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Monique Jilesen listen

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Monique* is a formidable advocate who clients turn to for their toughest commercial disputes. In the courtroom, she has an enviable record of success at trial and bet-the-company disputes, making it clear that she leads§ her clients to a winning case. She is admired by peers and judges for her bold and innovative approach to pursuing justice for her clients, earning her the prestigious Douglas K. Laidlaw Medal for Excellence in Advocacy in 2017. If a complex case needs representation, clients trust that Monique will show them the way Monique is also an empowering leader internally. She motivates our lawyers to take bold steps in their cases and inspires our business teams to envision and execute big, innovative ideas. As our Managing Partner, Monique’s knowledge, experience, and determination will keep us at the top of the market now and in the future. .

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Monique Jilesen (she/her)

is Managing Partner at Lenczner Slaght.

"She is very client-focused, personable and strategic." — Chambers Canada

Monique is one of Canada’s leading litigators who clients turn to for their toughest commercial disputes. Her practice focuses on class actions, contract and shareholder disputes, civil fraud cases, injunctions, professional liability, bankruptcy and insolvency matters, and securities and derivatives cases.

Monique is a fearless advocate, unafraid to take on tough, notable, and high-profile cases, even at a moment’s notice. She was counsel to the Ukrainian World Congress in an application for judicial review of Canada's decision to allow the delivery of turbines to Germany for use by a sanctioned Russian company. In Li v Barber, she successfully secured an unprecedented Mareva order freezing up to $20 million of assets and cryptocurrency of Freedom Convoy leaders. She also represented Douglas Cardinal in an injunction to restrain the use in Canada of the Cleveland baseball team's racist name and logo on human rights grounds.

Recognized for her exceptional work, Monique was previously awarded The Advocates’ Society’s prestigious Douglas K. Laidlaw Award for Excellence in Advocacy. In 2023, Monique was named Litigator of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards and one of the Top 50 Most Influential by Toronto Life. Monique is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Monique is co-leader of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group and a member of the Commercial List Users’ Committee. In 2018, she developed commerciallist.com, an award-winning website that serves as a one-stop shop for all things Commercial List.

As the firm's Managing Partner, Monique is at the forefront of executing the firm’s strategy, building an innovative mindset across the firm, and nurturing its high-performing and inclusive culture.

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  • The Law Foundation of Ontario - Member, Class Proceedings Committee

  • Commercial List Users’ Committee - Member

  • The Advocates' Society - Former Chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group

  • Canadian Bar Association

  • Ontario Bar Association

  • International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation

  • Women's White Collar Defense Association

  • Turnaround Management Association

  • United Way Greater Toronto - Member, 2022 Major Individual Giving (MIG) Cabinet and Women United

  • Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Moot - Former Coach, Osgoode Hall Law School

  • Osgoode Hall Law School - Former Adjunct Professor

  • Gale Cup Moot Committee - Past Chair

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  • Toronto Life’s Top 50 Most Influential (2023)

    Canada's Top Litigator

  • Douglas K. Laidlaw Medal for Excellence in Advocacy (2017)

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers (2017)

    Fellow

  • Chambers Canada (2019-2024)

    Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2014-2024)

    Class Actions, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring, Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability, Litigation - Securities

  • Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (2016-2024)

    Corporate Commercial Litigation

  • Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers (2014-2023)

  • Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada (2013-2019)

    Dispute Resolution, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Litigation Lawyer to Watch (2013)

  • Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Technology Lawyers (2021)

  • Lexpert Zenith Award (2018)

    Mid-Career Excellence in Corporate Commercial Litigation


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