory continues to recognize Lenczner Slaght as the #1 firm in Toronto for Litigation and Commercial Litigation.
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11 Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized in Lexpert 500 Cross Border
The 2026 edition of Lexpert's Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers features 11 of our preeminent lawyers, reflecting their exceptional advocacy and the trusted counsel they provide to clients navigating complex, high-stakes cross-border disputes.
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized in Legal 500 Canada for Litigation Excellence
As Canada’s leading litigation firm, we are proud to maintain our Tier 1 ranking in Dispute Resolution in Legal 500 Canada.
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized as Canada’s Leading Litigators
Based on an in-depth peer review process across the legal profession, 26 Lenczner Slaght lawyers are recognized in the 2025 Lexpert Special Edition: Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers for their exceptional advocacy and extensive courtroom experience.
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Chambers Canada Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Excellence in Advocacy
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to be recognized in world-renowned directory, with new rankings highlighting its deep bench of expertise.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Featured Among Best Lawyers in Canada
The 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada recognizes Lenczner Slaght with 180+ rankings, featuring 48 of our expert litigators across 27 practice areas.
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2025 Lexpert Directory Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Excellence in Advocacy
Peers and senior members of the legal profession across the country continue to recognize the depth and breadth of Canada’s leading litigation firm in the latest 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
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Lenczner Slaght’s 24th Year at the Centre of the Lexpert Bull’s Eye
The 2025 edition of Lexpert's Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada continues to recognize Lenczner Slaght as the #1 firm in Toronto for Litigation and Commercial Litigation.
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Commercial List Year in Review 5-Year Retrospective (2021-2025)
This guide offers data-driven analysis on all decisions published on CanLII from 2021-2025, an overview of the top 10 noteworthy cases, as well as key developments in insolvency matters, shareholder disputes, injunctions, and securities litigation.
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2025 Snapshot: Through the Lens of Lenczner Slaght
We’ve released our 2025 Snapshot, highlighting the most significant developments, decisions, and trends in litigation from the past year across 21 practice areas. Reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026 through the lens of our expert litigators.
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2024 Snapshot: Through the Lens of Lenczner Slaght
Lenczner Slaght launches our 2024 Snapshot, which highlights the most significant developments, decisions, and trends in litigation from the past year across 20 areas of expertise. Reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025 through the lens of our expert litigators.
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2023 Snapshot: Through the Lens of Lenczner Slaght
Lenczner Slaght launches our 2023 Snapshot, a look at the most significant developments, decisions, business takeaways, and trends in litigation from the last year, across 15 practice areas. Revisit 2023 and look ahead to 2024 through the lens of our expert litigators.
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The Supreme Court and duty of good faith: What now?
Eli Lederman authored The Lawyer's Daily article “The Supreme Court and duty of good faith: What now?”. In this article, he analyzes two recent cases that raise important questions about the content of the duty of good faith and about honest performance of contractual obligations.
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Eli S. Lederman shared his expert insight on the panel Solving Shareholder Disputes at the Law Society of Ontario's 9th Business Law Summit.
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Eli S. Lederman spoke at the 2017 CFA Franchise Law Day on "Managing Default, Termination and the Duty of Good".
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2nd Annual Duties of Good Faith: An Update on Law
Eli S. Lederman once again led Lexpert's full day professional development course on "Maintaining Honesty in Today's World". The program... -
Examinations for discovery - Advanced Skills Workshop
Eli S. Lederman served as Program Chair at the Osgoode Professional Development Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop, Advanced Skills Series. -
Osgoode Professional Development: Examining Expert Witness
Lawyers Monique Jilesen and Eli S. Lederman co-chaired the Osgoode Professional Development advanced skills workshop Examining Expert Witnesses on...
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Benchmark Canada (2013-2025)
Litigation Star – Class Action, Commercial, Securities
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2014-2027)
Administrative & Public Law, Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Franchise Law, Health Care Law, Medical Negligence, Real Estate Law
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2013-2026)
Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Medical Negligence, Professional Liability, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability, Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law, Litigation - Securities
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Chambers Canada (2025-2027)
Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario); Litigation: Securities (Ontario)
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada (2020-2021, 2024-2026)
Corporate Commercial Litigation
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada (2015-2017)
Corporate Commercial Litigation, Litigation Lawyer to Watch (2015)
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Lexpert Rising Stars (2014)
Leading Lawyers Under 40
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers (2025-2026)
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers (2017-2025)
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The Legal 500 Canada (2021-2026)
Dispute Resolution (Recommended Lawyer)