Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- Osgoode Hall Law School (1998) LLB
- Queen's University (1995) BA (Honours - Political Science)
- LawVision Group (2015) Legal Project Management
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Monique Jilesen (she/her)
"She is very client-focused, personable and strategic." — Chambers Canada
Monique is litigation counsel in complex proceedings from inception through trial. She focuses on class actions, contract and shareholder disputes, civil fraud cases, injunctions, bankruptcy and insolvency matters, and securities and derivatives cases. Monique’s clients include major financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, technology companies, and other multinational corporations who routinely face challenging, cross-border disputes. She appears at all levels of Court and in administrative tribunals. Monique has a record of success at trial in bet the company disputes.
Monique is widely recognized as leading counsel. Benchmark Canada has identified her as one of Canada’s top 50 trial lawyers and Lexpert has identified her as one of the leading 500 lawyers in Canada. The Advocates’ Society awarded her the Douglas K. Laidlaw Award for Excellence in Advocacy.
Monique is a member of the Toronto Commercial List Users’ Committee, the former Chair of the Advocates’ Society Commercial List Practice Group and the past chair of the Gale Cup Moot. She is a regular speaker on various topics, including expert evidence, class proceedings, and injunction advocacy. She is a Team Leader in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at Osgoode Hall Law School.
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Counsel for Canopy Growth Corporation in an insolvency of PharmHouse Inc., a cannabis greenhouse joint venture.
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Counsel to Walmart in two proposed class actions (Ontario and British Columbia) relating to the manufacturing, supply and sale of Zantac Ranitidine.
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In the Matter of the Receivership of Xela Enterprises Ltd
Counsel to the court-appointed receiver in an application to recover a judgment debt from Xela Enterprises Ltd., the parent company to several subsidiaries located primarily in Central America and the Caribbean.
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First Hamilton Holdings Inc et al v Laurentian Bank Securities et al
Counsel to the Respondent Laurentian Bank Securities in opposing an application for an interim injunction with respect to the Applicants’ margin accounts brought at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in North America.
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Counsel to the Vendors of a multi-tower condominium project in a claim alleging breach of contract.
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Counsel to the defendant accounting firm in a claim alleging negligence and breach of trust against a former partner of the firm.
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GCT Canada Limited Partnership v Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Attorney General of Canada
Counsel to Global Container Terminals in a judicial review of a decision of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority refusing to consider Global Container Terminal’s proposed port expansion project.
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Counsel to the GIP Primus, LP in oppression proceedings brought by the Monitor in the context of Algoma's CCAA proceeding.
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Petrochemical Commercial Company International Ltd v Nexus
Counsel to individual respondents in an application relating to a worldwide and multijurisdictional Mareva injunction, including Malaysia, Cyprus and Australia.
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Counsel in various proceedings on behalf of Ernst & Young, the court appointed Monitor of Hollinger Inc. and related entities in complex CCAA proceedings.
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The Advocates' Society - Former Chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group
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Canadian Bar Association
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Ontario Bar Association
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International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
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Commercial List Users’ Committee - Member
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Turnaround Management Association
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Gale Cup Moot Committee - Past Chair
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Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Moot - Former Coach, Osgoode Hall Law School
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Osgoode Hall Law School - Former Adjunct Professor
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Women's White Collar Defense Association
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The LCO’s Class Actions Final Report: The Defence Perspective
As has now been widely reported, the Law Commission of Ontario has released its final report on class actions which makes recommendations to improve the system of class actions in Ontario. Our colleagues, Brian Kolenda and Derek Knoke, commented on those that will be of interest to plaintiffs in their blog post here. We provide the defence counsel perspective here.
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The Rules of Evidence Still Apply in PMNOC Section 8 Cases
It’s no surprise to litigators that some courts tend to be relaxed with the rules of evidence in civil cases. In many contexts, courts are prepared to admit inadmissible hearsay evidence and simply address evidentiary concerns by noting that such evidence may be given less weight. That type of approach was often taken in cases under section 8 of the Patented Medicine (Notice of Compliance) Regulations.
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The weight of the corporate veil: It will be lifted with only the strongest tools
The "corporate veil" is an old and well-establish concept. Corporations are separate legal entities under the law and, generally, liability will not flow through the corporation and onto the owners and directors. This is why a corporate bankruptcy doesn't result in a flurry of debt collectors knocking on the door of every shareholder.
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Chambers Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to advance their position in the latest edition of world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Ranked Among Best Lawyers in Canada
In the latest edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, 37 of our expert litigators are recognized for their expertise across 25 practice areas.
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The Toronto Star interviewed Monique Jilesen on Lenczner Slaght’s plans for those who wish to return to the office in September.
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Law Firms in Canada Turn to Rapid Screening Program for Office Returns Amid Fourth Wave of COVID
Law.com International interviewed Monique Jilesen on our firm's voluntary COVID rapid screening program, which prioritizes the health and safety of our firm members who wish to work in the office.
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Benchmark Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght as a “Powerhouse"
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to be recognized with the top tier ranking of “Highly Recommended in Ontario” for its Dispute Resolution practice.
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The 2021 Lexpert Directory Recognizes 30 Lenczner Slaght Lawyers
An increasing number of our expert litigators are recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners in their fields.
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Monique Jilesen is quoted in a Financial Post article on topics of insolvency. Monique provides her comments on the difficulty of predicting whether a company is on its way to insolvency, particularly during a pandemic.
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Four years after Indigenous man’s human rights case, Cleveland removing ‘Indians’ from team name
In a recent Law Times article, Monique Jilesen and Margaret Robbins reflect back on how the legal challenges over Cleveland’s name came to Canadian shores during the 2016 American League Championship Series.
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Lenczner Slaght Achieves 20 Years at the Centre of the Lexpert Bull’s-Eye
The 2021 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada continues to recognize Lenczner Slaght as the #1 firm in Toronto for Litigation and Commercial Litigation.
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Commerciallist.com Receives Precedent Innovation Award
Precedent Magazine recognizes commerciallist.com, our one-stop shop for all things Commercial List, among the innovative people, projects and ideas that are improving the legal profession.
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Second Chair, Not Second Fiddle
Monique Jilesen will present at The Advocates' Society's program titled "Second Chair, Not Second Fiddle". In this new program, Monique will share top tips and strategies for becoming an effective second chair – both before and during trial.
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Putting People First in Workplace Modernization
Monique Jilesen was invited to speak at the Ontario Bar Association's Work That Works podcast. Monique spoke about the future of the legal workplace post-pandemic.
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The Litigator’s Guide To the Business of Law
Brian Kolenda is co-chairing The Advocates' Society program titled "The Litigator’s Guide To the Business of Law". The program will help guide mid-career litigators who are new to department leadership or are looking to enter into this role. Monique Jilesen will attend and share her expertise as a panelist.
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Litigating Polarizing Legal Issues
Monique Jilesen co-chaired The Advocates' Society's program Litigating Polarizing Legal Issues. In this program, experienced counsel considered how lawyers make the decision to litigate polarizing legal issues, whether there has been a generational change, how these cases affect the way we litigate, and how to manage our client relationships.
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Canada's legal leaders - up close and personal
Monique Jilesen is featured in the first episode of Lexpert TV! Monique speaks about her leading litigation practice, how our firm quickly adapted to COVID-19, the future of legal service delivery, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
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Enabling Legal Innovation in a Disruptive Era
Monique Jilesen presented at the Canadian Legal Innovation Forum. Monique discussed the evolution of the legal innovation landscape in the COVID-19 era.
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Mastering Summary Judgment Motions
Monique Jilesen shared her expertise at the OBA's Civil Litigation program Mastering Summary Judgment Motions. Monique shared her expert insights on the panel "Practice Perspectives: Commercial, Class Actions, Negligence, and Employment Law".
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Monique Jilesen and Scott Rollwagen led a Mondaq webinar on How the Pandemic May Impact the Canadian Legal Landscape in the Short and Long Term. Monique and Scott discussed the potential legal issues surrounding the pandemic now and in the future.
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Sana Halwani, Monique Jilesen, Scott Rollwagen, and Paul-Erik Veel shared their expertise at the Virtual GC Forum on May 12.
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Monique Jilesen and Shara N. Roy shared their expertise at The Advocates' Society's civil litigation program "Motions Advocacy".
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Douglas K. Laidlaw Medal for Excellence in Advocacy (2017)
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Benchmark Canada (2017-2021)
Top 50 Women in Litigation, Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada and Litigation Star – Class Action, Commercial, Insolvency, Securities
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Benchmark Litigation (2017-2019)
Top 25 Women in Canadian Litigation
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2016-2022)
Class Action Litigation, Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Director & Officer Liability, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring, Labour and Employment, Securities
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2014-2021)
Class Actions, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring, Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability, Litigation - Securities
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Chambers Canada (2019-2022)
Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
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International Academy of Trial Lawyers (2017)
Fellow
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada (2013-2019)
Dispute Resolution, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Litigation Lawyer to Watch (2013)
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Lexpert Rising Stars (2012)
Leading Lawyers Under 40
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers (2014-2020)
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